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MINOT, ND – The WDA baseball coaches have released their pre-season poll. Five teams receive a first place vote. Dickinson won the regular season title last year. In the WDA Tournament last year, Bismarck Century defeated Minot High in the championship.

 

 

Team (First Place Votes)
1. Minot High (2)
2. Dickinson (4)
3. Bismarck Century (2)
4. Bismarck Legacy (1)
5. Jamestown (1)
6. Mandan
7. Williston
8. Bismarck St. Mary’s
9. Bismarck High
10. Watford City

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WOLVES-SUNS

 

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 29 points, Kevin Durant had 16 points and eight rebounds in his home debut and the Phoenix Suns won their third straight game, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-100. The Suns are 4-0 with Durant in the lineup. The teams are in the middle of the Western Conference playoff race, fighting to stay in the top six so they don’t fall to the play-in tournament. The Suns remain 4th while the Wolves dropped to 7th. Durant — playing in his first home game with the Suns since being traded from Brooklyn in February — missed his first six shots from the field. He finished 5 of 18, hitting a couple of important 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 31 points. Karl-Anthony Towns added 25. The Timberwolves had a four-game winning streak snapped. The Timberwolves host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

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WILD-AVALANCHE

 

DENVER (AP) — Frederick Gaudreau scored two short-handed goals, Filip Gustavsson stopped 39 shots, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2. Marcus Johansson and Sam Steel also scored for the Wild, who improved to 16-1-4 in their last 21 games moved three points ahead of Colorado and Dallas atop the Central Division. Bowen Byram and Lars Eller scored for the Avalanche, who lost for just the 10th time in their last 34 games (24-7-3). Alexandar Georgiev finished with 25 saves. The Wild play at Vegas on Saturday night.

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TWINS-ROYALS SEASON OPENER

 

KANSAS CITY – The Twins and Royals will waste no time kicking off their 2023 American League Central schedules with an opening weekend matchup. The two clubs are in different eras, with Minnesota firmly in “win-now” mode after re-signing star shortstop Carlos Correa and bolstering the rotation this offseason following last year’s disappointing finish. Kansas City is developing its young talent, headlined by Bobby Witt Jr., at the Major League level and hopes to take a step forward after a 97-loss season in 2022. Newly aquired Pablo Lopez starts for Minnesota against Zack Greinke for the Royals. First pitch is set for 3:10 pm.

 

 

 

WINONA, Minn. (MSU) – Derek Kay’s two-run single in the 6th inning tied it, then his patience drawing a walk in the 8th with the bases loaded won it as Minot State rallied to top Winona State on Tuesday in the nightcap of an NSIC baseball doubleheader. Playing as the home team at the Warriors ballpark, the Beavers rallied for a 9-8 win after falling 8-4 in the day’s opener.

 

GAME 1 | Winona State 8, Minot State 4

 

Though they had plenty of opportunities, Minot State struggled to cash them in, leaving 10 Beavers on base in an 8-4 setback at the hands of the Winona State Warriors on Tuesday. Senior Garrett Nicholson (1-1) started and took the loss on the mound for Minot State. Junior Mark Ossanna led the way offensively for the Beavers, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with a home run and three RBI. Senior Matt Malone compiled a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with a walk. Junior Javier Gutierrez also contributed, going 1-for-3 for Minot State with a double and a walk.

 

The Beavers were trailing 1-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Minot State got an RBI single from junior Martin Rodriquez, scoring Gutierrez from second base. The score stayed at 1-1 until the very next inning, when the Beavers put runs on the scoreboard once again. Minot State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Ossanna, which brought the Beavers lead to 2-1. Minot State’s lead had evaporated by the time the seventh inning came around and turned into an 8-2 Winona State advantage, when the Beavers cut that deficit to 8-4. The Beavers added two to their tally on Ossanna’s two-run homer to left. The Beavers were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.

 

GAME 2 | Minot State 9, Winona State 8

 

The Minot State Beavers broke through after an 8-8 tie in the seventh inning to knock off the Winona State Warriors 9-8 Tuesday. Junior

Austin Loeb (1-1) got the win out of the bullpen for Minot State. The right-hander went two shutout innings, giving up one hit, one walk and striking out one. Junior Cameron Bagshaw also pitched well, going three shutout innings while allowing four hits, walking none and striking out two. In the batter’s box, the Beavers were paced by senior Derek Kay who went 3-for-4 on the day with a home run, a walk and four RBI. Junior Derrick Winn put together a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-3 with a walk and three RBI. Junior Mark Ossanna also chipped in for Minot State, adding three walks.

 

Trailing 8-0, the Beavers first put runs on the board in the fourth inning. Minot State’s offense started clicking and put up six runs, including a three-run single off the bat of Winn. The Beavers kept the Warriors off the board before tying it up in the sixth. Minot State picked up two runs when a single from Kay scored Winn and sophomore Miles Iverson, which brought the score level at 8-8. That 8-8 tie turned into a 9-8 Minot State lead in the eighth. The Beavers added a run when Kay drew a walk from freshman Drew Lingen that scored sophomore Dalin Ludlow. The score remained 9-8 for the rest of the game, as Minot State held on for the win.

 

Minot State (15-7 overall, 6-4 NSIC) is back in action this weekend playing a three-game series at Concordia, St. Paul, with a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday. First pitch each day is scheduled for Noon.

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MINOT STATE WOMEN’S SOFTBALL

 

MINOT, ND (MSU) – The Minot State softball team opened NSIC play the perfect way, sweeping a doubleheader Tuesday from in-state rival the University of Mary in the Air-Supported Dome on the MSU campus. Taryn Bennett scored the game-winner on the back half of a double steal attempt as the Beavers (15-9 overall, 2-0 NSIC) took the opener 3-2, then Kierra Fournier threw a two-hit shutout as Minot State finished the sweep with an 8-0 win in five innings.

 

GAME 1 | Minot State 3, Mary 2

 

Minot State held the Mary Marauders to two runs on Tuesday, and the Beavers lineup did the rest, pushing just enough runners across to pick up the 3-2 victory. Freshman Calley Olson (6-1) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Minot State. The right-hander went 3.1 shutout innings while giving up two hits, allowing no walks and striking out one. At the plate, the Beavers were led by senior Leo Watson, who went 1-for-2 on the day with a triple. Junior Izzy Penner put together a noteworthy effort as well, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Freshman Paige Kellogg also helped out for Minot State, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding an RBI.

 

The Beavers were trailing 1-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Minot State scored twice, with one run coming across on Kellogg’s single. After the Marauders rallied to tie the ballgame at two, the Beavers came back to retake the lead in the fourth inning. Junior Taryn Bennett came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minot State, which brought the Beavers lead to 3-2. The score remained 3-2 for the rest of the game, as Minot State held on for the win.

 

GAME 2 | Minot State 8, Mary 0

 

Freshman Kierra Fournier was dealing on Tuesday, throwing a two-hit shutout to lead the Minot State Beavers past the Mary Marauders 8-0 in five innings. Fournier (3-3) went the distance for Minot State, giving up two hits, walking one and striking out three. In the batter’s box, the Beavers were led by sophomore Abby Lohse, who went 1-for-1 on the day with a triple and three RBI. Senior Leo Watson put together a standout effort as well, going 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Freshman Sara Van Wickler also helped out for Minot State, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding a double and an RBI. The Beavers took the lead for good in the second, scoring for the first time in the inning. Minot State’s offense started clicking and put up five runs, including a two-run triple off the bat of Watson. The Beavers also added runs in the third inning when they scored three times.

 

The Beavers continue a 10-game home stand by hosting two more NSIC doubleheaders this weekend as they entertain Minnesota Duluth on Saturday at noon, then host St. Cloud State on Sunday at 10 a.m. The University of Mary also will be in town this weekend playing St. Cloud State in a doubleheader at MSU’s Bubble follow the Beavers twinbill on Saturday, then the Marauders take on Minnesota Duluth on Sunday after Minot State’s games.

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UND HOCKEY-SIDORSKI

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND) – UND Graduate student defenseman Ryan Sidorski has signed an amateur tryout agreement (ATO) with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. Sidorski joined North Dakota this season after spending his previous three playing years at Union, sitting out the 2020-21 year with the Dutchmen not competing due to COVID-19. The Williamsville, N.Y., native had his best offensive season in 2022-23, notching a career-high nine points on assists. The graduate student had his first-career multi-point game on Nov. 19 against Miami and also ended the season with points in two of his final three games, notching an assist on the game-winning goal in the decisive NCHC Quarterfinals contest at Omaha. Off the ice, Sidorski is a three-time ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team selection. He joins fellow defensemen Ethan Frisch, Chris Jandric and Tyler Kleven as well as forward Mark Senden in signing professional contracts.

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UND HOCKEY-JANDRIC

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND) – UND Graduate student defenseman Chris Jandric has signed a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. Jandric is set to join the Americans, who serve as the AHL affiliate for the Buffalo Sabres, immediately. The Prince George, B.C., native put together one of the best offensive seasons by a defenseman in recent memory for North Dakota, totaling 33 points in 39 games. Jandric became the first blue liner at NoDak to cross the 30-point plateau since Christian Wolanin in 2017-18 and ended the regular season ranked among the top-5 for scoring by a defenseman in the nation. In league play, Jandric led all NCHC blueliners in conference play with 21 points in 24 games, while his 18 assists tied for first among defensemen and tied for third among all skaters to earn All-NCHC First Team honors. Jandric, who began his career at Alaska, finishes with 13 goals and 72 assists for 85 points in 139 games played over four seasons.

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BISHOP RYAN-NEW A.D.

 

MINOT, ND – Bishop Ryan Catholic School has announced that Activities Director Roger Coleman is making a career change to give himself more time with his family. Cole Edwards has been hired to take over A.D. duties and coaching varsity girls basketball for the Lions. Edwards graduated from Des Lacs-Burlington, before playing basketball at Williston State College and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Minot State University. Currently, Edwards serves as the Director of Basketball Operations at Minot State University, where he assists with both the men’s and women’s basketball programs. Edwards previously served as an assistant coach under Brody Bosch at Our Redeemer’s Christian School, before joining Bosch at Bishop Ryan for the 2020-21 season. He also spent time as an assistant coach and as the Director of Men’s Basketball Operations at Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kan.

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MINOT STATE MEN’S GOLF

 

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. (MSU) – The Minot State men’s golf team shaved eight shots off their total from a day before but still were left with a 19th-place finish at the NSIC Preview Invitational, which concluded Tuesday. Minot State shot a 319 for Tuesday’s final 18 holes and finished at 70-over 646. The Beavers shot 327 in Monday’s first round. Andrew Makarchuk led the way for Minot State individually as he tied for 73rd at 14-over 158 with rounds of 82 and 76. Arron Grandy, Aimery Barrault, and Joshua Tu each tied for 99th as they all turned in two-day totals of 20-over 164. Grandy shot rounds of 83 and 81, Barrault carded an 86 and 78, and Tu shot 80 and 84. Zach Henderickson rounded out the Beavers’ team scores as he tied for 109th at 24-over 168 (82-86), while Henry Langhans was 122nd, playing as an individual, shooting a 38-over 182 (88-94), and Sid Ullyott, also playing as an individual, tied for 125th at 42-over 186 (97-89). Rogers State’s Daniel Robles Delval won the individual title by five strokes with a 6-under 138 (67-71), and Central Missouri won the team title by four shots over Rogers State as the Mules shot a 4-over 580 (282-298) as a team.

 

 

 

WAYNE, Neb. (MSU) – The Minot State Beavers fell 4-3 in an 11-inning matchup to the Minnesota State, Mankato Mavericks on Monday to close the teams’ 3-game NSIC series. The games counted as home contests for the Beavers despite being played at the neutral site in Wayne, Nebraska. Minot State plays another doubleheader that counts as home games, playing at Winona State on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

 

Austin Loeb (0-1) came out of the bullpen for Minot State (14-6 overall, 5-3 NSIC) and took the loss. Jonah Prokott was a bright spot for the Beavers, coming out of the bullpen as well and throwing 3.2 innings, giving up one run on one hit, with one walk and three strikeouts. Matt Malone led the way offensively for the Beavers, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with a double and a walk. Miles Iverson put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 0-for-2 with two walks and an RBI. Derek Kay also contributed, going 1-for-6 for Minot State with a double. Trailing 3-0, the Beavers first put runs on the board in the sixth inning. Minot State’s offense had a good inning, putting three runs on the scoreboard. Minnesota State then scored one time over the remaining five innings to break the tie and grab the 4-3 win.

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WILD-KRAKEN

 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Matt Boldy had his second hat trick in the last five games, Marc-Andre Fleury made 35 saves, and the surging Minnesota Wild beat the Seattle Kraken 5-1. Jake Middleton and Ryan Hartman also had goals and Jared Spurgeon, Marcus Johansson and Joel Eriksson Ek each had two assists apiece for the Wild. They took a one-point lead in the Central Division on both Colorado and Dallas into the day. Boldy has 11 goals in nine games since superstar Kirill Kaprizov suffered a lower-body injury. The Wild are 6-1-2 without Kaprizov. Jaden Schwartz ended Fleury’s shutout bid with 9 minutes left, scoring on a bouncing rebound that banked in off the goalie and into the net. Since the Wild entered the league in the 2000-01 season, only five NHL players have had more hat tricks at age 21 or younger than Boldy with three: Patrik Laine (eight), Marian Gaborik (five), Steven Stamkos (five), Alex DeBrincat (four) and Connor McDavid (four). Boldy, who turns 22 next week, had a hat trick in a 5-3 win over Washington here just eight days ago. Boldy has 17 points in 13 games this month since Johansson — the former Kraken left wing — was acquired in a trade with the Capitals and placed on his line.

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WOLVES-KINGS

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Jaden McDaniels scored 20 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves spoiled Sacramento’s hopes for a clinching party by beating the Kings 119-115. The Kings were hoping to end the longest playoff drought in NBA history in front of their fans, but sent them home unhappy. The Timberwolves won their fourth straight and completed a sweep of a back-to-back set at Golden State and Sacramento to tie the Warriors for sixth place in the Western Conference playoff race. The top six teams avoid the play-in tournament. Minnesota wasn’t fazed by the frenzied sellout crowd and pulled away in the fourth quarter for the win. Naz Reid hit a 3-pointer to give the Timberwolves a six-point lead early in the fourth, and McDaniels’ emphatic dunk made it 114-104 with about four minutes left. The Kings had a chance to make it close late, but Keegan Murray missed a 3 from the corner that could have cut the deficit to three with 42 seconds left. Reid added 18 points, Anthony Edwards scored 17 and Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 16 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns sat out the back end of a back-to-back as he deals with a lingering right calf strain. The Timberwolves play at Phoenix on Wednesday night.

 

 

 

 

WAYNE, Neb. (MSU) – A weather-weary Minot State baseball team won a pitcher’s duel to start the day, but ended up settling for a split with Minnesota State, Mankato in an early-season battle of two NSIC title contenders on Sunday. Trevyn Badger won the first-game duel helped by a solo home run by Brent Riddle for the 2-1 margin. MSU Mankato bounced back to take the nightcap, 15-5.

 

GAME 1 | Minot State 2, Minnesota State 1

 

The Minot State Beavers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 2-1 victory against the Minnesota State Mavericks on Sunday. Trevyn Badger (2-0) got the win for Minot State. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on two hits, allowing one walk and striking out four. In the batter’s box, the Beavers were paced by Matt Malone who went 3-for-3 on the day with a triple and an RBI. Brent Riddle furnished a standout day at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. The Beavers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Minot State scratched across a run off freshman Nathan Culley when Malone tripled in Derek Kay. The Mavericks then tied the ballgame at one before the Beavers came back to reclaim their advantage in the third inning. Minot State picked up a run on Riddle’s leadoff home run off of Culley, which brought the score to 2-1 in favor of the Beavers. The score remained 2-1 for the rest of the game, as Minot State held on for the win.

 

GAME 2 | Minnesota State 15, Minot State 5

 

Shane Kary and Matt Malone each collected two extra-base hits, but the Minot State Beavers fell to the Minnesota State Mavericks 15-5 on Sunday. Bryant Bagshaw (4-1) got the ball to start for Minot State and took the loss. Noah Balandran was a bright spot for the Beavers, coming out of the bullpen and throwing one inning, giving up one run on no hits, with no walks and two strikeouts. Kary’s two extra-base hits were the highlight of a 2-for-4 day, and included a double, a home run and an RBI. Malone made his contribution with two doubles, part of a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Mark Ossanna also contributed for the Beavers, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a home run and two RBI. The Beavers were trailing 1-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Minot State plated two runs off of Minnesota State pitching, one of which was driven in on a run-scoring double off the bat of Carter Paine. The Mavericks then rallied to score five runs and take a 6-2 lead before the Beavers got back on the board in the fourth. Minot State picked up a run on Kary’s one-out solo home run off of freshman Dylan Gotto, which tightened the Mavericks lead to 6-3. Minot State kept the Mavericks off the scoreboard before narrowing the gap to 6-5 in the fifth. The Beavers added two to their tally on Ossanna’s two-run homer to right. The Beavers were unable to get any closer, as Minnesota State added nine runs to their tally on the way to a 15-5 final.

 

Minot State (14-5 overall, 5-2 NSIC) was forced to hit the road because of bad weather and played what was scheduled as its home opener in Wayne, Nebraska. Minot State and Minnesota State, Mankato (14-5, 4-1) finish their three-game series today at Noon in Wayne, Neb.

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MINOT STATE HOCKEY-CELEBRATION

 

MINOT, N.D. (MSU) – The Minot State Athletic Department invites the public to join in celebrating the success of the Minot State hockey teams at a Championship Celebration Party on Tuesday, March 28, at 5:30 p.m. The Beavers’ ACHA Runner-up National Championship women’s hockey team and the Minot State men’s ACHA National Championship hockey team will be at the event to celebrate with the public. The event will be held in the main lobby at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall located off University Ave. W. on the Minot State campus. Light refreshments will be available. Both Minot State hockey team head coaches, Ryan Miner and Wyatt Waselenchuk, along with players from each team will be on hand to meet and speak to the crowd. Come celebrate the championship success of the Minot State hockey programs this Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at this special event at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall.

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WOLVES-WARRIORS

 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 11 seconds to play after Kyle Anderson stole a pass by Draymond Green, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the Golden State Warriors 99-96 to keep things interesting in the wild Western Conference playoff standings. Jordan Poole gave Golden State the lead on a 3-pointer with 1:28 left — moments after Towns had connected from deep. Poole, who had a game-high 27 points, then secured a rebound on the other end. The Warriors had a chance with 9.9 seconds left but Stephen Curry couldn’t corral Poole’s errant pass, then Curry missed a contested 3 from the baseline just before the final buzzer. Towns had 14 points and five rebounds in his second outing following a 52-game absence with a strained right calf. The Warriors had their nine-game home winning streak snapped and missed a chance to boost their playoff positioning. A victory also would have clinched Sacramento’s first postseason berth since 2006. The Kings, coached by former Golden State top assistant Mike Brown, will try to end the longest playoff drought in NBA history Monday night at home against Minnesota.

 

 

 

MASON CITY, IA (MINOTAUROS) – The Minotauros went to North Iowa looking to improve their position in the playoff race but a bad third period Saturday night saw them fail to walk away with the sweep they needed to pull closer to Aberdeen.

 

On Friday night the Tauros jumped out to an early lead scoring just 4:51 into the game with captain Trevor Stachowiak firing a shot off the cross bar an in just 4:51 into the contest. The Tauros would pour it on for the rest of the period striking three more times to take a 4-0 lead into the locker room. Colby Joseph picked up his tenth of the season redirecting a pass from Nick O’Hanisain while the Tauros were on the power play to make it 2-0 Tauros. Chase LaPinta made it 3-0 with his 29th of the season when he retrieved his own rebound and lifted a backhander in. Blake Steenerson then added his first junior goal late in the period off of a feed from Joe Blackley who had two assists in the period. From there the Tauros leaned on goaltender Noah Rupprecht getting outshot 28-15 the rest of the game. The Bulls did not break through until early in the third when a puck bounced off of Logan Dombrowsky’s chest and in. A couple more goals with less than five minutes left for North Iowa increased the drama but with just over two minutes left Joseph was able to draw a penalty sending the Tauros to the power play helping them kill the rest of the clock.

 

Saturday night the first period passed scoreless and while the Tauros were outshot 17-10 in the frame they had the better of the scoring chances. The offenses exploded in the second period starting just 1:08 in with John Emmons ripping a shot just over Mitch Day’s shoulder to give the Tauros the lead. Jackson Bisson would knot the game at one 7:31 later with a quick shot off the draw. In the middle portion of the period the teams would trade shorthanded goals first Kolby Amici on a hard working goal stole the puck behind the Bulls net and cut to the front beating Day five hole with a backhand. Just over two minutes later Tristan Kimmen was awarded a penalty shot after it was ruled he was slashed on a breakaway and he converted to once again tie the game at two. But with just 22 seconds left in the period Nick Sewecke battled in front and on his third whack picked up his fifth of the season to make it 3-2 Tauros heading into the third. The Bulls would tie the game early in the third but LaPinta would answer back restoring the lead with 12:35 to play in regulation. The goal was LaPinta’s 30th of the season making him just the second Tauro ever to post 30 markers in a single year. A pair of miscues however just 18 second apart late in the period would see the Tauros fall behind for the first time all weekend as the Bulls Nolan Abraham and Simone Dadie would give the Bulls a 5-4 lead. Try as they might the Tauros could not find the equalizer and had to settle for a split on the weekend.

 

Next up for the Tauros is a weekend trip to Aberdeen for a battle for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division. After that the Tauros will return home for their final regular season home series of the season on April 7th and 8th against the Austin Bruins.

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UND HOCKEY-CAULFIELD

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND) – Senior forward and assistant captain Judd Caulfield announced on Friday that he will be exercising his extra year of eligibility and returning for his fifth season at North Dakota in 2023-24. “I am extremely excited to come back for another year,” said Caulfield. “I’m so glad to have the opportunity to play for such a great organization and community.” Caulfield has been a constant in the North Dakota lineup over his four years with the program, appearing in 133 career games, including 93 straight dating back to his sophomore season. The Grand Forks, N.D., native has reached double-digit points in each of his four campaigns, notching a career-high 20 in 2021-22, to total 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points. This past year, Caulfield tallied 10 goals and nine assists to finish just shy of another 20-point mark. He was one of UND’s top defensive forwards as well, registering 17 blocks, a shorthanded goal and finishing with a plus-8 rating. Off the ice, Caulfield is a four-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and AHCA Academic All-America Scholar.

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NDSU TRACK-RODIN

 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (NDSU) – North Dakota State senior Jacob Rodin was voted the 2023 Summit League Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, the league office announced Friday. Rodin (Kenmare, N.D.) is the first Bison man to be named the Summit League Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. The Bison have claimed Indoor Field Athlete of the Year five times in the past decade, but Rodin is the first to earn the top track honor. Rodin captured Summit League titles in the 800m, 4x400m relay, and distance medley relay this season, and was the only man to win three gold medals at the Summit League Championships. He ranked 35th in the NCAA for the 800m with his NDSU school record time of 1:47.84. Rodin was the second-fastest in the league for the 400m dash this season, running 47.39 to rank second in NDSU history. He also clocked a school-record 1:17.88 in the 600m to rank 30th in Division I this year. Rodin earned five Summit League Peak Performer of the Week honors in the span of six weeks in January and February. He was also voted to the indoor Academic All-League team this season for the fourth time in his career. The Summit League awarded one overarching Athlete of the Year honor through 2009, before it was split into separate Track Athlete of the Year and Field Athlete of the Year awards. NDSU’s Matt Bishoff in 2009 was the last winner of the overall honor before the split.

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WILD-BLACKHAWKS

 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Ryan Hartman scored with 1:11 remaining in the third period to send the Minnesota Wild to a 3-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. Ryan Reaves and Frederick Gaudreau also scored for Minnesota. Filip Gustavsson made 22 saves in goal. The Wild have points in four straight games after their franchise-record 14-game point streak was snapped on March 18. Minnesota started the day a point behind Dallas, which hosts Vancouver, for the lead in the Central Division. Lukas Reichel scored for Chicago, which has lost four in a row. Former Wild goaltender Alex Stalock made 22 saves for the Blackhawks.

 

 

 

MINOT, ND – Several area athletes have been honored as a part of the Class B Boys Basketball All-State Team. The team is voted on by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

 

 

First Team
Tyson Enget – Powers Lake-Burke Central
Deng Deng – Four Winds-Minnewaukan
Bohden Duffield – Bowman County
Javin Friesz – Flasher
Ayden Stainbrook – North Borer

 

Brady Feller – Bishop Ryan
Carson Yale – Des Lacs-Burlington
Walker Braaten – Westhope-Newburg
Connor Kerzmann – Garrison
Mitchell Leas – North Prairie
Bishop Duffield – Bowman County
Carson Bartholomay – Enderlin
TJ Cosley – North Border
Trey Hatfield – Fargo Oak Grove
Landon Koenig – May-Port-CG
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MINOT STATE BASEBALL

 

ELKHORN, Neb. (MSU) – After battling the winter weather just to get on the field, the Minot State baseball team battled its way to a split with Augustana on Thursday in NSIC action. The Vikings (15-10 overall, 4-1 NSIC), host for the neutral-site game, scored a 4-3 comeback win to start the doubleheader, but the Beavers (13-4, 4-1) bounced back strong and won the nightcap 9-5.

 

GAME 1 | Augustana 4, Minot State 3
Despite picking up eight hits in the ballgame and out-hitting Augustana, Minot State was unable to push across more runs, as the Beavers lost to the Vikings 4-3 in Thursday’s first game. Junior Craig Schmich (2-1) started and took the loss on the mound. Senior Derek Kay led the way offensively for the Beavers, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with a triple and two RBI. Junior Brent Riddle put together a standout effort as well, going 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Junior Martin Rodriquez also helped out, going 2-for-3 for Minot State.

The Beavers got on the scoreboard first, starting in the third inning. Riddle put Minot State on the board with a two-out solo home run off senior Caleb Kranz. The Vikings then rallied to score two runs and take a 2-1 lead before the Beavers got back on the board in the fifth. Minot State picked up a couple on a two-run triple from Kay, which brought the Beavers lead to 3-2. The Beavers were unable to hold the lead, as Augustana scored two times over the remaining two innings to grab the 4-3 win.

 

GAME 2 | Minot State 9, Augustana 5
Junior Mark Ossanna collected four hits to help power the Minot State Beavers over the Augustana Vikings 9-5 on Thursday in the nightcap of an NSIC doubleheader. Senior Garrett Nicholson (1-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Minot State. The southpaw went 0.1 shutout innings without giving up a hit, allowing one walk and striking out one. Junior Austin Loeb also made an impact on the mound for the Beavers, throwing one scoreless inning while allowing no hits, with one walk and one strikeout. In addition to his four hits, Ossanna had a double, a walk and an RBI to lead the Beavers. Senior Carter Paine compiled a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 1-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Senior Derek Kay also chipped in for Minot State, putting together one hit in five trips to the plate while adding a triple and an RBI.

 

The Beavers were trailing 1-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Minot State scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run homer from Paine. The Beavers then held the Vikings scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Junior Gunnar Kozlowitz came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minot State, which brought the Beavers lead to 4-1. Augustana narrowed Minot State’s lead to 4-3 before the Beavers stretched the advantage to 6-3 in the fifth inning. The Beavers scored twice, with one run coming across on junior Shane Kary’s single. The Vikings fought back, closing the gap to 6-5 until Minot State added some insurance in the eighth. The Beavers pushed across two runs in the frame, punctuated with an RBI triple off the bat of Kay, bringing the score to 8-5 in favor of Minot State. The Beavers kept Augustana off the board before expanding their lead to 9-5 the following inning. Senior Matt Malone came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minot State and get them on the board. The score remained 9-5 for the rest of the game, as the Beavers coasted to the win.

 

Minot State continues on the road this weekend, playing Minnesota State, Mankato on Sunday in Elkhorn, Nebraska, in a doubleheader scheduled to start at noon. The games will be home games for the Beavers, who also play the Mavericks at noon Monday in a single game, which also will be a home contest for Minot State.

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UND HOCKEY-KLEVEN

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND) – Junior defenseman Tyler Kleven has signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, the club announced on Thursday. The defenseman will forgo his final two years of eligibility at North Dakota. Kleven appeared in 95 games over his three-year career at North Dakota, finishing with 20 goals and 35 points. The Fargo, N.D., native had his best offensive season in 2022-23, leading all UND blue liners with eight goals and five on the man advantage. The defenseman also had a knack for scoring big goals in his career, with eight of his 20 goals coming as game winners which tie him with Nick Fuher (2001-05) for the most all-time by a defenseman in program history. Kleven will join three former UND teammates in the Ottawa organization — forward Shane Pinto, defenseman Jake Sanderson and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker.

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UND HOCKEY-FRISCH

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND) – Senior defenseman and assistant captain Ethan Frisch has signed an amateur tryout agreement (ATO) with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League (AHL), the team announced on Thursday. Frisch was a mainstay on UND’s back-to-back-to-back Penrose Cup-winning teams in 2020, 2021 and 2022, increasing his role each year as the Fighting Hawks became the first National Collegiate Hockey Conference team to win three-straight regular-season titles. The 5-foot-11, 192-pound right-handed blue liner’s production jumped from 5 to 10 to 15 to 18 points during his four seasons in Grand Forks. The Moorhead, Minn., native was often tasked with shutting down the opponent’s top line, earning the NCHC’s Defensive Defenseman of the Year Award in 2021-22 and was a nominee again this past season. Frisch closed his career at North Dakota with 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points in 127 games.

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NDSU FOOTBALL-SEASON OPENER

 

MINNEAPOLIS (NDSU) – North Dakota State University will host Eastern Washington University for the 2023 season opener on Saturday, September 2, 2023. This highly anticipated matchup will be the first collegiate football game to be played at U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings, Super Bowl LII (2018) and the NCAA Men’s Final Four (2019). Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, March 31. NDSU has nearly 15,000 alumni in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and 26,000 across the state of Minnesota. The Bison drew 34,544 fans to the 2019 season opener against Butler at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins. Tickets for this event go on sale to the public on Friday, March 31, at 10 a.m. CT.

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WILD-FLYERS

 

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — James van Riemsdyk scored the only goal in a shootout, and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Minnesota Wild 5-4 for coach John Tortorella’s 700th career victory. Tortorella is 700-573-181 in 1,454 games as an NHL head coach. His 700 wins rank 12th in NHL history and his career games rank ninth in NHL history. He joined Peter Laviolette as the second American-born coach to win 700 games. Scott Laughton, Joel Farabee, Rasmus Ristolainen and Tyson Foerster scored for the Flyers. Matt Boldy had two goals for the Wild, and Oskar Sundqvist and Marcus Foligno also scored. The Wild host Chicago on Saturday.

 

 

 

MINOT, ND – Another honor for North Dakota Mr. Basketball, Darik Dissette of Minot High. The teams are voted on by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

 

 

First Team
Darik Dissette – Minot High (unanimous)
Mason Klabo – Fargo Davie (unanimous)
Ryan Erickson – Bismarck Century
Alex Dvorak – Dickinson
Jeremiah Sem – Fargo North

 

Anthony Doppler – Bismarck Century
James Hamilton – Fargo South
Connor Kraft – Fargo Shanley
Zach Kraft – Grand Forks Red River
Reis Rowekamp – Grand Forks Red River
Hudsen Sheldon – Mandan
Isiah St. Romain – Williston
Parker Wallette – Turtle Mountain
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NDSU TRACK-HONORS

 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (NDSU) – The North Dakota State men’s track & field team had four student-athletes voted to The Summit League’s Academic All-League team announced for the 2023 indoor season. Cullen Curl, Josh Samyn, Zach McGlynn and Jacob Rodin all earned the honor by virtue of their athletic and academic achievements.

 

Rodin (Kenmare, N.D.) was the Summit League 800m champion and also won 4x400m relay and distance medley relay titles at the conference meet. He was the only man to win three gold medals this season at the Summit League Championships, and ranked No. 35 in the NCAA for the 800m after setting the NDSU school record at 1:47.84. He has a cumulative 4.0 GPA as an agricultural economics and finance double major.

 

Curl (Bismarck, N.D.) owns a 3.87 cumulative GPA as a biological sciences major. He was a Summit League champion in the 4x400m relay and placed third in the 400m dash at the Summit League meet.

 

Samyn (Winnipeg, Manitoba) was a Summit League champion in the distance medley relay and posted a time of 1:53.88 for the indoor 800m this season. A multiple-time Academic All-League selection, he has a 3.93 cumulative GPA with a double major in biological sciences and anthropology.

 

McGlynn (Stephen, Minn.) owns a 4.0 cumulative GPA with a major in agricultural economics. He earned All-Summit League in the heptathlon with a third-place finish at the conference meet.

 

To be eligible for The Summit League Academic All-League team, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 (on a 4.00 scale), completed at least one full academic year at the current institution and participated in 50 percent of their team’s competitions. The award is voted on by the institutions’ faculty athletic representatives and sports information directors.

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WOLVES-HAWKS

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 22 points in his long-awaited return from a strained right calf and the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat the Atlanta Hawks 125-124. Naz Reid added 26 points off the bench and Jaden McDaniels had 25 for Minnesota, which trailed by 10 points with 7:18 remaining but used a 19-5 run to get back in the game. Atlanta led 124-123 with 50.5 seconds left after a pair of free throws by Trae Young. Towns then hit two free throws with 3.6 seconds left to seal the win. He was back after missing 51 games for Minnesota. Towns had been out since Nov. 28 with the injury. And Minnesota had lost three of four and slid to ninth in the Western Conference beginning the night. Young scored 29 points and De’Andre Hunter added 16 for Atlanta. The Timberwolves play at Golden State on Sunday.

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VIKINGS-FREE AGENTS

 

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms Wednesday with two free agents: wide receiver Brandon Powell and linebacker Troy Reeder. The contracts were pending completion of their physical exams. Powell played the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and had 24 catches for 156 yards in 2022. He initially latched on as an undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2018 with the Detroit Lions. Powell is also a return specialist, with 57 career kickoff returns and 49 career punt returns. He had a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Vikings on Dec. 26, 2021. Reeder also played his first three years in the league with the Rams. He spent the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Chargers. Reeder, who has 25 career starts in 66 games, made the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Delaware in 2019. He’s a high school teammate of Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill, from Wilmington, Delaware. Both Powell and Reeder were on the Super Bowl champion Rams team in the 2021 season with current Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, who was the offensive coordinator there.

 

 

 

MINOT, ND – A pair of Minot High players were honored as a part of the Class A Girls Basketball All-State Team. The teams are voted on by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

 

 

First Team
LeeLee Bell – Minot High
Bergan Kinnebrew – Bismarck Century
Logan Nissley, Bismarck Century
Miriley Simon – West Fargo
Jocelyn Schiller – Grand Forks Red River

 

Maggie Fricke – Minot High
Ashton Safranski – Fargo Davies
Brenna Dick – West Fargo Sheyenne
Ella Falk – Jamestown
Chloe Pfau – West Fargo
Brooklyn Felchle – Bismarck Legacy
Amya Gourneau – Turtle Mountain
Scout Woods – Wahpeton

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MINOT STATE MEN’S HOCKEY

 

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. (MSU) – The Beavers are National Champions once again! One goal late in the second period and 19 saves by goalie Jake Anthony proved to be just enough Tuesday night as the No. 1 Minot State men’s hockey team held on to beat No. 3 Adrian (Mich.), claiming the third ACHA Division I National Championship in program history. Josh Pederson scored the lone goal of the title game with 2 minutes, 25 seconds left in the second period, giving the Beavers (35-3-0 overall) all the offense they needed as Anthony turned aside all 19 shots by the Bulldogs, sealing the win. The shutout was the sixth of the season for Anthony.

 

Minot State marched to the title with four straight wins, the final three in dramatic fashion. After opening the ACHA National Tournament with an 8-0 rout of No. 17 Michigan-Dearborn on Friday night, the Beavers then needed overtime to get past the quarterfinals and semifinals. Sunday, Minot State beat No. 8 Indiana Tech 4-3 in overtime, then rallied to force overtime where they topped No. 5 Liberty 3-2 on Monday night.

 

The Beavers claimed their third National Championship with a thrilling 1-0 victory, adding to their 2018-19 and 2012-13 National titles. The run to the championship provides a memorable end to the collegiate careers of Minot State seniors Davis Sheldon, Drew Carter, Landyn Cochrane, and Connor Navrot who also were part of Minot State’s 2018-19 National Championship team, along with fellow seniors Austin Wieler, Wayde Johannesson, Jake Bestul, Eric Soar, and Dalton Dosko who celebrate their first National Championship. Minot State’s senior captain, Sheldon, also was named tournament MVP.

 

The National Champion Minot State men’s hockey team returns to Minot today arriving at the Minot International Airport at 8 p.m. The team looks forward to seeing fans on hand to welcome home the champions and celebrate the National title.

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NDSU TRACK-RODIN

 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The season have changed from indoor to outdoor, but North Dakota State’s Jacob Rodin continues to excell. The North Dakota State track & field teams swept all four Summit League Peak Performer of the Week honors presented Tuesday following the first competition of the outdoor season. Rodin won the 800m in 1:48.00 at the USF Bulls Invitational – a new outdoor personal-best, the second-fastest outdoor 800m in NDSU history, and currently No. 1 on the NCAA performance list this season. The Kenmare-native also clocked an outdoor 400m personal-best of 47.91. Rodin was the only men’s athlete to claim first place in three events at the Summit League Indoor Championships earlier this month.

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WILD-DEVILS

 

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Matt Boldy scored on a breakaway with 1.3 seconds left in overtime and Filip Gustavsson made a career-high 47 saves to give the Minnesota Wild a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. The game was a chippy, defensive struggle. After two scoreless periods, the Devils were outshooting the Wild 22-19. Minnesota finally broke through 6:41 into the third when Mason Shaw scored his seventh goal of the season on a wraparound. Timo Meier answered for the Devils five minutes later with his 35th goal of the season on a wraparound of his own. Minnesota tied Dallas atop the Central Division with 90 points. New Jersey fell two points behind first-place Carolina in the Metropolitan Division, and the Hurricanes have two games in hand. The Wild play at Philadelphia on Thursday night.

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VIKINGS-BULLARD SIGNING

 

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms on a new contract on Tuesday with defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard, who played in 12 games with seven starts last season. Bullard joined the Vikings last year, his fifth team in five seasons. The eighth-year veteran had 23 tackles and five tackles for loss. He suffered a biceps injury on Dec. 4 and missed the next four games. Drafted in the third round by the Chicago Bears in 2016 out of Florida, Bullard gives the Vikings another experienced player on the interior with returning starter Harrison Phillips and newcomer Dean Lowry. Dalvin Tomlinson, their most accomplished defensive lineman, signed with the Cleveland Browns. Other returners who played varying roles at those spots last season are James Lynch, Khyiris Tonga, Ross Blacklock and Esezi Otomewo.

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WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC-CHAMPIONSHIP

 

MIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani emerged from the bullpen and fanned Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out in a matchup the whole baseball world wanted to see, leading Japan over the defending champion United States 3-2 for its first World Baseball Classic title since 2009. Ohtani, the two-way star who has captivated fans across two continents, beat out an infield single in the seventh inning as a designated hitter, then walked down the left-field line to Japan’s bullpen to warm up for his third mound appearance of the tournament. Trout, the U.S. captain and a three-time MVP, struck out on a full-count pitch. Ohtani, the two-way star who has captivated fans across two continents, was voted MVP of the WBC after batting .435 with one homer, four doubles, eight RBIs and 10 walks while going 2-0 with a save and a 1.86 ERA on the mound, striking out 11 in 9 2/3 innings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINOT, ND – Several area players were honored as a part of the Class B Girls Basketball All-State Team. The teams are voted on by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

 

 

First Team
Ellie Braaten – Westhope-Newburg
Brenna Stroklund – Kenmare-Bowbells
Hailey Quam – Shiloh Christian
Decontee Smith – Central Cass
Halle Crockett – Northern Cass

 

Second Team
Maya Vibeto – Our Redeemer’s
Mykell Heidlebaugh – Rugby
Karli Klien – Garrison
Ava Shuster – Stanley
Natalie Decoteau – St. John
Ellie Powell – Bowman County
Laikyn Roney – Oakes
Mataeya Mathern – Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier
Klaire Cotton – Central Cass
Rylee Satrom – MayPortCG
Rylen Burgess – Cavalier

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MINOT STATE MEN’S HOCKEY

 

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. (MSU) – The Beavers simply refused to lose and now find themselves in the game they’ve been chasing for the past 12 months: The ACHA National Championship game. For the second straight night, the No. 1-ranked Minot State men’s hockey team needed overtime but the Beavers managed to find a way to win, beating No. 5-ranked Liberty 3-2 in the national semifinals Monday night. The win sends Minot State to today’s title game at 7 p.m. (CT) against No. 3-ranked Adrian (Mich.), which beat Ohio 8-5 in Monday night’s other semifinal. The Beavers advance to play for the program’s third National Championship which has been the team’s focus for the past 12 months after an early exit from last year’s national tournament, now a distant memory for a resilient Minot State team that erased a 2-0 deficit in the third period against the Flames.

 

Liberty scored two goals just 5 minutes, 37 seconds apart late in the first period, then rode goalie Hunter Virtostek, who finished the night with 61 saves. Fourteen of those saves came in the first period, and 20 more in the second as Liberty clung to the 2-0 lead until Minot State’s senior captain, Davis Sheldon, finally changed the game’s momentum, scoring a power-play goal off assists from Reid Arnold and Joey Moffatt 1:11 into the third. Having found a way to get the puck past Virtostek, the Beavers (34-3-0 overall) kept working hard looking for the equalizer and finally found it late in regulation as Josh Pederson tied the score at 2-2 with just 3:51 left in the third period off a Christian Kadolph assist. That sent the game into overtime, the Beavers second straight venture into the extra session as they needed overtime to dispatch Indiana Tech, 4-3, in Sunday night’s quarterfinals. Once again, Minot State prevailed in the extra period, outshooting Liberty 9-5 and finally putting the game-winner behind Virtostek 15:17 into overtime as Moffatt scored to send the Beavers into Tuesday’s National Championship contest. Sheldon and Kadolph assisted on the game-winner for Minot State, which got 29 saves from Jake Anthony in goal.

 

Now Minot State takes on the Adrian Bulldogs (37-2-2), a team the Beavers are 6-3 against head-to-head, but a team whose last win over the Beavers came 6-1 in the 2021 National Championship game.

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MINOT STATE WOMEN’S HOCKEY

 

BOSTON, Mass. (MSU) – The outcome proved disheartening, but head coach Ryan Miner was anything but disappointed. The third-ranked Minot State women battle their way into the ACHA Division I National Championship game for the first time since the 2019-2020 season, and led early against two-time defending champion Liberty, but the Flames grabbed a third-period lead then held off a Beaver comeback charge to win a third straight crown, 3-2 on Monday. Seniors Ensley Fendelet, Alisha O’Hara, Jordan Kulbida, Denali Sigurdson, Sydney Spicer, Jordan Ivanco, Ensley Fendelet, and Megan Norris wrapped up their careers at Minot State as runner-up national champions.

 

The Beavers (24-11-2 overall) nearly battled their way to the title as Norris scored a power-play goal off assists from Sigurdson and Paige Ackerman for a 1-0 lead with 8 minutes, 54 seconds gone in the title game. The Flames stole the game’s momentum, though, with a late first-period goal by Madison Glynn, her first of three in the contest just 52 seconds before the intermission. That provided a spark that Liberty used to take the lead as Glynn scored 2:42 into the second, and there it stayed for more than 27 minutes of action until Glynn netted her third of the day with 10:13 left in regulation. Trailing 3-1, the Beavers refused to go quietly as Riley Ball cut into the margin with 3:32 left off assists from Kulbida and Ackerman. Close, the Beavers couldn’t complete the comeback though, despite peppering Flames goalie Amanda Storey with 17 third-period shots, as Liberty held on for the one-goal win. Minot State’s Haylie Biever finished with 22 saves on the day.

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MINOT STATE BASEBALL

 

ST. GEORGE, Kan. (MSU) – Junior Mark Ossanna put together an outstanding performance at the plate Monday, hitting two home runs to help power the Minot State Beavers over the Sioux Falls Cougars 17-4 in 7 innings in the conclusion of an NSIC 3-game series. The Beavers sweep the series and have now won 8 of their last 9 games. Junior Gage Yost (2-0) got the win for Minot State (12-3 overall, 3-0 NSIC). The right-hander went four innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on two hits, allowing seven walks and striking out three. Junior Cameron Bagshaw also pitched well, going two shutout innings while allowing one hit, walking two and striking out three. Ossanna went 2-for-4 at the plate, supplementing his two home runs with three RBIs. Senior Derek Kay added to Ossanna’s awesome power-hitting performance by going 4-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBI. Junior Javier Gutierrez also chipped in for the Beavers, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and three RBI. The Beavers next play a doubleheader on Thursday against Augustana starting at 11 a.m. The games were moved back two days, and the location of the games moved to the campus of Briar Cliff in Sioux City, Iowa, with the Vikings scheduled as the home team.

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MINOT STATE SOFTBALL

 

MINOT, N.D. (MSU) – Minot State’s Reegan Floyd dominated in the circle for the Beavers this weekend as she turned in career milestones. A first collegiate no-hitter and a career-high 13 strikeouts on Saturday were part of a huge weekend for the sophomore from Susanville, California who was honored by the NSIC on Monday as she was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week. The honor is the first this season for both Floyd and the Minot State softball team which swept visiting Regina in a four-game series in the Air-Supported Dome on the MSU campus on Saturday and Sunday. Floyd set the tone for that sweep as she struck out 13 of the 17 batters she faced in an 8-0, 5-inning no-hitter against the Cougars in the first of the four-game series. Improving to 5-5 on the season with the win, Floyd also added in one more inning of work in the circle on the weekend as she pitched the final inning of a 9-0, 5-inning win on Sunday. While she did allow a hit in her second appearance, she also added three more strikeouts to her total for the weekend. Floyd and the Beavers (13-9 overall) now are off until next week when they host the University of Mary in a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 28, starting at noon to open NSIC play. The doubleheader will be played either at the Air-Supported Dome on the MSU campus or at the South Hill Softball Complex.

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MINOT STATE FOOTBALL

 

MINOT, N.D. (MSU) – You can feel the excitement building amongst the players and staff, and it spread to the turf at First Western Bank Field as the start of the Ian Shields era kicked off this morning at 6 a.m. Shields, Minot State’s new head football coach, begins building his Beaver program that day with the first of 15 spring football practices culminating in the Minot State Spring Game on April 22. A group of returners about 85 strong suited up for spring practice and the chance to learn a new system under the guidance of new coaches. Working hard in strength and conditioning, what Coach Shields calls the team’s “Fourth Quarter Program,” but now it’s time for the players to learn the Xs and Os that they’ll take to the turf when the 2023 season begins for real with the home and season opener on Thursday, Aug. 31, against Southwest Minnesota State at 7 p.m. Learning the fundamentals in all facets of the game will be a big part of spring practice for the Beavers. “We’re at 100 level; we’re not skipping to the 400 level right away, it’s only lower-division courses as far as the football-side of it’s concerned,” Minot State’s new coach said. “Get the great fundamentals started, good techniques, get our systems in place and our terminologies in place, and put our program in place.

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WOLVES-KNICKS

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Julius Randle scored 57 points to tie the third-highest game in Knicks history, but the Minnesota Timberwolves rode a sizzling start and a steady finish to beat New York 140-134. Taurean Prince scored a season-high 35 points and went 8 for 8 from 3-point range for the Timberwolves, while Mike Conley added 24 points and 11 assists. His three free throws gave Minnesota the lead for good with 2:17 remaining. In a spectacular display of shooting and scoring, the Timberwolves made more than 70% of their shots in the first half and led by 17, before Randle carried the Knicks back with a franchise-record 26 points in the third quarter. The Wolves made their first 10 shots and didn’t cool off much the rest of the game, finishing at 61.4% and snapping a three-game skid despite playing without Anthony Edwards for a second straight game because of a sprained right ankle. The Timberwolves host Atlanta on Wednesday.

 

 

 

BOSTON, Mass. (MSU)– Timing is everything, ask anyone. Better yet, ask the Minot State women’s hockey team who scored just its second win this winter over rival Midland in eight tries this season, but the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Battling in a scoreless deadlock into the third period, senior All-American Jordan Kulbida broke the tie for the third-ranked Beavers who then hung on for a 1-0 upset of second-ranked Midland, sending Minot State into the ACHA National Championship game today at Noon (CT). The Beavers will play top-ranked Liberty (Va.) for the ACHA National Championship. Minot State will be playing in its third title game, the first since the 2018-19 season, and will be looking for its first women’s hockey national championship.

 

Minot State (24-10-2 overall) earned its title shot with stingy defense and determination as Haylie Biever turned aside all 36 shots she faced from Midland, her second shutout of the season. With the game scoreless early in the third period, Kulbida netted her fifth goal of the national tournament and the lone goal of the game with 5 minutes, 36 seconds gone in the stanza off a Sydney Spicer assist. And that was the game. From there the determined Beavers held tough, fending off the Warriors for the shutout win, a very timely Minot State victory, the team’s first against Midland since a 4-3 overtime win back in December.

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MINOT STATE MEN’S HOCKEY

 

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. (MSU) – The Beavers survived a thriller, but the key is, they survived. Troy Hamilton scored 12 minutes, 8 seconds into overtime, lifting the No. 1 Minot State men’s hockey team to a 4-3 win over eighth-ranked Indiana Tech in the quarterfinals of the ACHA National Tournament on Sunday night. With the win the Beavers advance to face a familiar foe in Liberty (Va.) in the semifinals tonight at 7 p.m. (CT). The two teams met four times this season with Minot State winning three of the four contests.

 

After rolling to an opening 8-0 win at nationals on Friday night, it look like things would be easy for the Beavers again Sunday as Reece Henry and Drew Carter scored 19 seconds apart midway through the first period. With Minot State set to break the game open, instead, Indiana Tech goalie Ty Barnhill clamped down, allowing just one early third-period goal to the Beavers and setting his team up for a comeback. Barnhill finished with 45 saves. Indiana Tech’s comeback started as the Warriors scored with 6:33 left in first, then they netted the lone goal of the second period, sending the game into the third period tied 2-2. Minot State (33-3-0 overall) tried to break free as Carter Barley scored a power-play goal with 4:37 gone in the third, but a determined Warrior squad tied it with 3:11 left in regulation to force overtime. Equally determined, Minot State thwarted Indiana Tech’s upset intentions as Jake Anthony made three overtime saves before Hamilton netted the winner with 12:08 gone in the extra session and sent the Beavers into the semifinals. Davis Sheldon and Connor Navrot assisted on the OT winner, while Reid Arnold, Josh Pederson, Landyn Cochrane, Joey Moffatt, Christian Kadolph, and Barley added assists on the other Minot State goals in the win.

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MINOT STATE BASEBALL

 

ST. GEORGE, Kan. (MSU) – The long road trip to Kansas didn’t throw off the Minot State baseball team (11-3 overall, 2-0 NSIC), which opened NSIC play Sunday sweeping a doubleheader from Sioux Falls, beating the Cougars 10-3 and 12-4 in the neutral-site contests at Rock Creek Senior High School. Brent Riddle led the offensive, going 4-for-9 in the twinbill with 3 RBIs in each win while Trevyn Badger picked up the game one win striking out 10 Sioux Falls batters, and Bryant Bagshaw won game No. 2 with 6 Ks on the mound. The two teams meet again today to wrap up the three-game NSIC series with the first pitch scheduled for Noon in Kansas.

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MINOT STATE WOMEN’S SOFTBALL

 

MINOT, N.D. (MSU) – Needing the opportunity to get game action before opening league play next week, the Minot State softball team proved to be unstoppable this weekend, finishing off a four-game sweep of visiting Regina with back-to-back five-inning wins on Sunday at the Air-Supported Dome on the Minot State campus. Calley Olsen dominated in the circle in the first game, an 8-0, 5-inning mercy-rule win for the Beavers who plated five in their final at-bat, then Izzy Penner and Brooklyn Morrison teamed up to plate five of Minot State’s runs in a 9-0, 5-inning win to close out the series. The Beavers now look to build on the weekend’s momentum when they open NSIC play next Tuesday, March 28, hosting the University of Mary in a doubleheader scheduled for Noon. The games will be played at either the South Hill Softball complex or in the Air-Supported Dome on the MSU campus.

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UND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

 

LEXINGTON, K.Y. (UND) – The University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks (19-13) fall in the consolation championship game of the WBI Tournament 76-73 against Florida International University (14-19). Kacie Borowicz led all scorers with 19. She also led with nine rebounds and six assists. Claire Orth score 17 and joined the 1,000-point club. She ends her Fighting Hawks career with 142 games and 1,004 points. Juliet Gordon had 15 points and had eight rebounds. The first three minutes of the opening frame UND and FIU traded baskets till the Panthers pulled away in the middle minutes. North Dakota fought hard in the first quarter to come back from a 18-9 deficit to end the quarter 20-16. The Hawks kept pushing in the second quarter to come within two at the media timeout, 32-30. North Dakota ended the with Borowicz making two free throws to bring them within four to end the quarter 37-33. The third quarter the Hawks tied the at 43, 45 and 47 before the Panthers would pull away to end up six, 59-53. The fourth quarter North Dakota battled hard to bridge the six-point gap. They would take the led by one point twice at 5:44 and 1:10 left in the game. However, final three seconds of the game Maggie Manson three-point shot fell just wide, 76-73.

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WILD-CAPITALS

 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Matt Boldy recorded his second career hat trick and the Minnesota Wild rebounded to beat Washington 5-3 on Sunday. Minnesota, which had its 14-game point-streak end Saturday against Boston, is within one point of Dallas for the Central Division lead and two points up on Colorado for second with a dozen games to play. Ryan Reaves and Brandon Duhaime also scored, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 33 saves for Minnesota, improving to 7-0-0 in his last seven starts. Alex Ovechkin scored twice on the power play for Washington. The Wild are at New Jersey on Tuesday.

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MINNESOTA UNITED

 

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — Miguel Tapias scored in the 82nd minute to rally Minnesota United to a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids. Tapias scored the match-winner off a pass from Franco Fragapane, giving Minnesota United (2-0-1) its first road win over the Rapids. Minnesota entered play with an 0-5-1 mark in Colorado. Neither team scored until Cole Bassett found the net in the 49th minute to give Colorado (0-3-1) a 1-0 lead. It was the Rapids’ first goal of the season. Only the 2015 Rapids and Toronto (2007) have gone scoreless in four matches to open a season. Luis Amarilla scored the equalizer for Minnesota United on a penalty kick in the 54th minute.

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NFL-THIELEN

 

UNDATED (AP) – The Carolina Panthers have added yet another experienced veteran to their offense on Sunday night, agreeing to terms with free agent wide receiver Adam Thielen from the Minnesota Vikings. The 32-year-old Thielen was released earlier this offseason after spending the past nine seasons with the Vikings. The 32-year-old Thielen was released earlier this offseason after spending the past nine seasons with the Vikings, where he caught 534 passes for 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns in 135 games. Thielen caught 70 passes last season for 716 yards and six touchdowns while paired with All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The Panthers were in need of adding experience in the wide receiver room after trading D.J. Moore to the Chicago Bears. Last week the Panthers agreed to terms with running back Miles Sanders, tight end Hayden Hurst and quarterback Andy Dalton, providing the offense more experience at the skill positions.

 

 

 

 

MINOT, ND – Central Cass completed an defeated season defeating Shiloh Christian in the State Class B Boys Basketball Tournament championship. The Squirrels finished 26-0 and swept both the boys and girls B Tournaments in 2023.

 

 

State Tournament – Bismarck Event Center
7th Place
Medina-Pingree-Buchanan def. Warwick, 68-51
5th Place
#4 Thompson def. Powers Lake-Burke Central, 72-61
3rd Place
#3 Beulah def. #5 Des Lacs-Burlington, 66-57
Championship
#1 Central Cass def. #2 Shiloh Christian, 61-44

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NORTH DAKOTA MR. BASKETBALL

 

MINOT, ND – Minot High senior standout Darik Dissette was named North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Mr. Basketball on Saturday. The North Dakota Mr. Basketball Award is presented and voted on by members of the the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. The honor is given to the top senior player in the state. Finalists for the 2023 ND Mr. Basketball Award were Dissette, Dickinson’s Alex Dvorak, Powers Lake-Burke Central’s Tyson Enget, Bismarck Century’s Ryan Erikson, Grand Forks Red River’s Zach Kraft and North Border’s Ayden Stainbrook. Dissette, who is signed to play men’s basketball at North Dakota State University, averaged 27.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game this season for the Magicians. Dissette finished his prep career with 1,754 points, which is the Minot High program record for career scoring.

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MINOT MINOTAUROS

 

MINOT, ND (MINOTAUROS) – The two games between the Minot Minotauros and the St Cloud Norsemen this weekend were almost mirror images, at least scoreline-wise. The Norsemen rescued a weekend split with a 3-1 victory Saturday night after the Tauros opened the weekend with a 4-1 win Friday night. The Tauros, courtesy of the weekend split, find themselves still in fifth in the Central Division at 25-25-1-1 with 52 points and three points back of fourth-place Aberdeen Wings. Next up the Minotauros hit the road on back-to-back weekends with a chance to pull themselves back into the playoff picture. Next weekend the Tauros are in North Iowa and then the weekend after the Tauros head to Aberdeen.

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MINOT STATE WOMEN’S HOCKEY

 

BOSTON, Mass. (MSU) – For the second time in two games at nationals, Jordan Kulbida twice found the back of the net for Minot State. The recently named ACHA Second-Team All-American scored a short-handed goal to open the scoring, then added a late insurance goal as the third-ranked Minot State Beavers netted a 3-1 win over No. 6 Maryville (Mo.) in the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at the ACHA Division I Women’s National Tournament. The Beavers (23-10-2 overall) next play a semifinal game on Sunday at 3 p.m. (Ct) against Midland (Neb.).

 

Kulbida put Minot State on the board with her third of the National Tournament with 9 minutes, 22 seconds gone in the second period, a short-handed goal assisted by Denali Sigurdson. That lead lasted for just over four minutes before the Beavers added to it with a power-play goal that proved to be the game winner. With 6:30 left in the second, Gillian Gervin scored her first of the National Tournament for a 2-0 lead off assists from Ensley Fendelet and Sydney Spicer. There it stayed as Minot State goalie Haylie Biever kept the Saints off the scoreboard almost the entire way. Minot State added one more, though, as Kulbida scored an unassisted goal with 3:51 left to play for her fourth of the weekend in Massachusetts. The only blemish on the day ended up being a power-play goal by Maryville with 33 seconds left on the clock, spoiling the shutout bid for Biever, who finished the game with 25 saves.

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MINOT STATE WOMEN’S SOFTBALL

 

MINOT, N.D. (MSU) – Sophomore pitcher Reegan Floyd racked up a career-high 13 strikeouts and recorded her first no-hitter in the circle, leading the way for Minot State which swept a non-conference doubleheader from Regina, 8-0 and 11-1 on Saturday in the Air-Supported Bubble on the MSU campus. Floyd (5-5) dominated in the circle in the opener while freshman teammate Kierra Fournier (2-3) did the same in the second game as she struck out eight and scattered two hits as the Beavers (11-9 overall) returned to the field for the first time in three weeks with two dominating wins. The two teams meet for another non-conference doubleheader on Sunday at noon in “The Bubble.” Gabi Dawyduk gave Minot State an early lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning in the opener, then Paige Kellogg’s two-run single made it 3-0 in the bottom of the third. Minot State stretched the lead to 6-0 on a three-run double by Courtney Chatburn in the same inning, then the Beavers finished off the 8-run, mercy-rule victory as pinch-runner Taylor Smith scored on an error and Taryn Bennett scored the game-ending run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth. Kellogg led the offensive with a pair of hits in the opener. In the nightcap, the Beavers again struck in their first at-bat as Brooklyn Morrison doubled in a run before Minot State tacked on four in the bottom of the second. Bennett, Sara Van Wickler, and Izzy Penner each drove in a run and Smith stole home for a 5-0 lead. A lead that grew to 11-0 in the fourth as Van Wickler had an inside-the-park home run to ignite a six-run rally that saw Morrison and Ann LaCount each drive in a pair of runs, and Bennett added the other RBI. Penner, Morrison, and Bennett each picked up a pair of hits to lead Minot State’s offense in game two.

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UND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

 

LEXINGTON, K.Y. (UND) – The University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks (19-12) took home the win against the Northern Illinois Huskies (16-16), 102-99 (OT) . This was the first overtime game of the season. Head Coach Mallory Bernhard notches her first winning season in her 3rd season as head coach of the Fighting Hawks. This win is UND women’s basketball first national postseason win in the Division I era. Kacie Borowicz led with 35 points and six assists. She also drew ten fouls. Claire Orth scored 19 points. Orth is 13 points away from 1,000 career points as a Hawk. She hit her fifth three of the season in the fourth quarter. Juliet Gordon had 16 points and led with eight rebounds. Joli Daninger had 11 points. DJ Davis had her best game of the season. She had eight points, played 26 minutes, and went two for two from the line.

 

North Dakota started the game off hungry. The Huskies drew blood first the Hawks would answer right back. These two teams traded baskets for the first four minutes of the game before UND would take their first lead of the game., 9-8. The game would be tied up again at 11, just a short two minutes later. Before DJ Davis would steal the ball with a pass to Gordon for the jumper just outside the paint, 13-11. North Dakota pulled away late in the first to end the quarter 21-13. NIU’s Grace Hunter took a three point jumper to start the quarter, which Borowicz would match a minute later to extend the lead back to eight. The Fighting Hawks battled hard to tie the game four successive times at 28, 30,32, and 34. They would take a one point lead into the locker room, 38-37. The Northern Illinois Huskies came out strong in the third quarter going on a 6-0 run to start the stanza. The Hawks kept the game close fighting back from a eight point deficit. However, they would be down six heading into the final ten minutes of regulation. The Fighting Hawks flew back late in the fourth quarter, when Claire Orth would make her fifth three point basket of the season to give North Dakota the 83-81 led. This was the first time UND pulled away since halftime. However, Gordon would take a foul on A’Jah Davis would drop both from the line to tie it up at 83. Orth than converted a layup to take the lead. Following that, with 40 seconds left Orth sent Chelby Koker to the line who would make both to send the game into overtime at 85 aside. In the thirty first game of the season, brought the Fighting Hawks a new challenge, overtime. They shot a scolding 80% from the floor. Two veterans, Gordon and Davis, led the offensive with five points apiece. Gordon also led the way with one rebound and one crucial steal in the extra frame. Borowicz capped off her 35-point performance with a go-ahead layup and followed by a successful free throw to give UND 100 points. She would than add one more made free throw followed by a made foul shot by Gordon to give the Hawks some insurance. Final score 102-99.

 

North Dakota will play tday against Florida International University at 1:30 pm CT.

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WOLVES-RAPTORS

 

TORONTO (AP) — Pascal Siakam had 27 points and 10 rebounds and the Toronto Raptors extended their season-high home winning streak to seven by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-107. Jakob Poeltl had 14 points and 11 rebounds while matching his career high with a fourth straight double-double. The Raptors improved to 24-4 all-time in home meetings with Minnesota. Fred VanVleet scored 28 points for Toronto, Gary Trent Jr. had 19, O.G. Aunoby 15 and Scottie Barnes 10. Rudy Gobert had 14 points and 12 rebounds and Naz Reid scored 22 points for the Timberwolves, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back. Minnesota lost in double overtime at Chicago on Friday, and didn’t arrive at its Toronto hotel until 5 a.m. Saturday. The Wolves played without guard Anthony Edwards, who left in the first quarter Friday because of a sprained right ankle. Coach Chris Finch said Edwards is using a walking boot, adding there’s no timetable for his return. A first–time All-Star this season, Edwards was injured when he landed awkwardly after jumping while throwing a pass. Jaden McDaniels scored 18 points as the slumping Wolves lost their third straight and fifth in six.

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WILD-BRUINS

 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — David Pastrnak scored his 47th goal of the season and Linus Ullmark made 29 saves as the Boston Bruins beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2. Jake DeBrusk, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron and Trent Frederic also scored for Boston, which has won two in a row as it seeks to surpass the record 62 wins and 132 points in a season. Pastrnak has six goals and seven assists in his past eight games. Marcus Johansson and Oskar Sundqvist, both acquired by Minnesota at the trade deadline, scored goals. Filip Gustavsson stopped 34 shots in goal for the Wild. Minnesota, which started the day one point behind Dallas for first and two points ahead of Colorado in the Central Division, hadn’t lost in regulation since Feb. 15 against the Avalanche. The Wild were 11-0-3 in a franchise-record, 14-game point streak.

 

 

 

 

MINOT, ND – It’s the final day of the State Class B Boys Basketball Tournament. We’ll broadcast the Powers Lake-Burke Central and Des Lacs-Burlington games on 106.9 K-Heart, online at khrt.com, and through the Live 365 app.

 

 

State Tournament – Bismarck Event Center
Consolation
Powers Lake-Burke Central def. Medina-Pingree-Buchanan, 64-62
#4 Thompson def. Warwick, 83-67
Semifinal
#2 Shiloh Christian def. #3 Beulah, 65-61 OT
#1 Central Cass def. #5 Des Lacs-Burlington, 64-57

 

Today’s schedule
7th Place
Medina-Pingree-Buchanan vs Warwick, 1 pm
5th Place
#4 Thompson vs Powers Lake-Burke Central, 2:30 pm (HEARD ON 106.9 FM)
3rd Place
#3 Beulah vs #5 Des Lacs-Burlington, 6 pm (HEARD ON 106.9 FM)
Championship
#1 Central Cass vs #2 Shiloh Christian, 8 pm

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MINOT STATE MEN’S HOCKEY

 

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. (MSU) – Game No. 1, no problem. Following the example set by the Minot State women one night before, the top-ranked Minot State men’s hockey team steam-rolled to a first-round, shutout win at the ACHA National Tournament. Getting goals from eight different players, the Beavers beat No. 17 Michigan-Dearborn, 8-0 on Friday night. On Thursday, the third-ranked Minot State women rolled past Miami (Ohio) 7-0 in their ACHA National opener. With the win, the Beavers (32-3-0 overall) move into the quarterfinals on Sunday night at 7 p.m. (CT) against the winner of Saturday night’s first-round matchup between No. 9 Maryvillle (Mo.) and No. 8 Indiana Tech.

 

Jay Buchholz got the onslaught started, scoring the eventual game-winner with 5 minutes, 49 seconds gone in the first period off assists from Sheldin Howard and Joey Moffatt. Troy Hamilton pushed the lead to 2-0 just 3:03 later off assists from Wayde Johannesson and Connor Navrot, then Beavers captain Davis Sheldon scored with 3:57 left before the first intermission off a Brayden Pawluk assist, and the rout was underway. Cochrane pushed the lead with 4-0 midway through the second period, then Pawluk and Drew Carter scored 20 seconds apart for a commanding 6-0 advantage at the end of two periods. Reece Henry and Buchholz assisted on Cochrane’s goal, Minot State goalie Jake Anthony assisted on Pawluk’s goal, and Cochrane and Christian Kadolph assisted on Carter’s goal. Minot State then got third-period goals from Moffatt and Reid Arnold to ice the win. Eric Soar and Buchholz assisted on Moffatt’s goal, and Sheldon and Moffatt set up Arnold’s final score. Anthony finished with 16 saves in goal for the Beavers, recording his fifth shutout of the season.

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UND MEN’S HOCKEY

 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (UND) – Zach Okabe scored at 5:45 of overtime to lead No. 7 St. Cloud State to a 3-2 victory over No. 17 North Dakota in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Semifinals from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. UND (18-15-6) sees its season come to an end in overtime for the third straight year and fifth time in the last six seasons. The Fighting Hawks held a 2-1 lead heading into the third period on a goal from Judd Caulfield just past the midway point of the contest, but Jami Krannila knotted the game with his 20th tally of the season on a rush at 5:06 of the final stanza to send the game into the extra session. In the overtime, Griffin Ness, who was last weekend’s hero against Omaha on Sunday to send UND to St. Paul, nearly had a chance to win it, but the puck rolled off his stick with a yawning cage before Okabe struck less than two minutes later to send the Huskies (23-12-3) into the championship game against No. 7 seed Colorado College. Drew DeRidder finished with 18 saves on 21 shots in his final collegiate game, collecting only his second loss in his last 10 starts. The fifth year was crucial in the dying moments of regulation, making a trio of grade-A stops to prevent SCSU from grabbing a late winner.

 

North Dakota jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the contest, with Ethan Frisch burying a power play goal on a great passing play from Jake Schmaltz and Jackson Blake for the senior’s seven tally of the season. SCSU answered back with a power play goal of its own from Veeti Miettinen to even the game at 1-1 after 20 minutes of play. UND took control in the second period, outshooting the Huskies by an 11-3 margin and moving back in front on the tally from Caulfield to carry the lead and the momentum into the final frame. It was SCSU who had a bit more jump to begin the third; however, eventually tying the game at 2-2 before a back-and-forth remainder of the period sent the game into overtime. Following a great penalty kill and a bevy of chances for the Fighting Hawks, it was St. Cloud State who ended the game on Okabe’s rush to the net and backhander over DeRidder to hand UND only its second loss in overtime in 11 contests.

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UND WOMEN’S BAKETBALL

 

LEXINGTON, K.Y. (UND) – The University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks (18-12) dropped their first round game at the WBI Tournament to the California Baptist Lancers (20-13), 96-79. Kacie Borowicz led with 20 points and four assists. Juliet Gordon earned for second straight double-double with 11 points and led with 12 boards. This is her 5th of the season. North Dakota trailed from the start when CBU drained a three with the first possession and continued to dominate in the first period on a 9-3 run. The Lancers outscored the Hawks 29-17 in the first. The second, North Dakota started to put some things together. They would outscore the Lancers by one, heading into the locker room trailing by eleven. The third quarter UND went on an 8-0 run, things started to pick up. North Dakota brought the deficit down to seven. North Dakota came out and pushed hard trying to gain some ground late, coming within five. However a 25 point fourth quarter by the Lancers made it difficult for the Hawks to gain any ground. At the final buzzer, UND lost by 17. North Dakota will play against Norther Illinois at 4:30 pm CT today in the consolation bracket.

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NDSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

 

EUGENE, Ore. (NDSU) – The North Dakota State women’s basketball team fell short against Oregon, 96-57, in front of 2,703 fans in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) at Matthew Knight Arena on Friday night. NDSU finishes the season winning its most games in a single season since 2004-05 with an 18-12 overall record. The Bison also made their first appearance in the WNIT in program history. Oregon improves to 18-14 and will advance to the second round and host Rice on Monday night. Heaven Hamling paced the Bison with a team-high 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field. She also hauled in a team-best six rebounds with three assists. Elle Evans finished the season hitting double figures in scoring in 14 straight games with 15 points to go along with five rebounds. Taylor Brown, who played her 125th career game, netted 10 points with two assists and two rebounds. Abby Schulte rounded out the top performers reaching the 100-assist mark this season with a career-high 103 after passing out a team-high seven and chipped in four points. As a team, NDSU shot 35.4 percent (23-65) from the field and 27.8 percent (5-18) from three. The Bison also hauled in 29 rebounds and passed out 14 assists.

 

Both teams battled through a fast-paced opening quarter as Oregon jumped out to a 12-5 lead by the 4:34 mark. The Bison then put together a 6-2 run with triples from Evans and Katie Hildebrandt to pull within three, 14-11, with 2:42 to play in the quarter. The Ducks led after the first quarter of play, 19-15. Oregon then erupted in the second frame outscoring NDSU, 22-7. The Ducks strung together a momentum shifting 16-0 run to stretch their edge to 39-19 lead with 1:30 to play in the half and led at the intermission, 41-22. The Bison weren’t able to cut the deficit down any further in the second half and went on to drop the contest, 96-57.

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WOLVES-BULLS

 

CHICAGO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 49 points, Zach LaVine finished with 39 and the Chicago Bulls beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 139-131 in double overtime. Nikola Vucevic added 21 points and 11 rebounds. It was 132-129 when Vucevic brought the Bulls bench to its feet with a thunderous one-handed dunk for a three-point play with just over a minute left. Minnesota’s Naz Reid drove for a layup to make it a four-point game. But DeRozan made four free throws in the final 36 seconds to help Chicago come away with a wild win. Minnesota All-Star Anthony Edwards left with a sprained right ankle in the first quarter. Edwards was hurt late in the first quarter when he landed awkwardly after jumping while throwing a pass. He stayed down clutching his ankle before being helped to the back, and coach Chris Finch wasn’t sure how long he’ll be out, though Edwards wasn’t ruling out playing at Toronto today.

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VIKINGS-FREE AGENTS

 

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms on a contract with former Green Bay defensive end Dean Lowry on Friday, bringing in a replacement for the departed Dalvin Tomlinson. Lowry was a free agent who played the last seven years with the Packers. He started 80 of 111 games with 27 tackles for loss and 15 1/2 sacks and played multiple seasons there with current Vikings assistants Mike Smith and Mike Pettine on staff. Lowry is the latest in a long line of players to go directly from Green Bay to rival Minnesota, following outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith and cornerback Chandon Sullivan last year. Sullivan became a free agent. Smith remains under contract. Tomlinson was a free agent who signed with Cleveland. The Vikings also re-signed backup offensive lineman Austin Schlottman for depth behind center Garrett Bradbury and the guard spots.

 

 

 

MINOT, ND – Des Lacs-Burlington is making the most of their first trip to the State B in 25 years, as they play in the semifinals tonight. We’ll broadcast the Powers Lake-Burke Central and Des Lacs-Burlington games on 106.9 K-Heart, online at khrt.com, and through the Live 365 app.

 

 

State Tournament – Bismarck Event Center
First Round
#2 Shiloh Christian def. Powers Lake-Burke Central, 69-38
#3 Beulah def. Medina-Pingree-Buchanan, 48-31
#1 Central Cass def. Warwick, 58-46
#5 Des Lacs-Burlington def. #4 Thompson, 55-48

 

Today’s schedule
Consolation
Powers Lake-Burke Central vs Medina-Pingree-Buchanan, 1 pm (HEARD ON 106.9 FM)
#4 Thompson vs Warwick, 2:45 pm
Semifinal
#2 Shiloh Christian vs #3 Beulah, 6:30 pm
#1 Central Cass vs #5 Des Lacs-Burlington, 8:15 pm (HEARD ON 106.9 FM)

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MINOT STATE WOMEN’S HOCKEY

 

BOSTON, Mass. (MSU) – The trip to Boston started just the way the Beavers wanted late Thursday night: With a convincing victory. All-time career shutout leader Jordan Ivanco made 16 saves in goal for the third-ranked Minot State women’s hockey team, and her teammates unleashed an early offensive assault as the Beavers skated to a 7-0 win over No. 10-ranked Miami (Ohio) in the final first-round game of the ACHA Division I Women’s National Tournament.

 

Freshman Cameron Schmidt got things started for Minot State in her first trip to nationals as she scored what proved to be the game-winner just 3 minutes, 24 seconds into the action off an assist from Riley Ball. That opened the floodgates on a goal-rush for the Beavers (22-10-2 overall) who put four pucks in the net in a 3 minute, 14 second stretch. Jordan Kulbida, fresh off being named an ACHA Second Team All-American earlier in the week, made it 2-0 just 56 seconds later with an unassisted goal, then Gracie Perry also scored unassisted 1:12 after that for a commanding 3-0 lead. Kulbida finished off the fast start with her second of the game with just 6:38 gone from the first-period clock, putting Minot State well on its way to victory in front 4-0. Megan Norris assisted on Kulbida’s second of the day. From there, the Beavers kept tacking on insurance goal after insurance goal as Paige Ackerman scored with 8 seconds left before the first intermission, off a Kulbida assist, then Norris scored 1:14 into the second period off an Ackerman assist. Ball then capped the scoring for Minot State, putting away an assist from Norris with 1:29 gone in the third period for the 7-0 victory. The shutout was the 18th of Ivanco’s record-setting career at Minot State.

 

A victory that sends Minot State into the national quarterfinals on Saturday when the Beavers play Maryville (Mo.) at noon (CT). Miami plays a loser-out game Friday against Arizona State. The Beavers now face a Saints team that beat Arizona State 2-0 on Thursday. The teams played twice to open the 2022-23 season back on Oct. 7 and 8 with Minot State beating the Saints 5-4 on Friday and the Saints winning 2-1 on Saturday.

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NORTH DAKOTA HOCKEY-HONORS

 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (UND) – A pair of North Dakota student-athletes were honored on Thursday evening at the annual NCHC Awards Celebration from the St. Paul Event Center. Freshman forward Jackson Blake was named NCHC Rookie of the Year while senior defenseman Ethan Frisch earned NCHC Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year to headline the banquet.

 

Blake led all NCHC rookies in conference-only scoring with 29 points, tying for second among all players in 24 NCHC games. It’s the third-most points by a freshman in conference play in NCHC history. Blake scored 10 goals and added 19 assists, which were second-most in conference play this year and first among freshmen. The Carolina Hurricanes draft pick was a two-time NCHC Rookie of the Month this year and finished the regular season with 40 points (15g/25a) in 35 games. The 40 points rank second among NCHC rookies and fourth among all NCHC players. The freshman is the third player at North Dakota to win NCHC Rookie of the Year, joining Brock Boeser in 2015-16 and Shane Pinto in 2019-20. Blake has registered 13 multi-point games this season, is only the 14th rookie at North Dakota since 1999-00 to have at least 15 goals in his first season and the sixth freshman with 40-plus points since the turn of the century.

 

Frisch earned the league’s most prestigious academic award, becoming the second UND player to be selected for the honor (Nick Mattson – 2015). The defenseman is a four-time NCHC All-Academic Team, NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and three-time AHCA All-America Scholar during his career while also contributing nearly 40 hours of community service to multiple local events and charities. On the ice, the marketing major has appeared in 125 games with 19 goals and 28 assists for 46 points. In those 125 contests, Frisch has only been whistled for 26 penalties and is a plus-23 rating. The Moorhead, Minn., native currently paces the NCHC with 67 blocked shots this season and has 127 blocks over the last two years.

 

North Dakota hits the ice for the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Semifinal against No. 7 St. Cloud State tonight at 7:37 p.m. from the Xcel Energy Center.

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NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL-BRACKETS

 

UNDATED (AP) – From No. 13 seed Furman beating fourth-seeded Virginia to No. 15 Princeton defeating second-seeded Arizona, most NCAA Tournament brackets were busted Thursday before the sun went down. The NCAA March Madness Twitter account posted after Thursday’s late games concluded that only 787 brackets of unspecified millions remained perfect. Numbers were similar elsewhere. In ESPN’s Tournament Challenge bracket game, only 658 perfect brackets remained by the end of the first day. More than 20 million had gotten at least one of the 16 games wrong. Furman received a decent amount of support. The Paladins were picked to win their opener in 18.2% of ESPN’s brackets. Only 6.6% picked Princeton to beat Arizona, and the Wildcats going down did tremendous damage to many brackets. They were picked in 4.9% of brackets to cut down the nets at the national championship game. Arizona was a popular pick at CBS Sports, too, appearing on 96.9% of brackets win its opener, 84.9% to make the Sweet 16, 55.2% to make the Elite Eight, 21.5% to reach the Final Four and 5% to win it all.