K-HEART SPORTS – THURSDAY – 02/01/24
MINOT, ND – Minot High is atop both Class AA high school basketball polls again this week. The polls are voted on by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NDAPSSA).
Class AA Girls Basketball Poll
Team (1st Place Votes) Record Polling Points Last Week
1. Minot High (14) 14-2 82 1
2. Bismarck Century (3) 13-1 69 2
3. Grand Forks Red River 13-2 46 4
4. Fargo Davies 10-2 24 3
5. Bismarck Legacy 12-3 20 5
1. Minot High (14) 14-2 82 1
2. Bismarck Century (3) 13-1 69 2
3. Grand Forks Red River 13-2 46 4
4. Fargo Davies 10-2 24 3
5. Bismarck Legacy 12-3 20 5
Others receiving votes: West Fargo Horace (12-2), Mandan (10-5)
Class AA Boys Basketball Poll
Team (1st Place Votes) Record Polling Points Last Week
1. Minot High (9) 14-1 73 1
2. Bismarck High (5) 11-5 56 5
3. Fargo Davies (2) 10-3 48 3
4. Bismarck Century (1) 12-2 46 2
5. West Fargo Sheyenne 11-4 24 RV
1. Minot High (9) 14-1 73 1
2. Bismarck High (5) 11-5 56 5
3. Fargo Davies (2) 10-3 48 3
4. Bismarck Century (1) 12-2 46 2
5. West Fargo Sheyenne 11-4 24 RV
Other receiving votes: Fargo South (9-5), Dickinson (10-5), Fargo North (9-5)
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MSU WOMENS HOCKEY
JAMESTOWN, N.D. (MSU) – In the first of two postponed games from mid-January, the Minot State women’s hockey team quickly returned to the ice for a weekday clash with Jamestown. It was the final road game of the regular season for the Beavers, with an opportunity to head into the last five home games strong. Minot State (15-10-0) continues to have Jamestown’s number, as they defeated the Jimmies (12-10-0) by a final score of 4-1. The Beavers jumped up to an early 2-0 lead in the first period, as they wasted no time to bury Jamestown in a multi-goal deficit. Minot took charge with two goals in a 36-second span, including one on the power play in the first period of action. The middle frame remained scoreless, as period three started the same with the Beavers up 2-0. With seven minutes gone in the third, the Jimmies showed signs of life after cutting the lead in half. That momentum was quickly silenced after the Beavers got back up to two scores nearly a couple minutes later. Minot would secure the nail in the coffin within the final four minutes of regulation to win 4-1 on the road. A key team stat stands out from the night: in all four goals, 11 players recorded a point. The Beaver offense continues to share the wealth amongst the roster. Getting the party started was Olivia Opheim scoring her fifth goal of the season in a two-point performance. Krissy Rink swiftly put in her team-leading eighth goal on the power play that was assisted by Opheim. After Jamestown responded, Kaitlyn Snyder grabbed a huge goal to put the Beaves back in control. Her fourth of the year was followed by Gillian Gervin getting her sixth to put a cap on the scoring. Haylie Biever was stout in net as the starter for Minot. She turned down 24 of 25 shots from Jamestown in the win. The Beavers picked up their fifth win of the season versus Jamestown and 14th in the all-time series. Both squads will meet again next Wednesday on February 7 to complete the rescheduled series. However, the week does not stop there for Minot State. They will play again three days later to reignite an old high-profile matchup from the ACHA division two era with Assiniboine Community College. Two games at Maysa Arena versus the Cougars are scheduled for February 10 and 11.
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MSU FOOTBALL-SCHEDULE
MINOT, N.D. (MSU) – A familiar foe that hasn’t seen the turf at First Western Bank Field at Herb Parker Stadium in quite some time provides an early-season, exciting highlight for the Beavers who are pleased to announce their 2024 football schedule. A rivalry dating back to the second season of Beaver football back in 1926 is renewed after a 14-year hiatus as Minot State kicks off the 2024 season by hosting the Valley City State Vikings on Thursday night, August 29, at 6 p.m. The Beavers’ battle with the Vikings is the oldest rivalry in Minot State football history and the Beavers hold the all-time series edge, 44-31-3, which includes a 34-3 Minot State victory at home on Sept. 25, 2010 – the team’s last head-to-head meeting. The renewed rivalry kicks off an 11-game slate for the Beavers that features 10 NSIC contests and six home games for Minot State at First Western Bank Field at Herb Parker Stadium.
After kicking off the season by renewing a non-conference rivalry, the Beavers hunker down for the tough NSIC race as they head to Southwest Minnesota State on September 7 to kick off league play. Back home the next weekend, it will be another exciting edition of Beaver football at “The Herb” as Minot State hosts Northern State on Saturday, September 14, for homecoming. Week four of the season has the Beavers back on the road as they play at Minnesota State, Mankato on September 21 before returning home to close out September on Saturday the 28th hosting Sioux Falls. October begins with Minot State back on the road playing at Wayne State on October 5 before reigning NSIC Champion Augustana heads to The Magic City on Saturday, October 12, to play the Beavers at First Western Bank Field at Herb Parker Stadium. Minot State then hits the road for two straight weekends, closing out the away portion of its schedule with “The Battle of the Beavers” on October 19 at Bemidji State, then Minot State plays at Minnesota Duluth on October 26. That means November is all at home for the Beavers who host Minnesota State Moorhead on Saturday, November 2, then after a bye week, Minot State wraps up the 2024 regular season by hosting Winona State on Saturday, November 16. Kick-off for Minot State’s NSIC games are tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m., but game times are subject to change.
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HONEYBEES
MINOT, ND – The Northwoods League came to Minot with the Hot Tots playing their inaugural season in 2023 and the announcement of a womens softball league to come. On Wednesday the name of that new team was revealed. General Manager Monica Hocking said the Minot Honeybees are part of the first for-profit summer collegiate softball league in the country. The league will start off with four teams in Minot, Mankato MN, LaCrosse WI, and Madison WI. Hocking says they’ve started recruiting players. The Honeybees schedule features 42 games, including 12 dates with 21 games at Corbet Field. Their first game at Corbett Field is June 25.
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TIMBERWOLVES-MAVS
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 29 points and nine rebounds for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 121-87 victory over the depleted Dallas Mavericks, who played Wednesday night without stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Rudy Gobert scored 17 points and Naz Reid added 12 points for the West-leading Wolves (34-14). They endured a sluggish start until Towns sparked their surge with two 3-pointers in the last 35 seconds of the first half to give them the lead for good. Towns, who had 11 points in the third quarter, went 4 for 6 from 3-point range and is shooting a career-best 44.2% from deep. Doncic (sprained right ankle) and Irving (sprained right thumb) both sat for the third game this season, and the Mavericks have lost all three. They’ve played without at least one of them 26 times in 48 games. Josh Green had 18 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 14 points for the Mavericks. They shot just 6 for 29 from 3-point range against the NBA’s best scoring defense. This was the fewest points allowed by the Wolves this season. Anthony Edwards, who was fined $40,000 by the league earlier in the day for criticizing the officiating in Oklahoma City, had a quiet nine points for the Wolves without a single shot attempt after the first quarter. Mike Conley, who missed four of the previous five games with left hamstring soreness, returned to action with 10 points in 25 minutes. His 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter capped a 22-3 run. The Timberwolves host Orlando on Friday night.