Cass Lake Panthers win Section 8A Tournament; advance to State Tournament in Minneapolis

From KKCQ Sports

Section 8A Championship – Ada-Borup 53 at Cass Lake Bena 66

The Cass Lake Bena Panthers can score the basketball, but their defense would prove to be too much for Ada Borup on Friday Night, and for the first time since 2010, Cass Lake Bena is off to the State tournament.

The Cougars scored first, but the Panthers would go on a 7-0 run, and never let the lead slip away. They packed in their man to man defense with tight coverage all game long, and didn't let the Cougars get too close. After leading by 17 in the first half, the Panthers would stretch it to 19 in the second half. Ada Borup cut the lead to 12, but that would be as close as it would get.

Cass Lake Bena (29-1)

18 turnovers, 9-12 free throws, 29 rebounds

Raul Washington 17 points, 5 rebounds

Jarell Jacobs 14 points

Noah Delapaz 11 points

Ada Borup (24-5)

17 turnovers, 29 rebounds, 12-18 free throws

Mason Miller 13 points 12 rebounds

Miguel Garcia III 12 points

Tommy Stewart 8 points

Connor Thompson 6 points

Jared Brainerd 5 points

Colby Stevenson 4 points

Sam Visser 2 points

The Cougars graduate Robert Whiting, Nick Hagan, Luke Nelson, Connor Thompson, Miguel Garcia III, Sam Visser

Section 6A Championship – Hancock at Mahnomen Waubun 71

In their first year as a coop, the Mahnomen Waubun Thunderbirds are headed to the state tournament as section 6A champions! It was a true classic for the 6A title between these very talented, quick basketball teams. Both teams came out shooting the ball well with neither team being able to build more than a 5 point lead. The Thunderbirds would lead at the half 36-32 after a first half that would see 9 lead changes and 4 ties. In the 2nd half Hancock would rely on the shooting of their senior guard Noah Kannegieser who would hit shots from all over the floor, but the Thunderbirds would go back to the lock down defense not giving any of the Owls good looks. The THunderbirds would also crash the boards out rebounding Hancock for the game. As time wound down Hancock would miss some key shots and the Thunderbirds would hit the boards and make free throws to seal the deal and punch their ticket to the state tournament. Mahnomen Waubun is now 18-11, while Hancock ends their season at 25-3.

M/W stats

11 of 22 from the line 44 rebounds, 11 turnovers

Treston Spalla 22 pts

Dion Bower 18 pts

Jayden Heisler 13 pts

Jon Starkey 21 rebounds

Hancock stats

Noah Kannegieser 32 pts 10 rbds

Bennet Nienhaus 15 pts

Girls Basketball

MN Class A Consolation Semfinal – #3 Ada-Borup/Norman County West 74 vs. Stephen Argyle 56

Cougars will play for 5th place on Saturday morning at 9am at Concordia University Saint Paul vs Heritage Christian Academy on KRJB 106.5FM & rjbroadcasting.com with coverage to begin at 8:15am.