Cass Lake-Bena boys earn top seed in Section 8-A East basketball tournament

The Cass Lake-Bena boys basketball team received the top seed in the East Sub-Section 8A boys basketball tournament and the Panthers will take a 23-3 record into Thursday’s playoff opener.

The tournament began Monday with three play-in games, including a battle between No. 9 Lake of the Woods and No. 8 Clearbrook-Gonvick. C-G won to earn a shot at CL-B.

Thursday’s quarterfinals will be played at Bemidji State and Bemidji High School.

Cass Lake-Bena and Clearbrook-Gonvick will tangle at BSU at 6 p.m. Thursday’s other game at BSU will find No. 4 Kelliher-Northome facing No. 5 Blackduck. That game is scheduled for a 7:45 p.m. start.

Across town at the high school No. 2 Fosston will face No. 7 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley at 6 p.m. Following that game No. 3 Red Lake will battle No. 6 Mahnomen.

The scene shifts to the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls for Saturday’s sub-section semifinals and the title game on March 13.

Bagley will begin its Section 8-2A action 7 p.m. Thursday at home and the probable opponent will be Roseau.

The Flyers are expected to be the second seed while the Rams should be ranked seventh. While most sections had set their tournament schedules over the weekend, Section 8-2A was waiting for the results of a game that was rescheduled for Monday before determining its bracket.

Girls basketball

Top-seeded Clearbrook-Gonvick and No. 2 Red Lake County Central will lock horns 7:45 p.m. today at the REA in Thief River Falls for the East Sub-Section 8A championship.

The Bears advanced to the contest by downing Mahnomen 61-27 and Lake of the Woods 63-44.

RLCC’s path to tonight’s game included a 67-34 win over Cass Lake-Bena and a 54-41 victory over Fosston.

Kelliher-Northome lost in the quarterfinals 57-46 to Fosston. Katey Lutz had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Mustangs and Kelly Heck added 11 points. Carrie Carrigan contributed eight rebounds.

“In the first half we played our game but we fell apart offensively in the second half and only put up 19 points,” said K-N coach Justin Lundin.

“At half time we were feeling confident. We were playing our game and in position to take the game over in the second half. But the shots didn’t fall and it wasn’t meant to be.”

Bagley ended its year 12-15 after losing 63-40 to Pequot Lakes in the first round of the Section 8-2A playoffs.

Pequot Lakes and Crosby-Ironton meet tonight for the East sub-section title while Hawley and Pelican Rapids square off in the West.

The championship game is Friday at Concordia-Moorhead.