Warriors advance in NCTC Holiday Tournament with 85-42 win over Badger-Greenbush-Middle River

NCTC Holiday Tournament – Red Lake 85 vs. Badger-Greenbush-Middle River 43

The Red Lake Warriors showcased to everyone why they want to win the NCTC Holiday Tournament Championship back to back years with a stellar performance opening up the tournament Thursday afternoon in Thief River Falls. A slow start for the Warriors eventually led to a intensified defense that sparked several baskets off of turnovers for Red Lake. The Warriors would blow open a 52-18 lead at halftime and to add to the punishment, starting out the second half on a 13-0 run. Keeping a heavy rotation of players going in and out, the Red Lake Warriors wore down an inexperienced Gator team and came away with a big win to kick off the NCTC Holiday Tournament.

Red Lake has won the championship in this tournament three times in the last four years.

Red Lake had 42 rebounds, 12 steals, shot 5-10 from the free throw line and had 23 turnovers in the win

Rob McClain 25 points (3-4 FTs), 14 rebounds, five steals

Jamie Cook 17 points (3 threes), three rebounds

Kendall Whitefeather 13 points and a steal

Justin Barrett seven points, three rebounds and a steal

Warriors now 3-0 with the win.

Badger/Greenbush/Middle River had 13 rebounds, seven steals, shot 9-14 from the free throw line and had 28 turnovers

Yannik Kroeler-Fernendez had nine points (5-6 FTs) off the bench playing only 16 minutes

Austin Aune seven points, four rebounds, two steals

Connor Graff eight points, two rebounds, two steals

Gators start off the season 0-1 with the loss.

In other NCTC action.

NCTC Holiday Tournament – Cass Lake/Bena 87 vs. Clearbrook/Gonvick 34

Cass Lake/Bena ended the game 12-23 from the free throw line, had 29 rebounds, 25 steals, 12 turnovers

Jarrell Jacobs 17 points (7-10 FTs)

Jordan Newago 14 points, three rebounds

Terick Frazier 11 points, 10 steals

Arnold Kingbird 11 points, six rebounds, seven steals

Jared Brown 10 points, three rebounds

Panthers are now 1-0 on the year with the win.

Clearbrook/Gonvick was 6-12 from the free throw line, had 28 rebounds, four steals and 37 turnovers

Nathaneal Dahl 17 points, 12 rebounds

Bears now 0-2 with the loss.

NCTC Holiday Tournament – Fertile-Beltrami 72 vs. Red Lake County 38

Fertile/Beltrami was 10-22 from the free throw line, had 39 rebounds, 15 steals, 18 turnovers

John Larsen 17 points, nine rebounds

Dillon Sannes 12 points (4 threes), five rebounds

Dylan Van Den Eide 11 points, four rebounds

Isaiah Horgeshimer six points, five rebounds

Vincent Benesh seven points (3-4 FTs), four rebounds, two steals

Falcons now 1-1 with the win.

Red Lake County was 20-35 from the free throw line, had 26 rebounds, nine steals, 24 turnovers

Justin Nemec 11 points (all second half), five rebounds

Ethan Vettelson 10 points, four rebounds, three steals

Rebels start the season 0-1 with the loss.

Photographs by Michael James Good