Century defeats West Fargo for Class A girls title

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FARGO — Bismarck Century and West Fargo spent most of the year at the top of the Class A girls basketball poll.

So something had to give Saturday when the top-ranked Packers played the No. 2 Patriots in the state championship game.

Senior A.J. Jacobs hit two 3-pointers in the final two minutes to help Century to a 63-60 win over West Fargo at the Fargodome. It’s the Patriots’ second state championship in three years.

“I looked up at the clock, it was tied and there wasn’t much time left,” said Jacobs, who finished with 16 points. “I just knew we had to feed off each other, focus, concentrate and shut the door.”

Jacobs’ shots certainly swung the momentum in the favor of the Patriots late.

Her first 3-pointer made it 52-50 with two minutes to play. West Fargo’s Rachel Hummel answered on the other end with a layup to tie the game.

Jacobs responded with her second 3-pointer, making it 55-52 with 1:31 left. Century never trailed after that.

“Bismarck Century is a great team,” West Fargo head coach Barb Metcalf said. “I wish we would have come out on top, but the momentum did kind of swing their way when they hit a couple of those 3-pointers at the end.”

Century was 5 of 12 from beyond the arc with Jacobs going 3 of 4.

Hannah Larson added 13 points for the Patriots (22-3).

“We needed someone to hit some big shots,” Bismarck Century head coach Ron Metz said. “We called a special play for (A.J.) on one and the other one was just off a rotation where she got open. She knows that’s free for her to shoot … She’s proven she can knock those down and stretch the defense.”

West Fargo (23-2) led 32-28 at halftime, but never led by more than three points most of the second half. Century took several one-point leads in the second half, but it never stuck until Jacobs took over.

“It was a war,” Metcalf said. “It was a battle and I thought it was a heck of a championship game. Our girls played their hearts out. They have nothing to be ashamed off. We had a great season.”

The game was tied 46-all with four minutes to play. Lexi Lennon banked a long jumper off the glass to give West Fargo a 48-46 lead with 2:23 left to play. Tessa Delzer answered with a 3-pointer of Century continuing the see-saw second half.

“Whoever executed the most was going to win,” West Fargo senior Erin Krogh said. “We had some slip-ups here and there, but they executed the entire game. … It was back and forth, and whoever battled the most and had the most stamina was going to win it.”

CENTURY (22-3): Jacobs 5 3-4 16, Larson 4 5-6 13, Glatt 4 1-2 9, Ely 2 3-6 8, Delzer 2 1-2 6, Jeske 1 4-6 6, Govig 2 0-0 4, Schatz 0 1-2 1, Jossart 0 0-0 0. Totals 20-52 18-28 63.

WEST FARGO (23-2): Lennon 3 7-10 13, Thorson 3 4-4 11, Baltezore 3 4-4 10, Levin 3 3-7 9, Hummel 3 2-2 8, E. Krogh 2 0-0 5, Gooding 1 0-0 2, A. Krogh 1 0-0 2, Miller 0 0-0 0. Totals 19-51 20-27 60.

Half: WF 32, BC 28. 3-point goals: Jacobs 3, Ely, Delzer, Thorson, E. Krogh. Total fouls: BC 19, WF 23. Fouled out: Glatt. Rebounds: BC 33 (Larson 7, Jeske 7), WF 36 (Thorson 10). Assists: BC 11 (Delzer 3), WF 7 (Thorson 3). Turnovers: BC 18, WF 21.

Third place

Bismarck High 49, Fargo Shanley 44

Both Bismarck High and Fargo Shanley made lengthy scoring runs, and each had leads during the second half, but it was the Demons who prevailed.

Naomi Rust posted 17 points and nine rebounds to lead Bismarck over Shanley 49-44 in the third-place game.

SHANLEY (19-6): Fraase 3 5-6 11, R. Weir 4 1-2 9, Jacobson 3 2-2 8, Anderson 3 1-2 7, K. Weir 3 0-0 7, Brenner 1 0-0 2. Totals 17-60 9-12 44.

BISMARCK (17-8): Rust 5 7-9 17, Feeney 3 0-0 9, Englehardt 3 2-3 8, Trolliey 3 2-2 8, Kiefer 2 0-0 4, Meier 1 1-2 3. Totals 17-46 12-18 49.

Halftime: B 18, S 15.3-pointers: K. Weir, Feeney 3. Total fouls: S 18, B 14. Fouled out: Fraase. Rebounds: S 28 (Fraase 8), B 34 (Rust 9). Assists: S 4 (R. Weir 2), B 6 (Meier 3). Turnovers: S 21, B 22.

Fifth place

Minot 53, Mandan 44

North Dakota State recruit Holly Johnson scored 25 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead Minot to a 53-44 win over Mandan in the fifth-place game Saturday at the Fargodome.

Andie Hankla added eight points for the Magicians (18-7).

Elizabeth Meyer and Michaela Longtin each scored 10 points to pace the Braves.

MANDAN (18-7): Meyer 3 4-4 10, Goetz 4 0-0 10, Longtin 3 2-2 8, Goldade 3 0-0 6, Burt 2 0-0 6, Fredericks 1 0-0 2, Russell 0 2-2 2. Totals 16-56 8-8 44.

MINOT (18-7): Johnson 8 5-7 25, Hankla 4 0-1 8, Eggert 2 -7 2-2 6, M. Duttenhefer 2 0-0 5, S. Duttenhefer 2 1-2 5, Bryantt 1 0-0 2, Milbrath 0 2-2 2. Totals 19-48 10-14 53.

Halftime: MI 28, MA 25. 3-pointers: Goetz 2, Burt 2, Johnson 4, M. Duttenhefer. Total Fouls: MA 16, M 8. Fouled out: Meyer. Rebounds: MA 31 (Longtin 7), MI 31 (Johnson 17). Assists: MA 11 (Longtin 5), MI 13 (Eggert 6). Turnovers: MA 20, MI 23.

Mix is a sports reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

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