No. 3-seed Minot handles Dickinson at West Region

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BISMARCK — After trailing 31-16 at halftime, the Dickinson High boys basketball team battled back to make it a nine-point game with less than a minute to play.

No. 3 seed Minot, however, scored six consecutive points to regain its double-digit advantage.

The Magicians sank free throws down the stretch, going 13 of 17 (77 percent) from the line in the second half, to take a 62-48 win over sixth-seeded Dickinson in the quarterfinals of the West Region Tournament on Thursday at the Bismarck Civic Center.

“We didn’t come out, in my opinion, with the energy of competiveness we needed to in a WDA game against a really team,” Dickinson head John Wilson said. “In the second half, we started to get a little energy and that’s when our offense came along.”

Dickinson senior post Jordan Krieg scored eight points down the stretch, including back-to-back 3-pointers to get the Midgets (10-10) within nine. Krieg finished with a game-high 20 points. Jaden Kudrna added nine, while Mark Erickson posted five.

“They really kept three people on Jordan,” Wilson said. “We tried to play Jordan outside the block, because they can’t triple or double him as much.”

Wilson felt his players were a little tentative in the first half, but loosened up in the second half. The Midgets went 8 of 27 (30 percent) from the field in the first half, but increased its shooting percent by 14 points in the second.

Minot’s Kyle Gerding led the team with nine points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Austin Frank and Noah Bosh each reached double digit for the Magicians with 15 and 10 points, respectively.

Minot (16-4) shot 22 of 44 for the game and held the edge in rebounds 34-26. The Magicians advance to the semifinals to play second-seeded Bismarck Century at 6:15 p.m.

Dickinson plays seventh-seeded Williston in the consolation semifinals at 1:45 p.m. today. The Midgets outscored the Coyotes by an average of 26 points during the two meetings of the regular season.

“Tomorrow is survival,” Wilson said. “If you lose, you’re done. If you win, you get another chance to get to state.”

D: Jordan Krieg 20, Jaden Kurdna 9, Mark Erickson 5, Luke Herauf 4, Dylan Skabo 4, Matt Becker 3, Parker Egli 2, Levi Jordheim 1.

M: Austin Frank 15, Noah Bosh 10, Brandon VanDus 9, Caleb Albertson 9, Kyle Gerding 9, Brian Bloms 8, Colter Hustad 2.

Half: M 31-16. 3-pointers: D 5 (Krieg 2, Erickson 1, Kudrna 1, Becker 1), M 3 (VanDus 1, Frank 1, Gerding 1). Free throws: D 3-8, M 15-19. Total fouls: D 15, M 13. Rebounds: D 26 (Jordheim 4), M 34 (Gerding 8). Assists: D 15 (Skabo 6), M 11 (Gerding 7). Steals: D 4 (four tied with one), M 6 (Gerding 3). Blocks: D 3 (three tied with one), M 0. Turnovers: D 12, M 15. Records: D 10-10, M 16-4.

Tags: dickinson midgets, west region tournament, high school basketball, sports, preps