Heart River outshine Killdeer in girls Roughrider Tournament

As the high school basketball season gets underway in North Dakota, Killdeer High School hosted their annual Roughrider tournament for the 46th year. The final game of the opening matches was between Heart River and Killdeer and was a one-sided affair ending 47-23 in favor of the Cougars.

Seven of the eight teams In the tournament come from Region 7 - Beulah, Bowman County, Heart River, Hettinger/Scranton, Killdeer, New England and Richardton-Taylor. Stanley from Region 8 rounds out the field. All eight teams played their first game Tuesday Night, Dec. 7

Beulah, Hettinger-Scranton, Bowman County and Heart River all advanced in the bracket, while Killdeer, New England, Richardton-Taylor and Stanley were sent to the consolation bracket.

Heart River competed with Killdeer in the final game of the day with both sides having a slow start, ending the first quarter tied at 6. The second quarter would be much different with the Cougars adding 17 points to the scoreboard while the Cowboys had only one basket, a breakaway layup by Shelbie Schmidt. The score was 23-8 at halftime.

Killdeer showed improvement in the third quarter tallying nine points, but Heart River doubled them with 18. The fourth quarter ended just as the first with both teams scoring six points each.

Heart River sophomore point guard Abby Talkington led in points with 14, making their only three-pointer in the game. She was followed by senior power forward Jordan Buckman with 11.

The Cougars showed an aggressive style of play, fighting for loose balls, towering over opponents with strong blocks and forcing turnovers. They only gave up two free-throws - with the Cowboys missing both.

Before the final matchup was the highest scoring game of the day between Bowman County and New England. The Bulldogs prevailed 66-48 but it was a good contest with both sides deploying a full-court press.

The second day of matches will be Thursday, Dec. 9 starting at 3 p.m. with the Raiders facing Stanley, followed by New England against Killdeer. In the evening, the first spot in the championship game will be up for grabs between Beulah and Hettinger/Scranton. The Cougars and Bulldogs will square off in the nightcap for the other spot.

Opening Matches Final Scores

Beulah 53, Richardton-Taylor 18

Hettinger-Scranton 55, Stanley 42

Bowman County 66, New England 48

Heart River 47, Killdeer 23

1/4: Sophomore guard Sage Froehlich for Heart River Cougars. (Josiah C. Cuellar / The Dickinson Press)

2/4: Abby Talkington shows how scrappy Heart River can be fighting two of Killdeer's players for a loose ball in the Roughrider tournament Dec. 7 2021. (Josiah C. Cuellar / The Dickinson Press)

3/4: Jaci Fischer(12) guards the New England player as they set up an attack in the Roughrider tournament on Dec. 7 2021. (Josiah C. Cuelalr / The Dickinson Press)

4/4: Junior forward Hannah Frank shoots a jumper in the third quarter of their matchup against Bowman County in the Roughrider tournament on Dec.7 2021. (Josiah C. Cuellar / The Dickinson Press)