Jamestown defeats Dickinson, qualifies for state tournament

BISMARCK - The Dickinson High boys basketball team has been part of a number of tough losses this season.
However, none were quite the magnitude as the state play-in game of the West Region Tournament.
Jamestown - the No. 6 seed - rallied in the second half to defeat No. 5 seed Dickinson 72-69 on Saturday at the Bismarck Event Center main arena.
“It’s always hard to lose your last one, but it’s harder to lose it in that way,” Dickinson head coach John Wilson said. “We have to give credit to Jamestown. They kept fighting and their shots went in. We always hate to lose one that would give you a chance to play in the state tournament.”
With the win, Jamestown reached the North Dakota Class A state tournament for the first time since 2001.
The Blue Jays (10-14) had a trio of double-digit scorers. Nick Fuchs posted a game-high 21 points, while Noah Wanzek added 19 points and 16 rebounds. Tanner Lunzman rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.
Aanen Moody had a team-high 20 points for Dickinson (9-15). Mark Erickson and Luke Herauf each had 17 points, while Herauf grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Nick Himmelspach posted 10 points.
The Blue Jays didn’t have trouble from the field going 27 of 54. Dickinson finished 25 of 63 (40 percent). Jamestown had a clear advantage on the boards and outrebounded the Midgets 37-27.
However, Dickinson committed 10 fewer turnovers than the Blue Jays.
The Midgets weren’t the only higher seed upset during the state play-in game. Turtle Mountain ended an 18-year drought to the state tournament with a 68-52 win over Bismarck High. The Demons’ run of 21 straight appearances to the state tournament is over.
Due to seeding in the West Region Tournament, the Braves will be the No. 3 seed from the West Region at the state tournament, while the Blue Jays are the No. 4 spot.
J: Nick Fuchs 21, Noah Wanzek 19, Tanner Lunzman 10, Logan Anderson 6, Scott Nelson 5, Nolan Love 4, Josh Schullz 3, Jake Reuther 2, Ross Monson 2.
D: Aanen Moody 20, Mark Erickson 17, Luke Herauf 17, Nick Himmelspach 10, Jackson Binstock 3, Drew Bechtold 2.
Half: D 36-30. 3-pointers: J 6 (Fuchs 4, Lunzman 1, Schullz 1), D 7 (Erickson 3, Moody 2, Herauf 1, Binstock 1). Free throws: J 12-17, D 12-13. Total fouls: J 15, D 19. Fouled out: D, Erickson. Rebounds: J 37 (Wanzek 16), D 27 (Herauf 9). Assists: J 1 (1), D 3 (Herauf 2). Steals: J 4 (Monson 2), D 9 (Himmelspach 3). Blocks: J 2 (Fuchs 1, Wanzek 1), D 2 (Bechtold 2). Turnovers: J 15, D 5. Records: J 10-14, D 9-15.