Emma Buee/MDN Gus Engelhard (30) for the Our Redeemer Knights passed the ball to Nolan Schmidt (14) while Hayden Seay (4) with the Bishop Ryan Lions tried to block the pass. Bishop Ryan was hosted by Our Redeemers at the Castle.

The Our Redeemer’s Knights ranked number five in Division B hosted the Bishop Ryan Lions number two in the Division B rankings. After a close back and forth game the Lions went home with the 58-51 victory over the Knights.

The first quarter started with Knight starters Payten Lindbo, Wyatt Weekley, Nolan Schmidt, Collin Swenson and Jace Weekley facing off with the Lion’s Jack Passa, Hayden Seay, Mack Shean, Jett Lundeen and Ramsey Walz. J. Weekley and Walz jumped for the ball with the Lions taking the first possession and scoring the first points of the game.

The Knights quickly scored after setting the pace for the first half of the game. Our Redeemers worked hard and pushed past Bishop Ryan throughout the first quarter of the game, ending the first quarter in the lead 13-12.

In the first quarter, Passa earned the Lions five points for the first quarter of the game. Schmidt and W. Weekley each scored four points for the Knights, giving them a strong eight points to build off of. The Lions Lundeen made five more points and put the Lions back into the lead.

Swenson for Our Redeemers made a 3-pointer to give the Knights the lead for a short time. Walz for the Lions and J. Weekley for the Knights each made two more points to end the quarter with the lead for the Knights.

The second quarter of the game followed a similar pattern, with both teams scoring back and forth. The Our Redeemer Knights managed to keep the Lions close for the second quarter.

The Knights started the second quarter with both J. and W. Weekley scored two points each for the home team. The Lions not far behind earned two points from Passa and two more free throw points from Walz. W. Weekley for the Knights scored four points before the quarter ended followed by Andrew Eby for the Knights with two more points.

Lundeen for the Lions took every open shot he had, and scored six points for the Lions. Seay followed with five more points for Bishop Ryan to give the Lions 29 points to end the second quarter.

Schmidt for the Knights shot in clutch moments during the second quarter with six points for Our Redeemers. The Lions and the Knights ended the first half of the game in a 29-29 tie.

After the halftime break Bishop Ryan came back with six free throw points from Lundeen in the third quarter of the game. Walz and Passa brought in two more points each to give the Lions the lead quickly in the third quarter.

Lindbo brought home five points for Our Redeemers in an effort to slow the Lions growing lead. Seay gave the Lions five more points. Izaac Strandlien brought in the final two points for Bishop Ryan in the third.

Schmidt earned Our Redeemers four points followed by teammate J. Weekley with one more point. The Knights were unable to close the gap and dropped behind in the third quarter 39-44 to Bishop Ryan.

The Knights started the fourth quarter of the game five points behind the Lions. Schmidt tried to make up this difference and earned Our Redeemers five points early in the fourth quarter. The Lions held their lead with Seay and Shean both making two points.

Schmidt went back to the basket for Our Redeemers and made four more points. Lundeen for Bishop Ryan made six more points in the final quarter and maintained the short lead. Lindbo made the final points for the Knights a 3-pointer, not quite enough to close the gap. The Lions took the game 58-51 over the Knights.

The Our Redeemer Knights host at the Castle tonight, January 21 against Harvey Wells County at 7:00 p.m. and again on Friday, January 24 at 7:15 p.m. against Velva.