Kari Gibb/MDN Minot North junior Addison Clark (2) works the ball against Mandan junior Anna Lyles (22) in WDA action on Friday at Minot North high school.

The Sentinels hosted the Lady Braves in Western Dakota Association (WDA) action Friday night to start the 2025 portion of the 2024-2025 season. Despite trading points for much of the game, Mandan took the win 48-43 in the end.

Both teams struggled with missed shots and turnovers in the opening minutes of the contest. Mandan built a 13-11 lead with 11:00 minutes to play in the first half. The Lady Braves took the 24-23 lead into the halftime break in the game that teetered back and forth.

Despite the best efforts of the Sentinels, Mandan kept their composure and game plan to the final buzzer for the five point win.

Minot North falls to 1-2 in WDA play and 2-4 overall. Bismarck High and St. Mary’s have the same WDA record with all three in sixth place in the WDA standings. The Lady Sentinels have the best point differential of the group with 165 points for and 176 points against that illustrate the close nature of each contest.

After five games, the stat leaders for the Sentinels are Elli Laskowski in shooting with 111 points on the season through five games and 164 minutes of play- only Kinzy Welstad has more time at 166 minutes.

Laskowski is also the leader in rebounds with 13 offensive and 31 defensive boards. She also leads in assists with 20 and is first in blocks with nine and second in steals with 11 for the season.

After the 22.2 points per game (ppg) amassed by Laskowski, Ashlee Williamson is second at 11.8 ppg with Gracen Rorem at third with nine ppg.

Mandan sits at 3-0 atop the current WDA standings with Bismarck Century and Minot High at 2-0 in a tie for second. The Lady Braves are the only team at 6-0 overall with the Majettes thus far.

Minot North will travel to face Century on Tuesday, January 7, followed by hosting the Majettes on Friday, January 10, in a gauntlet week of play for the Sentinels.

Williston Varsity 61, Minot High JV 60 (F/OT)

In the second game in a row for the Minot High JV girls basketball team, the Majettes nearly had the second win over a varsity WDA team with the one point loss to Williston on Friday, January 3, at Minot High.

On Monday, December 30, in Watford City the Minot High JV beat the Watford City Varsity 56-44 to go 1-1 against varsity WDA opponents this week.