Emma Buee/MDN Minot North Sentinel Brynn Francis (31) looks for an opening to move the ball. Menorah Klunker (25) for the Williston Coyotes prepares to block at Minot North High School Friday.

Minot North hosted the Williston Coyotes for a night of basketball with the girls playing first. This is the first time this 2024-25 season the two teams have met, ending with the exciting 74-57 win for Minot North history books.

The Sentinels got the first possession of the first half of the game. The Sentinels were unable to score and the Coyotes Averi Austreium gained possession and scored the first two points of the game.

The first half of the came continued on with the Sentinels closely trailing behind. Elli Laskowski for Minot North brought in almost half the points for the Sentinels. With 13 points Laskowski brought in the most points from either team in the first half of the game. Close behind was Averi Austrieum for Williston with 11 points.

Gracen Rorem and Aven Kelly made five points each for Minot North. Willistons Alex Austrieum gave the Coyotes eight more points while Rylee Irgens followed with four points added to the Coyotes score.

Williston kept this short lead until the Sentinels tied the game with a minute left in the first half.

With one second left in the first half of the game tied 29-29, Willistons Grace Johnson made a 3-pointer to give the Coyotes the 32-29 lead at halftime.

The Sentinels started the second half behind by three. Determined to take the historic win, Minot North made basket after basket, most belonging to Laskowski who made an impressive 21 points in the second half of the game.

The Coyotes tried to narrow the gap, giving Alex Austruim the ball once again brought in several points. Alex Austrieum made Williston nine points in the second half of the game. Alli Wilcox for the Coyotes also tried to help their point deficit with eight more points.

As hard as they worked, the Coyotes couldn’t keep Minot North away from the net.

Nine of Laskowski’s points were 3-pointers, six points were foul shots and the remaining six points were made inside the arc. These 21 points gave the Sentinels the lead in the end.

Addy Clark for the Sentinels made two from behind the arc and one free throw shot giving Minot North seven more points. Kinzy Welstad made six more points and Brynn Francis made five for the Sentinels.

Minot North secured their third win of the season with a 74-56 score over the Williston Coyotes.

The Minot North Girls will host Bismarck Legacy on Tuesday, January 28 starting at 6:00 p.m. The Sentinels host again Friday, January 31 playing against the Dickinson Midgets at 5:30 p.m.

Minot High 67, Bismarck Legacy 47

The Majettes bounced back from their first defeat of the season- and being ranked No. 2 instead of No. 1 this week- with a solid road win over the No. 5 ranked Sabers on the road in Bismarck.

With the win, Minot High keeps pace with Mandan in the Western Dakota Association (WDA) standings. Mandan sits at the top with Minot High in second place while the loss puts Legacy two games behind the leader.

The Majettes will host Bismarck St. Mary’s on Tuesday, January 28, before traveling to play Bismarck High on Friday.