Kari Gibb/MDN Rugby Panther Sara Schmaltz (21) defends Des Lacs-Burlington Laker Kaylee Werner (12) in quarterfinal action of the Region 3 Girls Basketball Tournament on Monday, February 24, at the MSU Dome.

The Region 3 Girls Basketball Tournament tipped off on Monday, February 24, at the Minot State University (MSU) Dome with quarterfinal games. In the top quarterfinal brackets, the two games below showcased the winners that will be in the semifinal games today.

No. 1 South Prairie-Max 87, No. 8 Dunseith 45

Dunseith senior Mikenzie McCloud scored her 1000th career point in the game despite the loss to the top seeded Lady Royals in the first quarterfinal matchup of the Region 3 girls basketball tournament.

The game had high energy out the gate by both teams. Quickly the top ranked Division A team in the state began to establish their game as South Prairie-Max (SPM) used pressure defense to cause turnovers as well as defensive rebounding to limit second chance scoring by Dunseith. The Lady Royals led 27-12 at the end of the first quarter of play.

The second quarter was more of the SPM game plan with steals setting the defensive tone. The score at the half was 54-22 for the Lady Royals.

With the lead to start the second half, SPM uncorked the 3-point shooting hitting 7-for-15 in the game. Half way through the third quarter of play the Lady Royals began to rotate deeply into the younger players on the bench. SPM led 78-31 at the end of the third quarter.

The Lady Royals were led by Rylee Routledge with 25 points, highlighted by 4-of-6 shooting from the arc. Scottish Beck added 20 points while Kinsey Schillla had ten in the win for SPM. Myah Rau had seven rebounds for the Lady Royals with Schilla adding six boards as well.

Dunseith was led by McCloud with 17 points while Alvia Gladue and Hayden Azure added 11 points each in the effort.

With the win, South Prairie-Max will face Rugby in the first semifinal game today at 6 p.m. in the MSU Dome.

No. 4 Rugby 56, No. 5 Des Lacs-Burlington 42

The fourth seeded Lady Panthers and the fifth seeded Lady Lakers played an evenly matched quarterfinal game with the inside play by Rugby being the slight edge needed in the end for the win.

The teams worked out the first minutes jitters before Rugby started taking the edge on the inside. The Lady Panthers led 14-9 after the first quarter of play.

The inside game for Rugby kept the Lady Lakers at bay as Des Lacs-Burlington (DLB) played scrappy and would not fade quietly for the entire game. Rugby led 26-21 at the half.

To start the third quarter, DLB standouts Logen Ystaas and Piper Feller kept the Lady Lakers in the hunt. A 3-pointer by Feller at the end of the third quarter gave DLB the 35-34 lead going into the fourth quarter of play.

In the final quarter of play, Rugby surged ahead on two key points; DLB was in foul trouble down the stretch and the Rugby passing was fast and furious which opened up more clear shots for the Lady Panthers.

Rugby was led by Lacie Deplazes with 23 points and nine rebounds. Abery Santjer added 22 points with seven rebounds. Elise Fahnestock and Sara Schmaltz each added seven rebounds for Rugby in the win.

DLB was led by Ystaas with 23 points and eight rebounds. Feller added six points and 14 rebounds in the effort for the Lady Lakers.

The Lady Panthers will face the Lady Royals in the first semifinal game at the MSU Dome tonight.