Emma Buee/MDN Bishop Ryan senior Jett Lundeen (31) jumps to shoot the ball while Dickinson Trinity sophomore Brody Kuntz (30) defends on Saturday, February 8, at the Lions Den.

The Bishop Ryan Lions hosted their final home game of the season against the Dickinson Trinity Titans Saturday, February 8. The Lions have only lost one game this season, with the state qualifying tournaments Bishop Ryan wants to hold their almost perfect record to help their chances at state. The Lions had to fight for the win against Dickinson Trinity.

The first quarter of the game both teams played well and kept a close score. By half time the Lions were down by 10 points, but in the second half of the game Bishop Ryan worked to take the 44-37 win over the Titans.

The first quarter of the game both teams showed up with even strength. The Lions’ Ramsey Walz earned the Lions most of their points in the first quarter. Walz made six points down in the paint and one point at the free throw line. Hayden Seay brought in the only other points for the Lions in the first quarter with a 3-pointer.

The Titans spread out their scoring over five of their athletes in the first quarter. Camden Kubas and Emerson Simmnioniw were shooting in the lane and each brought in two points. Nicklaus Sobolik set up camp at the free throw line and made three out of five shots for Trinity. Jace Peters and Blake Peters were also collecting fowls and made two points each at the foul line.

The Lions ended the first quarter with a one point lead over the Titans.

The second quarter of the game Trinity quickly grew a lead over Bishop Ryan. The Lions only had two shooters Walz and Gryphen Leier-Wrangler. Walz with two points and Leier-Wrangler with three points for the Lions.

Dickinson Trinity built their score with 11 points from Landon Knote. Simnioniw and Sobolik came in with the assist and made two more points each for the Titans. Coltan Christenson made one point at the foul point to give the Titans the 27-17 lead over the Lions at halftime.

Bishop Ryan came back for vengeance in the third quarter of the game. The Lions stopped almost every single one of the Titans attempts to score. Trinity only got through the Lions defense with two points from B. Peters.

Walz hit the paint and made four points under the basket. Collecting some fouls, Walz also made four points at the free throw line. Jett Lundeen went out wide and put in a 3-pointer for Bishop Ryan. Seay and Izaac Strandlien both stepped up to the free throw line and each earned the Lions two more points.

With a short lead to start the final quarter of the game the Lions needed to keep the Titans away from the net.

The Titans pushed through and made eight points in the final quarter of the game. B. Peters and Sobolik made four of Trinity’s points. Kaden Ham and Knote made the final four points for the Titans.

Bishop Ryan kept their lead through the last quarter of the game. Walz and Strandlien each brought in five Lion points. Jack Passa and Lundeen ended the game for Bishop Ryan with one point each. After a long back and forth game the Lions pulled away with the 44-37 win over the Titans.

The Lions compete two more times before state qualifying tournaments start. Bishop Ryan will host Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood Monday, February 10. The Lions will travel to Berthold to play their final game of the regular season Monday, February 17, game starting at 7:00 p.m.

District 6 Standings

The Lions looked to have a strong hold on the top seed for District 6 vanished into the final two weeks of the regular season with the road loss to the fifth ranked Westhope-Newburg Sioux this week.

Currently, Our Redeemer’s hold the top spot in the standings with an 8-1 district record. The one loss for the Knights was to Bishop Ryan.

Tied at second with 7-1 records are Bishop Ryan and Westhope-Newburg. The Lions one loss is to the Sioux and the one loss for the Sioux is to the Knights. If each team wins out between Our Redeemer’s, Bishop Ryan and Westhope-Newburg the three teams will have to go to tie breaking rules to determine the seeding.

Velva is at 6-3 and will look to win out and hope for a loss or two for the top three teams for the Aggies to move up from the fourth slot in the standings. Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood (4-3), TGU (4-4) and Harvey-Wells County (4-5) are working to find final wins in order to move up.

The District 6 Boys Basketball Tournament will tip off on February 22 and have games on February 28 followed by March 3-4 for the final games.

District 5 Standings

The top two teams for district 5 have already stacked claims at the first and second seeds with time left to play. Powers Lake-Burke Central at 7-0 in district play holds the top seed while Ray at 7-1 has the second seed locked up.

Tiogo (4-2), Alexander (3-30, Divide County (2-3), Kenmare-Bowbells (2-4), Trenton (2-5) and Trinity Christian (2-5) are all in tight races for seeds three through eight before the district tournament starts the week of February 21.