Kari Gibb/MDN Rugby sophomore Keifer Fritz (0) defends as South Prairie-Max junior Jaret Eklie (2) drives into the paint at the Royals home gym Tuesday, February 4, in a Region 3 hoops contest.

The Panthers traveled to take on the hosting Royals in a Region 3, Division A boys basketball game. The teams battled momentum shifts and the Panthers took the win in the end 65-51.

Rugby jumped out in a hurry over the hosts and made baskets where the hosts missed. By the end of the first quarter of play, the Panthers held the 20-9 lead over the Royals.

The second quarter started the same as the first with Rugby going on a 7-3 run. A quick timeout by the Royals with 4:41 remaining in the second and the roles were swapped with bench players from South Prairie-Max providing the energy shift.

Aggressive play by the hosts kept the game close as the Panthers took a 33-26 lead into the halftime break. That 13 point lead would be needed down the wire as both teams matched scoring with the Panthers holding the 32-25 scoring advantage in the second half of play.

With both teams in the mix for region standings, the win was huge in keeping pace. Des Lacs-Burlington and Rugby started the game even at the top. Rugby started the game with a 4-8 record, with all four wins being in district play. South Prairie-Max entered the game at 4-9, with two of the four wins being in District 3 contests.

Rugby will host Des Lacs-Burlington on Thursday, February 6, and be at Grafton on Saturday, February 8, for the rest of this week. South Prairie-Max will be at New Town on Thursday and at TMCHS next Tuesday for their next pair of games.

Bottineau 64, TMCHS 58

Turtle Mountain Community High School boys traveled to Bottineau in a battle of the Braves. The hosts defended their home hardwood with the evenly played Region 3 battle.

Bottineau will be at Beulah on Saturday while Turtle Mountain will host South Prairie-Max next Tuesday, February 11.