Kari Gibb/MDN Rugby Panther Katie Sullivan (11) battles Thompson’s Jallin Avdem (11) for a rebound in the first quarter of action in the final quarterfinal game of the 2024-2025 NDHSAA Division A Girls Basketball State Tournament at the MSU Dome on Thursday, March 6.

The Devils Lake girls had their hands full as the top seeded Firebirds had to battle the No. 8 Titans from Dickinson Trinity in the third quarterfinal game- the first of the lower bracket of play at the 2025 NDHSAA Division B Girls Basketball State Tournament at the MSU Dome on Thursday, March 6.

Devils Lake was able to withstand the close contest and advance to the second semifinal game today against Thompson in the later game.

Rugby will face Carrington in the second consolation bracket contest today at 2:45 p.m.

No. 1 Devils Lake 70, No. 8 Dickinson Trinity 50

The top seeds from Devils Lake faced the Dickinson Trinity girls basketball team in the first quarterfinal game of the lower bracket at the 2025 Division A Girls Basketball State Tournament at the MSU Dome on Thursday, March 6, for the chance to play in the semifinal games today.

Dickinson Trinity won the tip to start the game, but Devils Lake went on a 9-0 run to start the game enroute to the 25-14 lead at the end of the first quarter of play.

A full court trapping defense was the key for the Firebirds to start the game. Titan turnovers led to the early lead for Devils Lake. The hustle on defense from one end of the floor to the other was difficult to overcome for the Titans.

The see-saw battle occupied the middle of the hardwood for much of the second quarter of play as each team worked to establish their own game plan and tempo with the edge going to the trapping Firebird defense forcing turnovers that led to scoring for Devils Lake.

Three point shooting by Dickinson Trinity kept the Titan girls in the game in the second quarter of play. The top seeded Firebirds kept the pressure on the Titans and held a 39-32 lead at the half.

The story of the first half of play was the six 3-point shots by Dickinson Trinity for 18 of the 32 points compared to the 20 points for Devils Lake from turnovers by the Titan girls. Devils Lake recorded 11 steals against Dickinson Trinity and the FIrebirds forced 16 Titan turnovers in the first half of play.

The first half was also a tale of two quarters of play. The Firebirds took the 25-14 lead in the first until the Titans began to hit 3-pointers in the second quarter. Of the six ‘threes’ by Dickinson Trinity in the first half of play, four of those were in the second quarter.

The third quarter of play was a fouling contest with the prize being charity stripe shooting. Between the free throw line and jump balls, the clock ticked slowly for the third with the Firebirds holding the 49-43 lead with eight minutes to play.

Tylie Brodina led the Firebirds with 21 points, five assists and five steals in the game. Presley Brown added 18 points and six rebounds for Devils Lake in the win.

The Titans were led by Nevaeh Tormaschy with 23 points and 14 rebounds in the contest. Annabel Scheeler added nine points for Dickinson Trinity in the game.

Devils Lake will play Thompson in the second semifinal today while Dickinson Trinity will take on Rugby in the consolation bracket today.

No. 5 Thompson 59, No. 4 Rugby 39

The Tommies jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.

Thompson was led by Addison Sage with 21 points while Kya Hurst added 15 in the win. Rugby was led by Lacie Deplazes with 14 points while Avery Santjer added ten points for the Panthers.