The Lions needed overtime to down the Knights 61-56, advancing to the state finals in a finale worthy of a blockbuster movie — and like any great film, this one had exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and a final resolution.

Having already played three overtime games this season, it was fitting that the final act to this thrilling cross-town rivalry between Minot’s two Division B teams came in a fourth and final overtime period.

But before you get to the resolution, you have to have the climax or high tension and falling action of the plot, and the stage was set with Bishop Ryan building a 40-31 lead at the end of three quarters.

“They’re a super good team, and they’re not going to lay down,” said Bishop Ryan’s Ramsey Walz. “We knew they were going to punch back. So, we decided to play together, as one, as a fist, and we pulled it out in overtime.”

MDN Photo Walker Braaten of Westhope/Newburg throws down a two-handed dunk in the semifinal round win over Wilton-Wing in the Division B NDHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament in Minot State University Dome on Friday.

For the first 25 minutes and 13 seconds of the game, a stifling Bishop Ryan defense had limited the Knights to just 1-for-18 shooting from behind the 3-point arc. Nolan Schmidt opened the fourth-quarter scoring for the Knights by hitting the front end of a pair of free throws, cutting the lead to eight, 40-32.

Following a Bishop Ryan turnover, Jace Weekley sank the Knights’ second 3-pointer of the game with 6:47 left in the fourth, bringing the score to 40-35. After a missed shot by Bishop Ryan, Jace Weekley connected on his second 3-pointer, narrowing the Lions’ lead to 40-38.

Walz responded for the Lions by making one of two free throws, extending the lead to 41-38.

However, Wyatt Weekley hit his first 3-pointer of the game with 5:35 left, tying the score at 41.

Bishop Ryan answered with four consecutive points from Walz and Jett Lundeen, taking a 45-41 lead with 4:30 to play. The teams then traded baskets, with Jace Weekley scoring for the Knights and Walz for the Lions, pushing the score to 47-43. Wyatt Weekley then connected on a deep 3-pointer from beyond the arc, pulling Our Redeemer’s within one at 47-46 with 2:57 left.

But the Lions had an immediate response as Lundeen hit a deep 3-pointer of his own, pushing Bishop Ryan’s lead back to 50-46 with 2:34 remaining in regulation.

The next minute of play was quiet until a Jace Weekley bucket pulled the Knights to within two, 50-48 with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter. Walz went to the line and hit one of two free throws, pushing the Lions’ lead to three, 51-48. Schmidt cut the Lions’ lead back to one with a layup, 51-50 with just over a minute left.

Tight defense by both teams saw Our Redeemer’s coach Brook Teets use his final timeout of regulation with 27.6 seconds left in the game after a loose ball scramble at half-court, setting up what appeared to be the Knights’ final possession. Schmidt broke free again, driving to the hoop, giving the Knights their first lead of the game with 22 seconds left, 52-51.

With 7.4 seconds remaining, Bishop Ryan’s Lundeen was fouled on a drive to the basket. He made the second of his two free throws, knotting the score at 52. Lundeen then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and drove for the winning layup, but a Knights foul sent the Lions’ senior back to the free-throw line with less than a second on the clock. Agonizingly for Bishop Ryan, both free throws rattled around the rim before falling to the floor, sending the game into overtime.

Undeterred, Lundeen opened the overtime period with a 3-pointer from the top of the key, giving the Lions a 55-52 lead. The Lions’ defense tightened, and Bishop Ryan never relinquished the lead in the fourth overtime between the teams in five games this season.

Jack Passa added a bucket after a Walz steal to push the Bishop Ryan lead to 57-52. Jace Weekley answered for the Knights, cutting the lead back to three points, 57-54. Walz buried a 3-pointer with 1:23 left in overtime, pushing the Lions to a six-point lead, 60-54. Schmidt cut the lead back to four, 60-56 for the Knights, which were Our Redeemer’s last points of the game.

The Lions defense again tightened, with Passa of the Lions stealing the inbounds pass, forcing the Knights to foul, and Strandlien hitting the first of his two free throws to give the Lions their resolution and the 61-56 win to advance to the finals.

“It’s amazing. I think that’s the other best team in the state. If we played 10 times, I think we each would win five,” said Bishop Ryan head coach Brody Bosch. “I’m happy for our kids. It kind of hurts a little bit to have to play them in this round and against my former mentor. Coach (Teets) means the world to me. It’s exciting for the kids.”

Beyond the rivalry on the basketball hardwood, the two teams have a co-op program in the fall for football. The two head coaches of the cross-town Minot Division B teams have worked together and also coached at each school. As hard-fought as the rivalry is, there is a level of mutual respect that is hard to find at any sporting event between the two programs.

Walz led the Lions with his second double-double of the tournament, scoring 21 points, grabbing 19 rebounds, three steals and one block. Freshman Strandlien was key early for the Lions, hitting three 3-pointers in the second quarter and finishing with 14 points, two assists, two rebounds and two steals. Lundeen finished with 12 points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal. The defensive efforts by the Lion guards, Passa, Hayden Seay and Lundeen, stood out for the second straight game.

“You know it hasn’t even set in yet. I bet in a few hours it will set in but then we have to move on,” said Walz. “Focus on who wins this next game and see who we’re going to play tomorrow night.”

The Weekley brothers, Jace and Wyatt, led the Knights. Jace finished with a double-double and a game high 24 points, 10 rebounds and one assist. Jace did foul out late in overtime, sending Strandlien to the line. Wyatt finished with 16 points, 4 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal.

Each team struggled in different facets of the game, with the Lions hitting only eight of 24 free throws attempted. The Knights finished the game hitting only five of their 23 shots from behind the 3-point arc.

With the win, the Lions advance to the NDHSAA Division B Boys Basketball finals against the defending 2024 Division B State Champions, Westhope/Newburg Sioux. The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. today at the Minot State University Dome.

The Knights’ season is not over as they will play in the third-place game, with a 6 p.m. start time at the MSU Dome against the Wilton-Wing Miners.

Westhope/Newburg 54, Wilton-Wing 48

To be the champ, you have to beat the champ.

The Westhope/Newburg Sioux continued its defense of its 2024 Division B Boys Basketball Champions title, beating the Wilton-Wing Miners 54-48 on Friday in the semifinal round of the 2025 NDHSAA tournament.

In a game that saw three lead changes and the score tied seven times, Westhope/Newburg was able to hold on to a slim halftime lead, 27-24, outscoring Wilton-Wing by the identical 27-24 score in the second half for the win.

The Sioux were led by Hunter Tolstad’s double-double, 22 points and 22 rebounds. Tolstad accounted for 22 of Westhope/Newburg’s 45 rebounds. Braden Bailey and Walker Braaten both added 12 points each in the win.

Hunter Wolff led Wilton-Wing with 17 points on 4-of-9 shooting from behind the 3-point arc. Teigen Earsley added 11 points and four assists in the loss.

With the win, Sioux will look to hold off the surging Bishop Ryan Lions in the Division B finals. Westhope/Newburg is looking to be the first repeat Division B champions since 2017-2018 Hillsboro Central Valley.