Emma Buee/MDN The Bottineau Braves’ Conner Guss (5) jumps up to shoot the ball, Dunseith Dragon defender, Kayler Gladue (35) attempts to block the shot in the quarter final round of the Region 3A tournament Monday, March 5, at the MSU Dome

Monday, March 10 eight teams traveled to the Minot State University (MSU) Dome to play in the Division A Region 3 tournament. By the end of the week one Region 3 team will have its ticket punched for the state tournament, and two teams will have the chance to compete in the state qualifier on March 15.

Des Lacs-Burlington will face Bottineau in the upper bracket semi final today. Turtle Mountain will play Rugby in the lower bracket semi final today as well.

Des Lacs-Burlington 53, South Prairie-Max 36

The Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers and South Prairie-Max Royals didn’t have to travel far to play in the region tournament. The Lakers and the Royals faced off in the quarter finals. It was the first game of the day at the Minot State Dome, energy was high and the audience was excited for some basketball.

Des Lacs-Burlington, the one seed, quickly took the lead in the first quarter over South Prairie-Max, the eight seed, and quickly built up a strong lead to win the game 53-36,

The Lakers were led by Colton Feller in the first quarter with four points under the basket and a trip to the free throw line for two extra points. The Royals spread out their scoring with four of their athletes bringing in points. The first quarter ended in Des Lacs-Burlington taking the 12-10 lead.

Des Lacs-Burlington pushed the score in the second quarter of the game and took a 32-16 lead. By the end of the third quarter the Lakers had a strong lead and started playing several of their bench players.

Des Lacs-Burlington dominated the court and took the 53-36 win. The Lakers played a tough defence and an even tougher offence and will have to play just as tough tomorrow when they take on the Bottineau Braves in the semifinals.

Bottineau 61, Dunseith 58 (F/OT)

The Bottineau Braves and the Dunseith Dragons played the most intense game of the night. Bottineau, the four seed, and Dunseith, the five seed, had to battle during every single possession of the ball. After tying the game 58-58 in the fourth quarter the game went into overtime where Bottineau’s Connor Guss and Landyn Grant scored to win the game 61-58.

The Braves won the tip off and gave the ball to Dawson Guss who brought in the first two points of the game. Bottineau didn’t keep its lead for long. Led by Zayer Grant the Dragons led 12-10 going into the second quarter.

The game continued back and forth with eight lead changes throughout the game. The Dragons came out on top in both the second and third quarter and started the final quarter of the game with an 11 point lead, 43-32 over the Braves.

Bottineau showed up to play in the final quarter of the game and scored 21 points. Grant led the quarter for the Braves and brought in six points on the wing. Landen Solberg followed close behind with five Braves points.

With mere minutes left in the game the teams tied the score. Both teams scrambled to break the tie and not allow their opponents to score. The game went into overtime tied 58-58.

Dunseith won the overtime tip off and was immediately stopped by Bottineau. Both teams scrambled back and forth without a basket being made until there was only a minute and a half left. Bottineau’s C. Guss took an opening and scored a layup to break the tie. Moments later Grant collected a foul and earned an extra point at the free throw line. The Braves didn’t let the Dragons back to the hoop and won the game 61-58.

Turtle Mountain 67, Stanley 61

The Stanley Blue Jays, two seed, and the Turtle Mountain Braves, seven seed, fought tooth and nail for the quarterfinal win. After a long back and forth game the Braves pulled off the 67-61 upset over the Blue Jays.

Stanley won the tip off and took the first lead of the game when Austin Kanenwisher made three points out on the arc. The Blue Jays quickly learned that even though they had a height advantage the Braves had a speed advantage. Turtle Mountain quickly outscored Stanley 19-7 in the first quarter.

In the second quarter of the game the Blue Jays outscored the Braves 18-13, but it wasn’t quite enough to take back the lead. Stanley put up a tough almost unbeatable defence in the third quarter and only let a few shots get put up. By the time the third quarter was over Stanley one again had the lead over Turtle Mountain 45-41.

The Braves showed off an offence they had been hiding in the final quarter of the game. Led by Tayven DaCoteau with 11 points, Turtle Mountain scored 26 points in the fourth quarter. Every possession was a fight, but Turtle Mountain took the 67-61 win over Stanley.

Rugby 73, New Town 28

The Rugby Panthers, six seed, took on the New Town Eagles, three seed, in the quarter finals of the Region 3 tournament. The Panthers dominated the game, outscoring the Eagles in every quarter. After a long four quarter Rugby took the 73-28 upset win over New Town.

Led by Lucas Wentz with six points the Panthers doubled the Eagles points 21-6 in the first quarter. New Town made their way to the basket during the second quarter to try and close in on the Panthers lead. Rugby didn’t let that happen and scored 22 points to secure their lead.

With a 34-22 lead going into half time the Panthers just had to keep playing a steady game to take home the win. Rugby’s defence held back New Town and only allowed six points to get through in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter of the game Rugby had a tough 52-28 lead. New Town’s Karter Neeland made his way to the basket in a final attempt to take the lead. Neeland made nine points on the wing and four points in the lane but it wasn’t quite enough to close the gap. Rugby won the game 73-46 and upset the New Town Eagles in the quarter finals.