Hornets place 7th at CNDC Tournament in Rugby

The 2023 edition of the HWC girls basketball Team opened up their season this past weekend at the 47th Annual Central North Dakota Conference (CNDC) Tournament in Rugby at Charlie Hanneman Gymnasium.

The Hornets started the season with a tough 73-39 loss to highly-touted St. John, then lost a close battle to the Glenburn Panthers by seven.

HWC rebounded from a 12-point deficit in the seventh place game to defeat Drake-Anamoose by 15 to end the weekend.

St. John 73, HWC 39

Aubree Jeanotte knocked down four three pointers and scored 20 points in the first half, helping to lift the St. John Woodchucks to a 73-39 quarterfinal victory over HWC on Thursday, November 30.

The Woodchucks started the game with confidence and accuracy. Jeanotte hit three long range shots, and Kenley Davis and Eliza Slater added one each as St. John finished the first quarter on a 17-5 run to lead, 25-13. HWC's Rachel Neumiller scored the first eight points for the Hornets and kept the game close early when the score was knotted at eight.

Jeanotte and Davis each added another three in the second, and Kaycee Desjarlais added a two-and-one as the Woodchucks continued their hot shooting. Neumiller scored four and Braylee Keller added a three for HWC, but Jeanotte scored seven more in the second to help the Woodchucks lead 44-24 at the half.

The third quarter was a bit of a downfall for HWC. The Hornets started to turn the ball over a bit more than in the first half, and St. John took advantage of their opportunities. Davis scored 10 in the third quarter, including the final eight for St. John, giving the Woodchucks a 19-5 advantage in the quarter and a lead of 63-29 after three.

Neumiller started the fourth with a two-and- one and followed that up with another field goal for HWC. Addisyn Faul added a three later in the fourth for the Hornets to make the final 73-39.

Davis and Jeanotte scored 21 and 20, respectively, for St. John as they opened the season with a win. Neumiller led all scorers in the game, as the sophomore scored 22 for HWC, which dropped to 0-1.

Glenburn 48, HWC 41

The first round consolation bracket at the CNDC tournament paired the Hornets with the Glenburn Panthers on Friday, December 1. Each team had numerous players with little experience, as the Hornets came in with 27 turnovers in their first game and the Panthers with 36 in their first.

The Hornets and Panthers played half of the first quarter pretty tight, as Faul's two-and-one pulled HWC to within 8-7 midway through the quarter. The Panthers, behind Emma Jones' seven first quarter points, used their distinct height advantage and scored the final eight points of the first to take a comfortable 16-7 lead after eight minutes.

The Hornets settled down a little in the second and earned some trips to the free throw line. Keller was 4-for-4 from the line, and HWC held Glenburn to just five second quarter points as they pulled to within 21-15 at the half.

HWC's offense had their best quarter of the season to date, as they scored 17 in the third and were led by Keller's 10 points. The Hornets cut the lead to 25-23 after a Keller field goal, but the Panthers answered with six points from Jones and six more from Ella Post, giving Glenburn a 37-32 lead after three.

A free throw from Keller and field goal from Neumiller helped HWC cut the lead once again to two at 37-35, but the youth of HWC couldn't cut into the difference any more. The HWC turnovers started to mount in the fourth as they committed seven in the quarter and 32 in the game. Neumiller scored six in the fourth, but Jones and Larkyn Pletcher added four each for Glenburn as they held off HWC to win, 48-41.

Emma Jones scored 22 and led all players in the game in scoring. Post added 12 more for the Panthers. Keller led HWC with 17 points including going 9-of-12 from the free-throw line. Neumiller added 14 for HWC in the loss.

HWC 51, Drake-Anamoose 36

HWC came from 12 points down early in the third quarter to come back for a 51-36 victory in the seventh place game of the tournament on Saturday, December 2.

The Hornets started fast, taking an early 9-6 lead on four points from Breanna Heilman and a three from Keller. Drake-Anamoose finished the quarter with the hot hand, as Bailey Clott hit a two- and-one and Olivia Fahy hit a three pointer to help the Raiders to a 10-0 run and finish the quarter with a 16-9 lead.

The Raiders continued their streak, as Mariah Mack and Clott secured field goals early in the second to move the Raider lead to 20-11. Rylee Jones scored four straight to give HWC some momentum heading into the half down six, 21-15.

Drake-Anamoose, with six points to start the third quarter, moved the lead to 27-15. Neumiller's three pointer was followed up by a Brooklyn Dockter two to cut the Raider lead to 27-20. Halie Fletschock drained four points to move the lead back to 31-22. The Hornets countered with a more aggressive full court pressure, turning into some easy points for HWC. Neumiller started the run with a steal and layup, which was followed by a three from Heilman. Faul knocked down a three-pointer, and Neumiller finished up the run with a two-point bucket as the Hornets scored 10 straight and took a 32-31 lead. Faul's steal and assist to Keller ended the third for HWC as they led, 35-33.

HWC opened up the fourth on an 11-0 run with Neumiller scoring four, Keller scoring five and Faul adding a layup. The Raiders did not have an answer, as they scored just three points in the fourth resulting in the HWC 51-36 win.

Neumiller led all players in scoring with 17 points, and was followed closely by Keller with 13. Jones led the Hornets on the boards with 12 rebounds, while Heilman led HWC in steals with seven. The Raiders were led in scoring by Clott and Mack with 11 points each, while Fletschock was close behind with nine.

CNDC Girls Basketball

Tournament, Rugby

First Round

St. John 73, HWC 39

HWC 13 11 5 10 39

St. John 25 19 19 10 73

HWC: Rachel Neumiller 22, Braylee Keller 9, Addisyn Faul 5, Breanna Heilman 2, Brooklyn Dockter 1.

St. John: Kenley Davis 21, Aubree Jeanotte 20, Kaycee Desjarlais 10, Eliza Slater 5, Kadence Decoteau 4, Alani Morin 4, CeAnn Allery 3, Abigail Delorme 2, Peyton Desjarlais 2, Morgan Disrud 2.

HWC Additional Stats

Rebounds: Keller 7, Dockter, Rylee Jones and Neumiller 4, Heilman 3, Maci Reutter 2, Faul, Mackenzie Sagert and Aubrey Thorson 1.

Assists: Keller 4, Heilman 2, Jones 1.

Steals: Keller 3, Jones 2, Faul, Heilman and Neumiller 1.

Blocks: Keller 1.

Consolation Round

Glenburn 48, HWC 41

HWC 7 8 17 9 41

Glenburn 16 5 16 11 48

HWC: Keller 17, Neumiller 14, Faul 3, Jones 3, Heilman 2, Sagert 2.

Glenburn: Emma Jones 21, Ella Post 12, Evalee Pletcher 5, Aubrie Quick 5, Larkyn Pletcher 4, Hallie Matehs 1.

HWC Additional Stats

Rebounds: Heilman 8, Neumiller 5, Dockter, Jones and Keller 4, Reutter 1.

Assists: Keller 5, Reutter 2, Faul, Heilman, Jones and Neumiller 1.

Steals: Keller and Neumiller 4, Jones 3, Faul, Heilman, Reutter and Sagert 1.

Blocks: Jones 1.

Seventh Place

HWC 51, Drake-Anamoose 36

HWC 9 6 20 16 51

D-A 16 5 12 3 36

HWC: Neumiller 17, Keller 13, Faul 8, Heilman 7, Jones 4, Dockter 2.

D-A: Bailey Clott 11, Mariah Mack 11, Halie Fletschock 9, Olivia Fahy 5.

HWC Additional Stats

Rebounds: Jones 12, Keller 8, Heilman and Neumiller 6, Faul 5, Dockter 1.

Assists: Keller 4, Neumiller 2, Dockter, Faul, Heilman and Jones 1.

Steals: Heilman 7, Neumiller 5, Jones 3, Dockter and Faul 1.