The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
An encouraging trend for the Carrington girls was followed by a humbling dose of reality with the return to Region 2 play against the defending Division A champions.
Carrington made it four-for- four to start the winter season with a surprising 56-42 result over third-ranked Shiloh Christian in Bismarck on Friday, Dec. 13, and two quarters into last Monday's first matchup of the season with Devils Lake found the Cards up by a 26-23 halftime score.
Then, the Firebirds found a gear nobody in the classification has, scoring 29 points in the third quarter and blowing open what was a legitimate upset bid, 62-39, at the Devils Lake Sports Center on Dec. 16.
The victory against the Skyhawks had big plays from the talented freshman trio of Marah Johnson, Maara Kutz and Aniston Hoornaert at different points of the contest.
Much of those heroics came in the second half, with Johnson scoring 10 points and adding five steals, Kutz tallying eight (with 13 rebounds) and Hoornaert hitting a key three to keep Shiloh at arms' length.
"Maara really ignited our run to begin the second half, as both we and Shiloh had runs back and forth in the first half," Coach Andy Braaten said. "That, and Brynn [Smith's] spark off the bench and our depth really helped us keep it from 5-to-10 points most of the way."
Smith, along with Edyn Hoor-naert, were co-leaders in the books with 11 points apiece, and Hoornaert finished with another solid game on the boards with nine rebounds.
Sophia Heringer's 16 points were tops for the Skyhawks, who also had two nine-point showings by Elizabeth Hatlestad and Macie Thompson.
In Devils Lake, the Cards were poised to make the ultimate statement win with their play in the first 16 minutes, but the bottom fell out with the Firebirds' combination of lethal pressure defense and smooth shooting.
The home squad, held without a three-pointer in the first half, canned three in the third quarter alone. Torri Fee had seven points for the Firebirds and Presley Brown six more in the fateful stanza.
Edyn Hoornaert had eight points in the loss, while Devils Lake was led by a balanced book from Claire Heilman (11 points), Tylie Brodina and Jolie Martinson (10 each) and Brown and Fee (eight).
CHS (4-1) played another Region 2 matchup at Thompson last Friday, and will tangle with western 'A' teams Hazen and Dickinson Trinity on consecutive days at the Carrington Shootout Friday-Saturday, Dec. 27-28.
Non-Region Girls Basketball
Carrington 56, Shiloh Christian 42
at Bismarck
Cgtn. 14 10 18 14 56
Shiloh 11 15 9 7 42
Carrington: Edyn Hoornaert 11, Brynn Smith 11, Marah Johnson 10, Maara Kutz 8, Aniston Hoornaert 5, Kenadie Pazdernik 5, Kaydence VanRay 4, Harper Kollman 2. Totals: 23-68 FG, 6-8 FT, 14 fouls. Three-pointers: E. Hoornaert, Smith, A. Hoornaert, Pazdernik.
Shiloh Christian: Sophia Heringer 16, Elizabeth Hatlestad 9, Macie Thompson 9, Katie Hammeren 5, Layla Thompson 2, Emma Duffy 1. Totals: 16-46 FG, 7-13 FT, 13 fouls. Three-pointers: M. Thompson 2, Heringer.
Region 2 Girls Basketball
Devils Lake 62, Carrington 39
at Devils Lake
Cgtn. 14 12 7 6 39
DL 18 5 29 10 62
Carrington: E. Hoornaert 8, A. Hoornaert 7, VanRay 6, Johnson 5, Kollman 4, Kutz 4, Pazdernik 4, Smith 1. Totals: 13 FG, 11-19 FT, 16 fouls. Three-pointers: A. Hoornaert 2.
Devils Lake: Claire Heilman 11, Tylie Brodina 10, Jolie Martinson 10, Presley Brown 8, Torri Fee 8, Cabryn Fritel 7, Anna Shock 5, Mia Elsperger 2, Kendra Eckes 1. Totals: 24 FG, 8-15 FT, 19 fouls. Three-pointers: Martinson 2, Heilman, Fee.
