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Ladies weather the run, to regionals

By Staff | Mar 4, 2011

The Rugby Lady Panthers weathered the run to regional play. They soundly beat Drake-Anamoose 71-29 in the opening round of the District 11 Tournament held at Velva on Feb. 25. Rugby dominated all four quarters with 12 players on the scoreboard by the end of the game. Everyone came to play.

Seniors Crystal Hovland, with 16 points and Tessa Koenig with 8 and freshman Chandra Yankton with 15 were the top three scorers of the first game.

On Saturday night, it was a different ball game. TGU beat Rugby by four points, 48-44. The teams were pretty wellmatched with Rugby ahead by 2 points at halftime. In the third quarter, TGU outscored Rugby almost 2-1 with their 15 points to Rugby’s 8. In the fourth quarter, Rugby fought back but they had lost ground in the third quarter and couldn’t seem to pull it off.

Crystal Hovland with 20, Yankton with six and Leigha Schmaltz with 6 were the three top scorers for Rugby.

On Monday, Feb. 28, the Panthers had a chance to make it right again and they did. The defeated Dunseith 54-42. They played pretty evenly in the first half and were ahead by two baskets at halftime.

The coaching staff moved Crystal Hovland to point guard in the second half which worked out well for the Panthers.

“Crystal had three really nice drives to the basket during this game, ” commented the coach.

Aubrey Hovland was moved to the #2 guard position, which is a position she is very comfortable with. Aubrey Hovland switched positions after senior Emily Paul was injured in the second game of the season and was out.

One of the high points of this game for the Panthers was when Chandra Yankton made her fourth 3-pointer, according to Coach Jen Brossart.

Rugby didn’t let up during the third quarter and dominated in the fourth. They secured their berth in regional play with a third place finish in the district tourney.

Crystal Hovland with 20, Yankton with 17 and Abigail Paul with six were the top three scorers in that game.

“Leigha (Schmaltz) had a very good district,” added Coach Brossart.

Rugby had three girls named to the All-District Team, Crystal Hovland, Leigha Schmaltz, and Aubrey Hovland.

Crystal Hovland brought home the honor of “Senior Athlete of the Year”.

Coach Jen Brossart received “Coach of the Year”.

The Rugby Panthers are scheduled to play Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood for the opening round of Region 6 on Monday, March 7 in Minot.

“We match up well with them,” said Coach Brossart. “If we keep our turnovers to 12 or less and take care of the ball, good things will happen.”