Panthers see ‘hardest game of the year’ at regionals
The 19-2 Rugby Panthers added a 59-48 win against Our Redeemer Christian School’s Knights to their record at the North Dakota Region 6 Girls’ Basketball Tournament quarterfinals on Feb. 21 in the Minot Auditorium.
Although the win represented a step toward a possible Region 6 title, Panthers Coach Jennifer Brossart said, “I call it the 23rd game on our schedule. That’s the way we look at it and nothing else.”
Brossart added, “This was our hardest game of the year to play. It’s win or lose and go home. It’s tougher than any state tournament game. It’s tougher than the regional championship game.”
The Knights did their best to make the game tough for the Panthers.
After Panthers forward Mykell Heidlebaugh landed the first bucket of the game, Knights defense held the Panthers back. Emily Brugman took an opportunity to land a shot for the Knights. Panthers and Knights traded ties and leads. Each team gave its opponent two free throw opportunities. Both Heidlebaugh and Joran Jundt would land one of two Panthers bonus shots. Aubrey Greidl and Meadow Roberts would each land one for the Knights. The first quarter ended with a narrow 14-13 Knights lead.
The Panthers charged up their defense in the second quarter, holding the Knights to just eight points. Rugby scored 19 points, led by a tiebreaking three-pointer early in the quarter shot by Brooke Anderson. Joey Wolf and Heidlebaugh added three-point shots to the total. The Panthers would hold onto their lead for the rest of the game, although the Knights did their best to keep the margin close. Knights also saw more foul trouble toward halftime, bringing Jundt and Wolf to the bonus shot line. The half ended with a 32-22 Panthers lead.
Knights turned the tables briefly on the Panthers in the third quarter, outscoring the Panthers 17 to 15 and drawing two personal fouls. Panthers forward Peyton Hauck brought Rugby fans to their feet when she landed a three-point shot. More Panthers stayed alert for shot opportunities, with Kendyl Hager, Jundt, and Lacie Deplazes each landing three-pointers.
Eventually, the Knights grew weary. Shot attempts bounced away from their marks. Forward Maya Vibeto drew a foul on a layup shot, making two free throws. Meadow Roberts made one of two bonus shots on a foul from Hager. Brugman rounded out the Knights’ nine-point total in the fourth quarter.
Panthers worked at a steady pace, keeping some energy in reserve. They stretched their lead to 11 points, let it slip back to nine, then moved ahead again, staying 11 points ahead until the final buzzer.
“I’m proud of these girls,” Brossart said after the win. “A lot of these girls stepped up. Some of the girls weren’t hitting their marks today but we had some big-time bench play by Peyton Hauck and Lacie Deplazes. Brooke Anderson was on our starter list but she had a big three-point shot. Joran did well for us. We got some big-time bench play and I’m happy and very proud of that.”
Brossart said the team’s season-long strategy of patience and sharing the ball carried the Panthers to victory.
“We kept our turnovers low, I think. We had that little stretch there where we had three in a row but we got that under control,” Brossart said, referring to the tough first quarter. “That’s expected,” Brossart said of the battle for the ball. “(The Knights) were going to make a run for it. That’s a great basketball team. In my opinion, that’s not a number 4 seed. That’s just how tough their district is. That’s a good basketball team and they’re young and they’re going to be back here for a few more years.”
Brossart added, “Hopefully, the Panthers will be, too.”