Sue Sitter/PCT Panthers forward Kendyl Hager goes for a layup against the St. John Woodchucks in the championship round of the CNDC in Harvey Dec. 3. The Panthers won the CNDC Champion title for an eighth year in a row.

After 30-plus point wins in the first two rounds of the CNDC Tournament in Harvey, the Rugby Panthers found themselves with a battle on their hands against the St. John Woodchucks before winning the tournament for an eighth straight year.

The Panthers began their climb to the title Dec. 1 when they faced the Towner-Granville-Upham Titans. The squad began unsteady on its feet in the first quarter, outscored 12-16 by TGU. The Panthers defense sprang to action in the second quarter, adding 26 more points to the board and shutting off opportunities for all but four points to the Titans.

Rugby would win 73-32 over TGU to face the Harvey-Wells County Hornets in the semifinal round.

The Panthers dominated the Hornets, clawing their way to a 67-35 win Friday, Dec. 2.

On the other side of the tournament bracket, the St. John Woodchucks advanced to the final round with a 77-36 win over Drake-Anamoose and a 64-39 win over the Minot Magicians JV squad.

Panthers Head Coach Jennifer Brossart said after the final round, “St. John’s a really good basketball team. They’re going to battle over in Region 4 probably to a regional championship.”

Rugby seemed destined for another win by a large margin early in the CNDC championship round Saturday, Dec. 3 against St. John.

Rugby scored 18 points in the first quarter, double the Woodchuck’s nine-point total. Rugby’s score included two three-pointers, one landed by forward Joey Wolf, and another shot by forward Mykell Heidlebaugh.

Rugby added 15 more points to its total in the second quarter with three-pointers landed by forward Kendyl Hager. Guard Joran Jundt beat the halftime buzzer with a three-pointer of her own.

The Panthers saw excellent free-throw accuracy in the first half, hitting 100% of their attempts.

Rugby also began to lead the Woodchucks in fouls, a factor that St. John would use to its advantage.

Forward/center Alani Morin would make two trips to the free throw line in the second quarter, landing all four shots. St. John saw 77% of its free throws made.

The half ended with a 50-37 Panthers lead.

When the teams returned to the court, St. John increased its pressure on Rugby. Two buckets came from forward Kaycee Desjarlais. The Woodchucks saw more rebound shot opportunities and made good on them.

Morin drew more fouls in Q 3, making 50% of her shots on two trips to the free throw line.

Peyton Hauck came through for the Panthers while the Woodchucks put the pressure on Heidlebaugh and Wolf. Hauck landed two buckets in the third quarter, adding to her two plus two free throw points from the first half.

Sophomore Brooklyn Corum rebounded a shot for two. Wolf drew a foul, landing two free throws of her own.

Still, the Panthers scored 11 points to the Woodchucks’ 13 in the third quarter.

St. John upped the pressure again in the fourth quarter, swarming Panthers territory.

Like Rugby, St. John showed it had a deep bench, with two buckets coming from Aubrey Jeanotte and two from Natalie Decoteau. Guards Eliza Slater and Kennley Davis and Morin each added a bucket.

The St. John onslaught continued, leaving Rugby looking slightly rattled. The Woodchucks would outscore the Panthers 16-10 in the final quarter.

However, the Woodchucks couldn’t beat the clock. The end-game buzzer sounded with the Panthers in the lead 60-53.

“Both teams, we pressed the whole weekend,” Brossart said of the Panthers’ win.

“We need to figure out how to close ball games out,” she added. “Our girls have the skills. We’ve got the athleticism, but we’ve got to be able to be mentally strong and handle that pressure that teams are going to throw at us.”

“I’m very proud of our girls for defensively doing the job,” she said. “Offensively, they were playing a little scared then toward the end, and playing not to lose instead of playing to win.”

“So, we need to get better. But, this is the glory of it – it’s only the third game of the year and not the 20th game of the year. So, we need to get better, and that’s what we have all of next week for and the week after that,” she added.

Of the Panthers’ accuracy at the net, Brossart said, “I thought we shot very well this weekend. We had girls step up who probably hadn’t stepped up early in the practices we’ve been playing in, so we saw a lot of good things there as well.”

“We’re going to build on this,” she added. “It’s the eighth consecutive CNDC tournament championship for this program, so it’s great.”

“It’s a testament to these girls. It’s the work they put in and the pride they take in this tournament,” she said. “It’s a great tournament and it gets us ready for the season, and it’s a great way to start out.”