Sean Williams/MDN Rugby’s Joey Wolf, right, makes her way around Surrey’s Mia Aberle in the quarterfinal round of the NDHSAA Region 6 Girls’ Basketball Tournament at the Minot State University Dome Feb. 20.

The Rugby Panthers girls’ basketball squad turned hope for a berth at state more into reality by using the same patient strategy at regionals it had used all season long.

Using the same methodical pace at the North Dakota High School Activities Association Region 6 tournament that propelled the team to the top five in the state, the Panthers first advanced to the semifinals with a decisive 56-35 win over the Surrey Mustangs on Feb. 20.

On the tournament’s opening day in the Minot State University Dome, the Panthers made their victory look easy. Rugby played with confidence and flexibility, finding ways around and over Surrey defenders to put two and three-point shots through the net from the first minutes of the game.

The Mustangs could do little but fight to stay in the game and away from a 30-point deficit.

The next day, the South Prairie-Max Royals would sink into the same predicament fairly quickly.

Once Rugby players sized up the Royals’ defense, Rugby forward Joey Wolf moved inside the paint for the Panthers’ first bucket. Three-point attempts came next for Rugby, but a few bounced away from their mark.

Rugby forward Kendyl Hager tried a distance shot around a Royals guard, resulting in a foul and a trip to the free throw line. She added two more to the Panthers’ lead.

Elise Fahnestock landed a three-pointer a short time later, building on the Panthers’ lead.

With just over one minute to go in the first quarter, forward Amy Mikkelson landed the first Royals bucket. She would make a one-pointer from the free throw line seconds later.

The Panthers led 13-3 when the quarter ended.

The young Royals soon found their fight for a lead turned into a fight for survival. South Prairie-Max’s oldest player, Jayla Kannianen, is a junior. Most are freshmen, sophomores and eighth graders.

The Panthers have nine seniors on their team.

Rugby put 17 more points on the board before halftime, thanks to deadly-accurate three-point shots from Hager. She and forward Mykell Heidlebaugh would each rack up 16 points for the game.

The Royals found shot opportunities for eight more, plus a bonus shot landed by Azjiah Trader.

The Panthers’ methodical strategy kept them in charge of the game. Turnovers mounted for the Royals, who would see 16 in the game. Rugby lost the ball in a few to the scrappy young team as well, but recovered quickly.

Rugby forwards Heidlebaugh and Peyton Hauck kept the team focused, finding new ways around South Prairie-Max defenses for boards.

Still, the Royals edged a little closer to the Panthers, cutting their lead to 21 points at the end of the third quarter.

With a 48-27 lead, the Panthers shored up their efforts to keep control of the ball. Rugby Coach Jen Brossart began rotating in more players to give them tournament experience.

Panthers forward Savannah McCall drew a foul, making two bonus shots. Joran Jundt followed with a three-point shot. Megan Buckmeier put another through the net for Rugby.

Rugby charged ahead, leaving the Royals in the dust. With minutes to go in the game, Rugby led 59-29.

A three-pointer by Royals eighth grader Mya Gunville gave South Prairie-Max its final bucket of the season.

Rugby wrapped up a 59-32 win to advance to the championship round, where it would face the Knights of Our Redeemer’s Christian School.

Although Rugby had not played against the Knights during the regular season, the Panthers would face a challenging task in keeping six-foot-two center Aubrey Griedl of Our Redeemer’s in check.

However, the Knights had struggled against the Royals, losing in a 28-26 defensive matchup in their regular season.

The winner of the final round Feb. 23 would punch its ticket to the 2023 NDHSAA State Girls’ Basketball Tournament, to be held March 2-4 at the Minot State University Dome.

Results from the championship round of the NDHSAA Region 6 Girls’ Basketball Tournament will appear in the March 4 Tribune.