Sports

Sioux season ends at district tournament

By Tyler Ohmann

03/12/2013

Westhope-Newburg’s season came to a close last Tuesday as the Sioux fell one game short of advancing to the Region 6 tournament.

The Sioux fell 45-29 to the Dunseith Dragons in the regional qualifier game at the District 11 Tournament in Dunseith.

“I was happy with how they played, but it was kind of the story of the year, shots don’t fall for us,” said Sioux head coach Jordan Cooper. “We didn’t move the ball around as well as I would have liked, and late in the game we got frustrated and pushed into some bad mistakes.”

The Sioux hung with the Dragons in the first half as both teams struggled from the field. The Dragons remained in the lead throughout though and led 23-18 at halftime.

Dunseith hit their stride in the third quarter as they opened up a 15-point lead by the end of the period.
Westhope-Newburg made one more run in the final quarter, and trimmed the Dragon lead to nine, but were unable to get any closer.

“The seniors played hard, and the younger girls played hard too, and I can’t ask for more than that,” Cooper said. “It’s just the ball doesn’t go in the hoop.”

Dunseith’s Elizabeth Handeland had 17 to lead all scorers.

The Sioux were led by senior Jade Teske who had eight points. Bailey Tofteland, also a senior and sophomore Lauren Mach each had four points.
Mach was the lone Sioux player named to the All-District team for her play throughout the season.

Westhope-Newburg graduates four seniors that all played significant minutes including: Teske, Tofteland, Hadlee Schell and Becca Christensen.

“We’re going to be young, we’re going to be senior light,” Cooper said. “We’ll just have to feel it out, it could be a good thing, it could be a bad thing.”
“I guess we’ll find out next year,” Cooper added.

Cooper said that the off season will make or break the Sioux for next season.

“Now we really just have to get into the gym in the offseason,” Cooper said. “That’s what really is going to make a difference.”

The Sioux finished the season with a 4-18 overall record.