Sports

Westhope-Newburg triumphs over Rolla

By Bottineau Courant Staff

12/30/2013

A strong effort from Chance Kitzman kept the Westhope-Newburg Sioux’s season rolling along Saturday, Dec. 21.

The junior posted a season-best 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting and added seven rebounds and a pair of blocks in a 66-40 win over Rolla in Minot.

The effort helped the Sioux jump out to an early lead that ended with a 15-7 advantage after one quarter. By halftime the lead was 17 points, and after three quarters the Sioux were on top 53-27 over the Bulldogs.

In the end the Sioux won their sixth game of the season and their fifth straight heading into the holiday break.

Kitzman and teammates Hunter Braaten and Ethan Miller combined for 61 of the Sioux’s 66 points. Braaten and Miller finished with 18 and 22 points respectively.

Miller finished with 10 rebounds, while Braaten had seven boards and seven assists.

Of the other five Sioux points, four came from senior Hunter Ballantyne and one was from a converted Reese Schell free throw.

Westhope-Newburg was still without sophomore Chase Conway, who looks to be a big part of the team when he recovers from an injury that lingers from the football season.

The Sioux (6-2) will open up their second half schedule with their first District 11 game when they host Bottineau at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7.

The game will be the second half of a girls/boys doubleheader.
Notes:

• Kitzman has emerged as a strong player for the Sioux through eight games. He is averaging 9.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game thus far.
• Braaten is still leading the Sioux with 24.8 points and 3.9 assists per game. He is also averaging 8.1 rebounds per contest through eight games. His best output thus far was a 36 point performance in a 53-48 win over Sawyer in the Velva Invite on Dec. 13.
• Miller is the Sioux’s top rebounder with 9.9 boards per game. He is also averaging 15.3 points per game.