Sports
Sioux season ended by Stars at districts
Tyler Ohmann
03/04/2014
The Westhope-Newburg girl’s basketball season ended at the District 11 Tournament in Rugby this past weekend.
The Sioux fell 57-38 to Velva in the opening round, which set up a meeting between their in-county rival Bottineau.
After a close first half the Stars pulled away and the Sioux lost 62-45.
It closed the Sioux season with a 4-17 overall record, but head coach Jordan Cooper was still proud of the improvement the Sioux showed by the end of the season.
“I am so proud of the girls, because it was a heck of a difference from even the middle of the year,” Cooper said. “We can play with them, we just got to finish, but it was a good fun year.”
“The girls work hard, and that’s all you can ask for,” Cooper added.
In the opening round against Velva the Sioux were in a hole right from the start. The Aggies jumped out to a 14-4 lead after one quarter and never looked back.
By halftime the lead was 16, and it ended in a 17-point victory.
Velva was paced by Sarah Wherley’s 16 points, and Cassidy Peterson and Jonah Lee each had 15.
Junior Lauren Mach had 10 points, as did Morgan Kersten for the Sioux.
In the loser out game last Saturday the Sioux were again toppled, but this time by Bottineau.
The teams played back-and-forth ball in the first half as neither team was able to take a firm advantage.
After one quarter it was tied 11-11, and at halftime the Stars held onto a narrow 30-27 lead.
However, in the second half momentum swayed the way of the Stars as the Sioux were unable to keep up, eventually falling by 20.
“The second half we got into foul trouble, and the ball didn’t bounce the right way a couple times, calls went the wrong way, and that happens,” Cooper said.
Mach led all scorers with 23 points for the Sioux. Hall added 10 points.
Bottineau was paced by Stephanie Brenden’s 15 points, and senior Danielle McDonald hauled in 17 rebounds to go with nine points.
The good news for the Sioux is that they are primed to be better in 2014-15. They lose only one starter in senior Ashlyn Huber.
Otherwise leaders Mach, Molly Lodoen and Amber Hall return for their senior seasons.
“We’ll be OK next year, and our goal is to win a district championship next year, and it’s a realistic goal for us,” Cooper said. “If we can continue to get better, and we have to continue to get at it in the offseason, and they have to want it.”
Other returners for next season include Maddy Lodoen, Paige Stratton, Mayce Brodehl and Morgan Kersten, who all played important roles throughout the season.