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CITY (NewsDakota.com)–Central Cass and Kindred will meet for the District 2 championship after a semi-final round that saw the tournament’s second upset.
Central Cass eased by Fargo Oak Grove in the opening semifinal 85-61, qualifying for the Region I Tournament starting February 20th in Wahpeton.
Oak Grove managed to stay close into the interior of the third quarter, powered by Alex Widmer and Tyler Christianson, who combined for all 13 Grover points in the third. Widmer would finish with 17, with Christianson adding 16.
Central Cass responded with 27 fourth-quarter points to open up big separation. Matt Zimmerman paced four Squirrels in double figures with 23. Ellery Bresnahan tossed in 19, and Josh Roesler added 14.
The Squirrels will meet the Kindred Vikings, who reversed a regular season loss and a seven-point second quarter deficit for a 61-56 win over the Maple Valley Raiders. Kindred, the tournament’s three-seed, scored the second upset of the tournament.
Maple Valley used a solid boost by Dylan Lerud to take a 22-15 lead in the second. Lerud entered off the bench in the first quarter and hit two three-point shots from the right corner, and added two more field goals in the second for a 10-point half. The Raiders led 28-25 at the break.
Eric Bachmeier and Jack Plankers were too much for the Raiders in the second half. Bachmeier scored 12 of his team-high 18 in the third quarter, including a three at the buzzer to give Kindred a 44-41 lead.
Plankers then knocked down 12 of his 22 in the fourth quarter. He hit five field goals in the frame, including a 17-foot jumper that tested the range of the 6’8″ post player. Freshman Fletcher Andel splashed two three-point shots at key times, and Casey Reinke added 13 points.
Raider Ty Smith led all scorers with 20 in the loss. Lerud finished with 12.
In loser-out play, the fourth-seeded Enderlin Eagles used a 13-0 run to overcome a 33-22 deficit in the third quarter and edge out Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page 50-44. Thomas Lindgren scored eight of his 18 in the fourth quarter, and Coltin Huus scored 16 points in the first three quarters.
Kyle Mehus led the Spartans with 18 points, with Lucas Montag adding 11.
Richland also extended their season with a 57-34 win over Northern Cass. Alex Paczkowski lead the Colts with 13 points. Austin Heyen added 12 and Chris Thompson 11 for the sixth-seeded Colts.
Criag Kyllo led an undermanned Jaguars, missing as many as three potential starters, with 11 points. McKenzie Cargile and Taylor Kyllo each chipped in seven.
Monday’s regional qualifiers begin at 4:30 p.m., with Maple Valley facing Enderlin, followed by Oak Grove taking on Richland. The Maple Valley-Enderlin winner will win the third seed from District 2 to the Region I tournament, and the Grover-Colt winner will be fourth. Central Cass and Kindred meet for the title at 8:00 p.m.