CARRINGTON (NewsDakota)- Sometimes for a young team, part of the process that eventually leads to success can be a painful night or two.  And for the Carrington Cardinals, Thursday night would certainly qualify for that category.

A game-closing 7-0 run in the final minute lifted the Medina/Pingree-Buchanan Thunder to a 59-55 win over Carrington on Thursday night inside the East Gymnasium in the final non-region game of the season.

Carrington (5-14) started well, with Maddox McIlonie and Taylen Mehring combining for nine of the teams’ eleven points in the first quarter.  The Thunder (16-3) rallied late in the second quarter after trailing by thirteen, with senior Chase Ova leading a 15-6 run to close to within four at the break.

That run continued into the second half as M-P-B took a 37-32 lead midway through the quarter.  But the Cards responded with a lethal 10-0 run in two minutes for a 42-37 lead.  In the fourth, the Cardinals led until Terek Kinzel buried a three with under a minute left, followed by a steal and bucket on the inbounds pass for Drew Hofmann to build a 58-55 lead with under ten seconds left.  McIlonie, on his and Tate Wolsky’s senior night, had a great look at a game-tying three, but it did not fall and Ova nailed a free throw to set the final score.

The Cardinals conclude the home schedule on Friday, February 27th against Grafton with coverage on KDAK The Cardinal and KDAK The Cardinal on YouTube beginning at 6:45pm.

MPB            9             18            14           20                   59

CHS            11            18            13            13                    55

MEDINA/PINGREE-BUCHANAN (16-3): Chase Ova 18; Terek Kinzel 14; Drew Hofmann 13; Gage Hofmann 11; Trevin Behm 2

CARRINGTON (5-14): Taylen Mehring 17; Maddox McIlonie 17; Ewan Aberle 9; Alec Threadgold 8; Tate Wolsky 4

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