March 4, 2014

Wolves fall to Eagles for Region 8 title

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

After making it to the Region 8 title game with wins over Ray, 79-51, and Parshall, 61-59, the Watford City boys basketball team was no match for New Town as the Eagles defeated the Wolves, 76-52.
With the loss, Watford City ended its season with a 14-9 record.

Region 8 Tournament
First Round
Watford City 79, Ray 51

David Kline was virtually unstoppable as the Watford City junior poured in a game high 26 points, including four three-pointers, to help lead the Wolves to a 79-51 win over the Ray Jays in loser-out action of the Region 8 Tournament on Feb. 24.
Watford City jumped out to a 24-16 first quarter lead over Ray, and then coasted to the easy win as the Wolves blew the game wide open with a 26-6 scoring advantage in the second quarter.
The Wolves led the Jays, 50-22, at halftime, and were never challenged in the second half.
Joining Kline in double-figure scoring for Watford City was Mitchell Liebel and Cole McGorman with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Rounding out the scoring for the Wolves was Dustin Kleppen and Logan Fettig with seven points each, Seth Indergard with six points, Bo Cook and Andrew Sampsel with four points each and Brendon Leaming with one point.
For the game, the Wolves shot 51 percent, hitting 29 of 56 attempts from the field, and were good on 14 of 21 from the free-throw line.
Watford City    24    50    65    79
Ray                    16    22    39    51


Region 8 Tournament
Semifinals
Watford City 61, Parshall 59

Watford City used a fourth quarter rally to knock off the Parshall Braves, 61-59, in the Region 8 semifinals on Feb. 25.
After holding a one point, 20-19, first quarter lead, it looked like the Wolves were going to miss out on their chance to advance to the title game as the Braves came alive in the second quarter. On the back of a 17-7 second quarter scoring spree, the Braves definitely had the momentum as Parshall took a 36-27 lead into the lockers at halftime.
But Watford City turned the tables on the Braves in the third quarter as the Wolves would battle back to trail Parshall by just two points, 44-42, going into the final eight minutes of play.
Parshall would open the fourth quarter by going on a seven-point scoring spree to put the Braves up, 53-46, before the Wolves would put together their own run to deadlock the game at 57-57.
David Kline would then put the Wolves on top as he connected on a jumper with 25 seconds left on the clock.
Watford City had three players score in double figures in the come-from-behind win with Kline pacing the Wolves with 17 points, while Logan Fettig and Mitchell Liebel netted 16 and 14 points, respectively.
Also scoring for the Wolves was Seth Indergard with six points while Bo Cook and Andrew Sampsel netted  four points each.
For the game, the Wolves shot 38 percent, hitting 21 of 56 attempts from the field, and were good on 14 of 19 from the free-throw line.
Watford City    20    27    42    61
Parshall           19    36    44    59


Region 8 Tournament
Championship Game
New Town 76, Watford City 52

Watford City got off to a slow start and never recovered as the Wolves fell to the New Town Eagles, 76-52, in the Region 8 Championship game on Thursday. New Town had beaten the Wolves three times earlier this season. But in the title game, the Eagles played an almost flawless game as New Town’s defense contained the Wolves while their offense overpowered Watford City.
New Town jumped out to a 21-6 first quarter lead, and then upped its advantage to 23 points, 42-19, at halftime.
While both teams played a close second half, Watford City was never able to make up its first half deficit.
Mitchell Liebel and Seth Indergard paced the Wolves in scoring with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Rounding out the scoring for Watford City was Bo Cook with eight points, David Kline with seven points, Logan Fettig with four points, Cole McGorman with three points and Andrew Sampsel with two points.
For the game, the Wolves shot 36 percent, hitting 20 of 55 attempts from the field, and were good on seven of nine from the free-throw line.
Watford City    6    19    36    52
Parshall          21    42    59    76

WATFORD CITY WEATHER