January 6, 2015

Wolves back to their winning ways

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

After suffering their first loss of the season on Dec. 22 to Minot Bishop Ryan, Watford City’s girls basketball team rebounded with wins over Minot Our Redeemer’s, Bottineau and Ray.
The Wolves, who are now 7-1 on the season, will take on Beach on Friday, Jan. 9, and will then be on the road as they travel to Hazen on Saturday, Jan. 10, and to New Town on Monday, Jan. 12.

Watford City 77, Our Redeemer’s 29
Watford City had four players score in double figures as the Wolves crushed Our Redeemer’s 77-29 on Dec. 29.
John Zenz, Wolves’ head coach, credits Watford City’s tenacious defense and solid shooting for the win.
“We had a great all around team effort,” stated Zenz. “Our half court trap and diamond press really bothered them as the first half played out. We were able to force them into turnovers that we were able to create some easy scoring opportunities for ourselves.”
Watford City held the Knights to single-digit scoring in each quarter of play, while the Wolves’ offense had a field day.
Mackenzie Sparby and Katie Mogen paced Watford City in scoring with Sparby posting a game high 21 points, while Mogen tallied 17 points. Also scoring in double figures was April Spruell and Ricki Lindley with 10 points each.
The Wolves led the Knights 19-8 at the end of the first quarter of play, before expanding their lead to 27 points, 40-13, at halftime.
“We stayed out of foul trouble, which has been as issue for us in some games,” stated Zenz. “We also shot excellently from the free-throw line going 16 for 20 for 80 percent.”
Watford City continued to have its way offensively in the second half as the Wolves posted scoring advantages of 17-7 and 20-9 in the final two quarters of play.
Rounding out the scoring for the Wolves was Tarynn Jacobson with six points, Lea Arndt with five points, while Kara Langerud, Avery Sundeen, ReiAnn Lindley and Krystal Wold ended the game with two points each.
For the game, the Wolves shot 54 percent from the field, hitting on 26 of 48 attempts and were good on 16 of 20 at the charity stripe.
Watford City          19    40    57    77
Our Redeemer’s    8    13    20    29

Watford City Stats: Rebounds: Mackenzie Sparby, 9; Tarynn Jacobson, 5; Katie Mogen, 5; April Spruell, 3; Kara Langerud, 3; Krystal Wold, 3; Ricki Lindley, 2; Avery Sundeen, 2; ReiAnn Lindley, 2; Lea Arndt, 1. Assists: Langerud, 2; R. Lindley, 2; Mogen, 2; Spruell, 1; Arndt, 1. Steals: Spruell, 4; R. Lindley, 4; Mogen, 3; Arndt, 2; Jacobson, 1; Sparby, 1. Blocks: Mogen, 1.

Watford City 84, Bottineau 50
Watford City took the shine off the Bottineau Stars on Friday afternoon as the Wolves improved their season record to 6-1 with an easy 84-50 win.
Katie Mogen had a game high 21 points to pace the Wolves in the win, while Ricki Lindley, April Spruell and Mackenzie Sparby joined her in double-figure scoring with 18, 14 and 12 points, respectively.
The Wolves jumped out to a quick, 28-15, first quarter lead and then never looked back en route to the victory.
Watford City led the Stars, 49-23, at halftime, and by 31 points, 68-37, at the end of three stanzas of play.
Rounding out the scoring for the Wolves was Lea Arndt with seven points, Kara Langerud with four points, while Tarynn Jacobson, Alli Mogen, Alyssa Prichard and ReiAnn Lindley netted two points each.
Watford City    28    49    68    84
Bottineau         15    23    37    50


Watford City 81, Ray 37
Watford City capped off a great week of basketball on Saturday as the Wolves dominated the Ray Jays with a 81-37 win.
While the Rays proved to be no match for the Wolves, John Zenz, Wolves’ head coach, wasn’t all that pleased with the way the team played.
“We took care of business, but didn’t play up to our full potential,” stated Zenz. “We got into early foul trouble and didn’t move our feet as well as we can.”
Watford City led the Jays, 20-2, after the first quarter of play and by 31 points, 40-9, at halftime.
“We shot the ball well from inside the three-point line going 36-59 for 61 percent,” stated Zenz. “But we have been struggling at the free-throw line the last two games.”
Four Watford City players scored in double figures in the contest with Katie Mogen posting a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Also scoring in double digits for the Wolves was April Spruell, Ricki Lindley and Alysaa Prichard with 14, 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Rounding out Watford City’s scoring was Mackenzie Sparby with eight points, Krystal Wold and Alli Mogen with five points each, while Kara Langerud, Lea Arndt and Mikka Haugeberg netted two points each and Tarynn Jacobson scored one point.
Watford City    20    40    62    81
Ray                      2      9    19     37

Watford City Stats: Rebounds: Katie Mogen, 10; Mackenzie Sparby, 4; April Spruell, 3; Alli Mogen, 3; Kara Langerud, 2; Ricki Lindley, 2; Lea Arndt, 1; Tarynn Jacobson, 1; Krystal Wold, 1. Assists: Ricki Lindley, 4; Arndt, 4; K. Mogen, 4; Langerud, 2; ReiAnn Lindley, 2; Spruell, 1; Prichard, 1. Steals: Langerud, 6; K. Mogen, 5; Ricki Lindley, 4; Jacobson, 4; Arndt, 3; Spruell, 1; Haugeberg, 1; ReiAnn Lindley, 1; Prichard,, 1; Sparby, 1. Blocks: Sparby, 2; Ricki Lindley, 1; K. Mogen, 1.
 

WATFORD CITY WEATHER