BISMARCK - There hasn't been a nastier flock of birds since the classic 1963 thriller movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock was released.
The Carrington Cardinals stormed the court of the Bismarck Civic Center on Friday and took away just about every toy the No. 2-ranked Kenmare Honkers had during the semifinals of the North Dakota Class B state girls basketball tournament.
Carrington stung the Honkers with seven 3-point shots, outrebounded them 46-27 and held them to a dismal 9-of-48 shooting from the floor as the Cards breezed into tonight's championship game with a 62-27 victory over the Honkers.
"I'm surprised by the final score. Kenmare is a good team," Carrington coach Andy Braaten said. "To outrebound them by 20, that's effort."
Carrington received a solid effort from just about every player they put on the floor, but none bigger than the performance put forth by Sierra Rosenau. The junior guard scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, helping the Cards advance to their first championship game since 1990.
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"All we could think of is we are going to the 'ship,' " Rosenau said. "We all try to play our game like usual in big games like this. If we can end it in a state championship, how good would that be?
"I couldn't express it in words."
Carrington locked into a 2-3 zone defensively the entire game and pressed the full length of the court for a majority of it. Kenmare was able to deal with the press, as it did during its 48-36 quarterfinal win over Beach. However, the Honkers were unable to break Carrington's zone.
Kenmare tossed up six
3-pointers in the first period and only connected on one. Carrington packed the paint around Kenmare's all-state senior center Katie King and led 13-9 after one.
The Cardinals didn't waste any time breaking the game wide open in the second quarter.
Carrington's Brittney Roundy, Rosenau and Noelle Moser teamed up to drain three consecutive 3-pointers to open the frame and take a commanding 22-9 lead with 6:10 left to play in the half.
"I don't know if anyone would have been able to beat (Carrington) tonight," Kenmare coach Jason Schwarz. "If they play like that tomorrow, good things will happen."
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Kenmare scored just two points in the second and trailed 29-11 at the half. King finished the game with a team-high 10 points.
Carrington ballooned the lead to 30 points (44-14) with 2:34 left in the third quarter.
Carrington shot 44.6 percent from the field on 25-of-56 shooting. Carrington's Emily Thompson ended with 11 points and eight assists. Becca Scherr and Brittney Roundy each scored nine.
"We used up everything yesterday, I think," Schwarz said. "When the legs go, the head and the heart aren't far behind."
Kenmare beat Carrington 46-34 on Dec. 10 in both teams' season-opening game in Minot.
Carrington 13 29 50 62
Kenmare 9 11 20 27
CARRINGTON (22-3): Sierra Rosenau 16, Emily Thompson 11, Becca Scherr 9, Brittney Roundy 9, Noelle Braaten 8, Brittany Indergaard 6, Kayla Hochhalter 2, Nikki Braaten 1. Totals 25-56 5-8 62.
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KENMARE (25-2): Katie King 10, Kortni Miller 8, Alexis Munson 6, Erika Lemere 3. Totals 9-48 6-8 27.
3-point goals: Scherr 3, No. Braaten 2, Rosenau, Roundy, Miller, Lemere, King. Total fouls: CHS 10, KHS 12. Rebounds: CHS 46 (Rosenau 12), KHS 27 (King 6). Assists: CHS 17 (Thompson 8), KHS 2 (King 2). Turnovers: CHS 11, KHS 12.
Michael Savaloja writes for the Jamestown Sun, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.
