MINOT — Neither Rugby nor Central Cass shy away from challenging regular-season schedules.
They’ve largely fared well with those schedules as both can usually be found in the state Class B girls basketball poll.
Two of the Class B heavyweights of the past few years collided in the semifinal round of the North Dakota state Class B girls basketball tournament Friday night at the Minot State Dome. As anticipated, the game went the distance – and more. Central Cass’ Decontee Smith, however, managed to go the extra mile.
Smith’s basket with 35 seconds left in overtime lifted Central Cass to a wild, hard-fought 53-52 overtime win over Rugby, a win that moves the Squirrels into Saturday night’s championship game.
In a game that had 12 lead changes and wild momentum swings down the stretch, it was Smith who delivered. In addition to her 31 points, she grabbed 13 rebounds.
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With Rugby leading 52-51, there was little doubt who would take the decisive shot for the Squirrels. Smith saw an open lane and made her move, finishing at the rim for a 53-52 Central Cass lead.
“I saw the opening and I had to take it,” said Smith. “I want to go fast all the time. That’s my mentality and that’s how it pushes me.”
After Smith’s basket, Rugby had a final shot at the win, but Mykell Heidlebaugh’s shot along the baseline didn’t go and Smith came up with the rebound. Central Cass was able to dribble out the remaining seconds for the win.
“The game was like a heavyweight fight,” said Central Cass coach Jay Bachman. “We were punching them; they were punching us. It was back and forth.”
Central Cass led most of the way, but Rugby went up 48-46 on a Taylor Siverson three-point play with 28 seconds left in regulation. But Smith managed to force overtime when she hit two free throws with 22.9 seconds to go. And she nearly won it in regulation but her layup at the buzzer didn’t fall – forcing four more minutes of stress for both teams and fans.
“That was an insane game,” said Smith. “Rugby is a heck of a team and coming in we didn’t know that much about them. So we just needed to come out and play hard every minute.”
Smith did most of her scoring damage early. She scored 15 of Central Cass’ first 22 points. Rugby’s defense made things difficult for Central Cass inside from there, but Smith managed to come up big in the final minutes.
“I can’t wait for the title game,” said Smith. “We’ve been working hard every single day, every single practice to get here. I believe in us every time,” she said. “I just trusted my team.”
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Klaire Cotton added eight points for Central Cass while Siverson and Delaney Cotton each finished with five.
Rugby, which dropped to 22-3, was led by Heidleaugh’s 15 points. Kendyl Hager added 14 and Josephine Wolf 11. Central Cass improved to 22-3.
Halftime: CC 27, Rugby 25
Rugby – Kendyl Hager 14, Joran Jundt 9, Mykell Heidlebaugh 15, Josephine Wolf 11, Elise Fahnstock 3.
Central Cass – Klaire Cotton 8, Victoria Richter 2, Taylor Siverson 5, Delaney Cotton 5, Decontee Smith 31, Mikaela Prochnow 2.
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