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WEST FARGO-Wahpeton almost saw a late lead slip away Saturday in its state-qualifying girls basketball game against Fargo Davies at the North Dakota Class A, East Region tournament.
The Huskies held on for a 47-45 victory over the No. 4-ranked Eagles at West Fargo High School, earning its first trip to state since 2013.
"I thought we played really composed at the end by having a lot of people step up and make shots and get stops," Wahpeton all-state junior forward Tylee Irwin said. "It was a team win."
Irwin and senior center Karlie Matejcek both scored 15 points to lead the Huskies (15-9).
"We are just trying to play our best basketball and taking it one game at a time," Irwin said. "We'll celebrate this, but on Monday we'll come back ready to work hard for state."
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Wahpeton will be the No. 3 seed from the East Region at state.
Wahpeton took a 44-35 lead with 3 minutes, 15 seconds left to play when Matejcek got a layup to fall. Davies (17-7) stormed back cutting the Huskies' lead to one point in the final minute.
Davies junior Kylee Bergantine connect for a 3-pointer with just over a minute left to fuel Davies' late rally.
"You knew they were going to make a run," Wahpeton head coach Brian Watson said of Davies. "The second time we played them this year it came down to a last second shot. I'm proud of the girls for playing three of the top teams in the state in this tournament and making it to state."
Davies sophomore Carly Kottsick led the Eagles with 12 points.
HALF: W 30, FD 27
WAHPETON: Lingen 6, Breuer 5, Matejcek 15, Cookman 3, Irwin 15, Pikarski 3.
DAVIES: Bergantine 10, Nemer 4, Kottsick 12, Geffre 4, Erickson 11, Paper 4.
