Verndale boys advance in Subsection 6A

MOORHEAD -- The top-seeded Verndale Pirates advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Subsection 6A boys' basketball tournament after defeating the Rothsay Tigers 56-51 Saturday at Concordia College.

Zach Hinckle led the Pirates in scoring with 16 points and Chris Bramer added 10. Nathan Umland contributed nine rebounds and a blocked shot in the Pirates' victory and Josh McGrane added eight boards. Sabastien Wattelet dished out six assists for the Pirates.

Verndale trailed for a short period of time in the second quarter, but overcame the deficit and led the rest of the way.

The double figure scoring of three Tigers was not enough to walk away from Verndale. Darrn Opsahl scored 19 points, Tyson Trosvik added 17, and Mark Steiner had 11 in the Tigers' loss.

Verndale (16-7) will play Waubun in the subsection quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Monday at Concordia.

Rothsay 11 4 12 24 -- 51

Verndale 9 14 13 20 -- 56

ROTHSAY (51)

Mark Steiner 11, Darrn Opsahl 19, Tyson Trosvik 17, Jonathan Straka 2, Paul Haarstad 2. Team totals: FG 16-43 (37 percent), FT 13-23 (57 percent). Overall -- Finish 8-16.

VERNDALE (56)

Josh McGrane 8, Trent Carr 9, Sabastien Wattelet 5, Zach Hinckle 16, Nathan Umland 5, Chris Bramer 10, Kevin Ashman 2, Lance Edin 1. Team totals: FG 19-41 (percent), FT 15-24 (percent). Overall -- 16-7. Next game: vs. Waubun 7 p.m. Monday at Concordia.

3-point baskets -- R 6-16 (Opsahl 4, Steiner 2), V 3-8 (Carr, Hinckle, Bramer). Rebounds -- R 28 (Arlan Follingstad 6, Trosvik 6), V 31 (Umland 9, McGrane 8). Turnovers -- R 17, V 15. Total fouls -- R 19, V 22. Fouled out -- V McGrane. Assists -- R 11 (Arick Follingstad 6), V 15 (Wattelet 6). Steals -- R 9, V 8. Blocks -- R 3 (Trosvik 2), V 1 (Umland).

Wadena-Deer Creek eliminated

in 8AA action

PERHAM -- The Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Thunder advanced to the semifinal round of the Section 8AA boys' basketball tournament after defeating the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines 49-42 Saturday.

Matt Siegle and Jonathon Young were the top scorers for the Thunder with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

The Wolverines started out strong, hitting their first four three-pointers, but sizzled out from there. Kip Johnson led the Wolverines with 18 points and Matt Schiller grabbed nine rebounds.

The Thunder shot only two free throws until the end of the game when the Wolverines were forced to foul. LP-GE extended its four-point halftime lead to 12 points early in the fourth quarter and kept inching away.

Wadena-Deer Creek 11 12 8 11 -- 42

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 15 12 11 11 -- 49

WADENA-DEER CREEK (42)

Kip Johnson 18, Matt Schiller 9, Charlie Speed 9, Brandon Ice 2, Jamie George 3, Luke Joyce 1. Team totals: FG 17-50 (34 percent), 3-4 FT (75 percent). Overall -- Finish 10-14.

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle (49)

Matt Siegle 14, Jonathon Young 12, Troy Tschida 8, Robbie Zoller 6, Erik Sullivan 5, Josh Grove 4. Team totals: FG 20-43 (47 percent), FT 4-7 (57 percent). Overall -- 19-5. Next game: Crookston Thursday 5 p.m. at Concordia in section semifinals.

3-point baskets -- LPGE 5, WDC 5 (Speed, George, Schiller 3). Rebounds -- LPGE 27, WDC 28 (Schiller 9, Johnson 7, Ice 5). Turnovers -- LPGE 9, WDC 12. Total fouls -- LPGE 9, WDC 12. Assists -- LPGE 15, WDC 8 (Schiller 3, George 3, Speed 3). Steals -- WDC 5 (Speed 2).