Mandan Marches Over Minot

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"100"}}} --> <p style="font-style:normal;font-weight:100">Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas is looking back at Tuesday night's (1/21/25) action. At that time, Minot was ranked #1 and [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last=''] was ranked #2 in the State Polls. The Braves headed up north for the WDA matchup and game away with an impressive road victory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3,"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"22px"}}} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" style="font-size:22px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Minot Struggles: Bell &amp; Knutson Fight, but Fall Short</span></strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">For the #1-ranked Magicians, it was a tough night at the home office. [player_tooltip player_id='379041' first='Leelee' last='Bell'], Minot's standout player, was kept in check by [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last='']'s defensive schemes. Bell, who usually dominates in games, had a more subdued performance, finishing with 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting, including 1-of-5 from beyond the arc. [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last='']'s defense constantly threw double teams at Bell on every catch, limiting her usual impact. Despite her struggles, [player_tooltip player_id='379041' first='Leelee' last='Bell'] did contribute 13 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks, showcasing her versatility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='1053416' first='Eve' last='Knutson'], typically known for her perimeter shooting, showed flashes of aggressive play by attacking the basket. She finished with 15 points, hitting 5 of 10 from the field, including 3 of 7 from three. This was one of the first games where Knutson was able to add a driving element to her game, and if she continues to add that dimension to her offensive arsenal, she could become even more dangerous moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">With the recent loss of [player_tooltip player_id='457913' first='Karew' last='Lamoureux'] to a knee injury, Minot will need to adjust, and Knutson's increased aggression could be key to filling the gap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last=''] Brave Standouts</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last='']'s Spark: [player_tooltip player_id='1160783' first='Sapphire' last='LaBlanc'] Takes Over</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1160783' first='Sapphire' last='LaBlanc'] (2025) |5'10 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last='']'s, [player_tooltip player_id='1160783' first='Sapphire' last='LaBlanc'] off the bench, delivered a performance that will be remembered for years. LaBlanc had the crowd buzzing, knocking down six three-pointers in a spectacular display of shooting. She finished the night with 22 points, hitting 8 of 14 from the field, including 6 of 11 from beyond the arc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a game that was tight throughout, LaBlanc kept her composure and sealed the win with a clutch move late in the final seconds. With 8 seconds remaining, LaBlanc sliced through the Minot defense with a slick step-through in the lane to give the Braves the lead for good. Her pull-up jumper late in the first half was another reminder of her ability to take over when it matters most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='518353' first='Ziah' last='GreyBull']: The Defensive Pest &amp; Scoring Threat</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='518353' first='Ziah' last='GreyBull'] (2025) |5'9 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='518353' first='Ziah' last='GreyBull'] was another key factor in [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last='']'s victory, showcasing an all-around game that was both offensively and defensively dominant. Despite struggling from three-point range for much of the season, Grey Bull found her shooting rhythm in this game, connecting on 3 of 9 from deep, finishing with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her relentless defense on Minot's guards was a key part of the game, as Grey Bull hounded the Magicians all night long, forcing turnovers and limiting offensive flow. She displayed a tenacity that kept Minot's offense off-balance and her impact was felt in every possession.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='969855' first='AnnaClaire' last='Bugbee']: The Rebounding Machine</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='969855' first='AnnaClaire' last='Bugbee'] (2028) |6'2 F|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the guards shone on the offensive end, Freshmen [player_tooltip player_id='969855' first='AnnaClaire' last='Bugbee'] dominated the boards. Bugbee, with her impeccable timing and ability to read the ball off the rim, grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. Seven of those came on the offensive glass, resulting in crucial second-chance opportunities for the Braves. Her work in the paint was essential to the Braves' success, allowing them to maintain possession and limit Minot's fast-break chances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1060234,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/classAA.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1060234" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->