FARGO - It's just another accomplishment to add to the long list of feats for the Mandan girls basketball team.
The Braves have won four straight state titles, 20 straight games and now hold the record for most points scored in a game at the North Dakota state Class A girls basketball tournament.
Behind balanced scoring, Mandan put up 95 points for a 95-30 victory over Grand Forks Red River on Thursday in a Class A quarterfinal game at the Fargodome.
"It was a good first game because we got our confidence going," Mandan post Cassandra Kelsch said. "Everyone got the ball, and we played tight defense."
Mandan eclipsed the previous record held by Fargo South, which scored 80 points in 1997. Records date back to 1974.
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Red River, a No. 4 seed from the East Region, dropped to 11-12 overall and will face Fargo Shanley today at 4 p.m. in a consolation semifinal.
Mandan, the top seed from the West Region, improved to 22-1 and advances into tonight's semifinal round against Bismarck Century.
"I was disappointed that even though we got down, we have to keep playing and finish," Red River coach Justin Schommer said. "There is no reason to give up 58 points in a half."
Mandan, which scored more than 100 points in a game twice this season, jumped out to leads of 13-2, 32-10, 52-16 and led 58-18 at halftime.
Five players scored in double figures to pace the Braves. Jessica Kielpinski led the way with 19 points, followed by Kelsch and Mic Kraft with 14 points each. Ali Collins chipped in with 11 and Marlee Finley had 10.
"We believe that you can't let a team come back on you, or they'll think they can play with you," said Kelsch, who scored all 14 of her points in the first half. "We want to get ahead and stay ahead."
Red River was led by 13 points from junior center Sarah Smith. Vanessa Riski added five points and Holly Asche had four for the Roughriders.
The Mandan press caused the Riders problems from the start. Red River turned the ball over 37 times to Mandan's 17. As a result of transition baskets, Mandan shot 76.7 percent from the field in the first half.
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"We have to come back and play a whole game (today)," Schommer said. "Hopefully, we play twice as hard. We'll see how much we've grown up at (today's) game."
