MINOT -- Cavalier took home an eighth-place finish Saturday, as well as some incentive for next season.
Shiloh Christian held off a late Cavalier rally to beat the Tornadoes 69-61 in the seventh-place game of the North Dakota Class B boys high school basketball tournament.
"It's definitely a lesson to be learned for us,' Cavalier junior Ryan Chrest said. "I think we were too satisfied just winning the region and getting here. Now we'll work harder and hope to come back.
"After we lost a tough one in the first round, I don't know if we played with as much intensity.'
Cavalier and Shiloh Christian were tied 25-25 at halftime. But the Skyhawks opened the second half on a 22-4 run and led 53-39 after three quarters. Shiloh Christian was 11-of-16 shooting from the field in the quarter.
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Cavalier cut the deficit to 56-52 with 2:14 left. But Shiloh Christian was 11-of-12 on free throws in the final 1:38.
"That's the most points we've given up all year,' Cavalier coach Bryce Laxdal said. "They were just knocking down shots. We had hands in their shooters' faces. You hope they cool off. They did, but they did a good job hitting their free throws.'
Chrest had 23 points to lead Cavalier, with Spencer Robbins adding 14 points, as well as a game-high 14 rebounds, and Brock Robbins scoring 12. Donavon Lambert scored 23 and Walter Bearstail 14 to lead the Skyhawks.
Fifth place
Dickinson Trinity 57, Rugby 54
Standout guard Jacob Volk sank a 3-point heave off one foot from 30 feet with time running out as the Titans (24-3) claimed fifth place.
Rugby's Brad Heidlebaugh, who had 13 points and 11 rebounds, drilled a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining to tie the game at 54. With 12 seconds left, Trinity's offense ran a set play but it broke down, leading to Volk's heroics.
Volk had a game-high 18 points, while teammate Isiah Binstock added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
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Rugby, which led by two at halftime, gave up the lead right away in the second half, but stayed withing striking distance. Kyle Lovcik had a team-high 15 points for the Panthers (25-3).
Dickinson Trinity 57, Rugby 54
Rugby 13 26 42 54
Trinity 9 24 43 57
Rugby: Kyle Lovcik 15, Brad Heidlebaugh 13, Josh Michels 8, Chris Hamilton 8, Kyle Halvorson 6, Jaedon Haman 2, Matthew Johnson 2. Totals 21-42 7-14 54
Trinity: Jacob Volk 18, Isiah Binstock 10, Alex Binstock 9, Jacob Good 8, Jesse Kubik 6, Ben Gordon 4, Austin Deichert 2. Totals 19-48 15-24 57
Records: Rugby 25-3, DT 24-3.
