The New England Tigers achieved their first district win of the season with a hard-fought 64-58 victory over the Richardton-Taylor Raiders on March 2, 2024. The game, played in Richardton, North Dakota, showcased the resilience of senior player Gage Madler, who overcame a shoulder injury to lead his team to victory.
Madler, who missed most of last season due to injuries, scored 22 points, with a significant contribution during the second half. The Tigers entered halftime with a double-digit lead and extended it to as much as 14 points in the third quarter. However, the Raiders mounted a fierce comeback in the fourth quarter, narrowing the gap to just one point at 56-55 with less than two minutes remaining.
In a pivotal moment, Madler secured the lane for a crucial layup, pushing the lead to 58-55. He then assisted teammate Jordan Jung, who scored to make it 60-55, effectively sealing the win for the Tigers.
“It took us a bit to get locked in,” Madler commented after the game. “Once we finally did, everything started to work out. My team was doing a really good job at working the ball inside, and we were just all working good tonight.”
The game began with the Raiders taking an early lead, driven by guard Kyler Krank, who scored 12 points in the first quarter, contributing to a 16-5 advantage. Nevertheless, the Tigers remained composed, gradually chipping away at the deficit and finding their rhythm in the second quarter.
Tigers head coach Scott Jung praised his team’s performance, highlighting the balance they achieved between offense and defense. “The last couple of games our offense has finally sparked, but then we forgot about the defense,” he said. “But it was nice to see a pretty balanced combination between us today. We put up 64 points – that’s a lot for us, but I thought we really played well defensively.”
Despite the loss, the Raiders showed commendable determination, with Krank leading their scoring efforts with 23 points. Missing one of their key players, Chase Christensen, made the team’s performance even more notable. Head coach Kari Dohrmann expressed pride in his team’s intensity, stating, “Our intensity and our fight were always there, and that is one thing I never have to ask from the boys. All in all, I think it was a good game. We’re still trying to find a way to limit our inconsistencies, but I thought we played well.”
Looking ahead, New England will face Belfield and South Heart in upcoming District 7 matchups, while Richardton-Taylor will compete against Hettinger-Scranton and Bowman County. Madler remains optimistic about his team’s trajectory, noting, “We still have a ton of work to do. Tonight was definitely a good one for us and we definitely needed it. We were on a losing streak there for a while, but I think tonight is our turnaround point.”
The victory not only marks an important milestone for the Tigers but also sets the stage for a competitive district season ahead.
