UPDATE: In a thrilling doubleheader, the Ridgewater Warriors swept both the men’s and women’s basketball games against Mesabi Range on Friday night, December 1, 2023, in Willmar. The men triumphed with a nail-biting score of 97-94, while the women secured a decisive victory of 87-69.
The men’s game showcased an intense back-and-forth battle, with the Warriors snapping a recent losing streak. Four players finished in double figures, led by DeAndre Holloway who posted a spectacular 23 points and 12 rebounds, notching his eighth double-double of the season. The 6-foot-7 sophomore forward is averaging 18.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game this season.
Freshman guard Brenton McKinney also shined, contributing a career-high 22 points, shooting an impressive 7 of 14 from the field. Tyrese Mayo and Connor Whittet added 14 and 10 points, respectively. The Warriors improved their record to 8-2 and remain in contention for national rankings in the NJCAA Division III.
On the opposing side, Reggie Adams led Mesabi Range with 26 points, closely followed by Tahje Johnson with 21 points. Despite their strong performances, Mesabi Range fell to 3-6 for the season.
In the women’s matchup, Madison Norsten tied her career-high with 27 points, shooting 7 of 19 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. Julia Hines also delivered a standout performance with 23 points, including a dazzling 7 of 12 from three-point range. Charlize Arcoren rounded out the scoring with 18 points on 6 of 8 shooting.
The Warriors improved to 5-7 with this victory and will look to build on this momentum when they host Minnesota North College-Vermilion tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the women and 3 p.m. for the men.
Both teams are eager to continue their winning streaks and improve their standings. Fans are urged to attend these upcoming games to support their teams after an electrifying display of talent and determination tonight.
Stay tuned for more updates on these developing stories from Ridgewater athletics!
