By. Jerry W. Kram

MHA Times Reporter

Sometimes it is hard to define heart, but the Parshall Braves certainly showed a lot of heart as they came inches away from earning a berth in the Region 4 Boys Basketball Tournament. The Braves staged a comeback against the Powers Lake/Burke Central Ranchers and had the lead in the final minutes of the game but were edged out by a margin of 52-50 in the Region Qualifying Game of the District 7 Boys Basketball Tournament.

The Ranchers capitalized on an early eight-point run in the first quarter to build a 13-5 lead after four minutes were gone. The Braves cut the lead to two in the next two minutes but the Ranchers started the second quarter with another run and increased their advantages to 21-15 halfway through the quarter. The Braves were able to just keep pace with the Ranchers for the rest of the half and went into the locker room trailing 27-22 at halftime.

The Ranchers were able to hold on to a five to six point lead for the first five minutes of the second half, when the Braves were finally able to cut into the lead at 33-30. Finally with a minute to go in the third quarter, the Braves took their first lead of the game at 36-35 on a drive by Memphis Walking Elk. That was the score when the third quarter ended. Walking Elk keyed the Braves rally with two three-point shots and several field goals in the second half.

The lead changed hands a half dozen times in the fourth quarter but the Braves had a four point advantage with two minutes left in the game at 48-44. Free throws by Francis Old Rock gave the Braves a 50-46 lead with 1:15 to go. A foul outside the three-point line let the Ranchers cut the lead to one, and foul on the next possession gave the Ranchers a three point play and a 52-50 lead with 12.7 seconds left in the game. A shot by Walking Elk was off the mark and a putback by Old Rock bounced off the rim three times before trickling out, ending the Braves’ season.

In other final round games, Williston Trinity beat the Alexander Comets 63-51 for the District Championship and Kenmare/Bowbells knocked off Ray 80-48 for the other Region Qualifying spot. In the second round, Parshall beat the Tioga Pirates 56-50 in the first loser out game and Ray downed Trenton 50-35 in the second. In the semifinals, Alexander upset the top seed Kenmare/Bowbells Honkers 67-51 while Trinity Christian overcame Powers Lake/Burke Central 78-55.

In the opening round, Kenmare/Bowbells dispatched Tioga 58-36, the Braves were downed by Alexander 65-35, Williston Trinity took care of Trenton 76-50 and Powers Lake/Burke Central beat the Ray Jays 67-54.