Basketball Game Preview: Westhope/Newburg Sioux vs. Berthold Bombers

Westhope/Newburg and Berthold are an even 5-5 against one another since February of 2015, but not for long. The Westhope/Newburg Sioux will challenge the Berthold Bombers at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Having struggled with ten defeats in a row dating back to last season, Westhope/Newburg turned things around against Velva on Monday. They had just enough and edged the Aggies out 43-41. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Sioux have posted since January 18, 2024.

Macy Bryans and Marleigh Henry were among the main playmakers for Westhope/Newburg as the former posted 16 points in addition to seven assists and seven boards and the latter put up 14 points along with six rebounds and three steals. Bryans has been hot recently, having also posted three or more steals the last three times she's played. Another player making a difference was Ashley Tabarez, who had five points and seven boards.

Westhope/Newburg smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive boards in seven consecutive contests.

Meanwhile, Berthold put another one in the bag on Thursday to keep their perfect season alive. They enjoyed a cozy 63-48 win over Surrey. Given the Bombers' advantage in MaxPreps' North Dakota basketball rankings (they are ranked first, while the Mustangs are ranked 25th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Berthold's record is now 10-0. As for Westhope/Newburg, their victory (their first of the season) made their record 1-9.

Westhope/Newburg suffered a grim 48-28 defeat to Berthold in their previous matchup back in January of 2024. Can Westhope/Newburg avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.