Tight senior class helping May-Port-C-G reach rare heights
Feb. 27—GRAND FORKS — May-Port-C-G is going to a North Dakota state girls basketball tournament for the first time since 2001.
How might these Patriots react to the first state tournament experience in more than 20 years?
Well, perhaps it helps all five seniors were in the starting rotation for May-Port-C-G that accomplished the same thing in volleyball this fall, going to state for the first time since 2002.
No. 1-seed May-Port-C-G opens the North Dakota Division B state tournament against Kenmare-Bowbells at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Jamestown.
Seniors Rylee Satrom, Raina Satrom, Raegen Zerface, Danica Hanson and Maysa Larson have state tournament experience now in both volleyball and softball. They're used to reaching new heights for the Patriots.
"We're all pretty close," Zerface said. "We've had small numbers, so we've got to know each other."
The Satrom twins, Hanson and Larson have been playing together since the third grade. Zerface joined in high school when May-Port-C-G began to co-op with Finley-Sharon a few years ago.
"All five of us have been on varsity since we were freshmen, and this year it's starting to click," Rylee Satrom said. "It's more special when all of our time is paying off."
May-Port-C-G's only two losses this season are to teams in the Division A — the middle division of North Dakota's three-class system, which is in its first season. The Patriots lost to Division A No. 1 and unbeaten Thompson, as well as Carrington.
The Patriots rolled through the Region 2 tournament, winning all three games by double digits including the championship by 33 points against previously No. 1 Langdon-Edmore-Munich.
"Obviously, these girls are special and talented," May-Port-C-G coach Keenan Konschak said. "They have so much talent and drive to win."
Rylee Satrom leads the Patriots in scoring with 20.6 points per game, while Zerface averages 10.0 and Hanson averages 8.8.
Zerface leads the rebounding effort at 7.9 rebounds per game, followed by Larson with 7.7 and Rylee Satrom at 4.6.
Raina Satrom leads May-Port-C-G with 4.7 assists per game, while Larson adds 4.1.
Defensively, the Patriots thrive on turnovers. Rylee Satrom averages 4.3 per game, while Raina Satrom averages 3.7 and Larson 3.3.
"I think our defense and into our quick offense has been difficult for teams to come across," said Rylee Satrom, who said she plans to focus on a nursing major at North Dakota State next season. "I think we're really quick and can read things really well. I hope we can keep playing defense like we can."
The Patriots haven't won a state girls basketball championship since 1975.
"Obviously, we want to win a state championship but honestly it's playing our best team ball and having fun," Zerface said. "Sometimes we forget it's a game. We want to just have fun while keeping the goal in mind, too."
Coach: Keenan Konschak.
Record: 23-2.
Top scorers: Sr. G Rylee Satrom 20.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG; sr. F Raegen Zerface 10.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG; sr. F Danica Hanson 8.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG; sr. G Maysa Larson 8.6 PPG, 7.7 RPG; sr. G Raina Satrom 4.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG; soph. G Kiaza Carlson 4.1 PPG, 1.6 RPG; soph. G Hudson Zerface 3.5 PPG, 1.8 RPG.
State tournament history: The Patriots last made the state tournament in 2001. The program advanced to state in 1975, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998 and 2001, winning it all in 1975.
