Red Lake eliminates Warroad in Section 8AA Tournament

      The Red Lake Warriors opened Section 8AA tournament play on Thursday, March 11, 2004, with a road trip to Warroad to host the number 4 seed. Red Lake ended their season 5^th seeded for the tournament.

      During the regular season the two teams had met on January 24, in Warroad, Red Lake coming away with the win, 57-51 in overtime.

      In front of a packed house at the host gym, Red Lake drew first blood in the game, with Charles Goodwin getting the feed and putting in two.

      Warroad took the lead with a 3-pointer, and neither team scored again until the 1:33 mark of the first quarter when Robin Kelly hit a 3-pointer that put the Warriors back on top, 5-3. Warroad tied the game with less than a minute to go, and the first quarter scored ended 5-5.

      The pace was picked up in the second quarter, with Red Lake scoring 16 and Warroad 12. The Warriors led at the half 21-17.

      Red Lake never trailed again, although Warroad made several attempts to come back in the third and fourth quarters. The Warriors outscored Warroad 22-18 in that third period, giving them a 43-35 lead to start the final quarter.

      Warroad was stronger in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Warriors 25-21, but Red Lake’s defense stepped up to hold off their attack to the end. Red Lake won 64-60, and the win allowed them to advance to the next round of the tournament. Warroad’s season ended with their loss.

      Robin Kelly led the Warriors with 22 points–shooting 4-8 from 3-point range and 4-6 from the charity line–followed by Charles Goodwin with 10 rebounds and 13 points, Challenge Johnson with 7 rebounds and 11 points, Clayton Roberts with 5 assists and 10 points, and Preston Graves with 7 rebounds and 8 points.

      Red Lake was 21-50 in field goals for 42%, 7-19 from 3-point range at 36%, and 15-30 from the freethrow line for 50%.. The Warriors had 33 rebounds, 15 assists, 4 steals and 20 turnovers.

      After East Grand Forks defeated Bagley as anticipated, that is who the Warriors would face in the next round. East Grand Forks defeated Red Lake 67-57 in early March in Red Lake.