Thunder stopped in Region opener

North Central's boys basketball team was upended 51-31 by McLaughlin last Tuesday in Region 6A action.

McLaughlin would jump ahead 10-8 in the opening quarter and then led 20-16 at the half. They would fuel their win with a 10-5 third-quarter edge and then coasted to their win.

The Thunder obtained 10 points from Donovan Nelson and Cole Beitelspacher was next with seven points followed by Dawson Walz and Tim Rucker with four points each. And Brady Beitelspacher, Zane Haar and Jade Jacobs each added two points to their cause.

But McLaughlin got two leading scorers with 12 points apiece and they would become Raymin Yellow Earrings and Cassidy Demery. Bostin Miller was next with his 10 points also reaching double-figures in their scorebook that night. Three more players would score.

The Thunder would finish with 15 two-pointers and one free throw, while McLaughlin was able to connect on 17 deuces and four treys plus five free throws.

The Thunder obtained 20 rebounds led by Nelson with six of them, but McLaughlin captured 34 rebounds. The Thunder had 17 turnovers and McLaughlin, 16 miscues.

It was an eventful night for the Thunder seniors who would be Brady Beitelspacher, Raynor Sprague, Cooper Oxner, and Dawson Walz.