A difficult season for the ADM boys basketball Tigers ended with a thud Monday night at Carroll High School, as the Tigers lost in the opening round of the Class 3A District Playoffs to Denison-Schleswig, 82-56.

ADM was tied at 8 with the Monarchs through the first four minutes of the first quarter, but then things went from bad to worse. Denison went on a 20-0 run over the next eight minutes, and cruised into the locker room up 38-15.

The Tigers (3-19) played better in the third quarter, outscoring the Monarchs 23-20, but by that time it was too late. A 20-point deficit entering the fourth quarter would prove to be too much to overcome, as ADM’s season-long losing streak hit eight games.

The main concern coming into the game was how the Tigers’ undersized frontcourt would handle 6-9 Monarchs senior Spencer Pauley, who came into the game averaging 19.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. ADM limited Pauley to just 13 points, but allowed guard Parker Eller to go off for 28 points, 17 above his season average.

Senior Matt Moran added 13 points off the bench, including a pair of 3-pointers – and it seemed like the Monarchs couldn’t miss from distance all night.

Senior Joe Sloss lead the way with 16 points, and brother Jake Sloss had 10 for the Tigers. Those two, along with Kyle Ferguson, Jonny Reel, Elijah McCartney, Sam Kornstad, Devon Lord and Kody Irwin all played their final games.

Denison-Schleswig moves on to the District 15 final against Carroll on Thursday.