FARGO — It’s been an up-and-down type of season for the Fargo Shanley girls basketball team.

The Deacons hold a record of 12-12. Several of their wins have been lopsided, but five of their losses have come by seven points or less.

“I’ve been telling the girls from the start that it’s not how we start the season,” Shanley head coach Beth Maher said. “But it’s how we end in March.”

March is off to a good start for Maher and the Deacons, who qualified for their first Division AA state tournament in four years after defeating Fargo North in a state play-in game last weekend.

Shanley will represent the East Region as the No. 4 seed and will play West No. 1 Bismarck Century (17-9) in the quarterfinal round at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, at the Fargodome.

“I think we’re all really excited,” said Deacons senior guard and all-conference selection Nora Roney. “I was in eighth grade the last time it happened, so it’s been awhile. We’re all kind of looking forward to it and we’re just really glad that we made it.”

David Samson / The Forum

Roney is one of five seniors helping guide a Shanley roster that trends younger. The Deacons have more underclassmen than juniors and seniors.

That youthfulness has shown throughout the season, but not without improvement when it matters most.

“I think we lost four or five games by less than six points, which were heartbreakers,” Maher said. “But with a young squad, I think they also recognized the things that we need to work on at the end of the game. Where we need to slow the ball down and get the ball to our point guard.

“Those are things that we’ve been working on at practice and we’ve started to execute them in those close games which is what we’re seeing down the road here.”

David Samson / The Forum

In fact, it’s a freshman forward leading the Shanley offense. Rylee Seavert — the Deacons’ other all-conference pick this season — has averaged a double-double with 18.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.

“It’s definitely just working hard and going up for every ball no matter what,” Seavert said. “Just putting in all that effort … crashing the boards, driving the lane, everything. I get my points off of all of my rebounds, so they add together.”

Although only a freshman, Seavert provides a veteran presence on the floor.

“(Seavert) has been on varsity since seventh grade so when you look at her stature, it’s hard to think that she’s only a 15-year-old freshman,” Maher said. “As a third-year varsity player, she definitely has the leadership skills we’ve been looking for. She’s been consistent on the court with her play. Not only offensively, defensively and rebounding, but she’s also been providing leadership off the court, as well, and the girls really look up to her.

“That girl comes to work every single day at practice, which sets the tone for our practices.”

David Samson / The Forum

Roney is also strong on the glass with 5.8 boards per game while averaging 7.5 points. Driving the offense as Shanley’s point guard, she’s among the state’s assist leaders at 3.7 a night and also has the ability to force turnovers defensively with 3.4 steals per contest.

“I started working with (Roney) last season on what type of leader I wanted her to be as our point guard,” Maher said. “We’ve had a love-hate relationship and I’ve been pushing her outside of her comfort zone. But she’s been very coachable and she’s able to tell me when she likes things or doesn’t like things.

“We’ve made a lot of progress with her command of the floor and wanting the ball in her hands when times are tough. She’s definitely the person we want to have the ball.”

Others have the ability to step up when called upon, as well. Over the last 10 games, junior forward Megan Dietz has averaged 10.2 points per game while seventh-grade guard Jaya Taylor has averaged 15.6 points a night. On the glass, Dietz and junior forward Peace Hakim have both averaged more than four boards per game this season.

Shanley finished second in the East Region in points per game this season at 62.9 per contest.

“One thing that I just love about this group is that we have a ‘don’t quit’ mentality,” Maher said. “When things get tough, these girls really work hard, they go after it and they don’t give up. That’s something we’ve really been trying to work on this season and we’ve been seeing that later in the season which is great.”

David Samson / The Forum

Bismarck Century was not a part of Shanley’s nonconference slate this year, making Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup the first meeting of the season between the Patriots and Deacons.

Century is paced by all-West Region selections Zoie Austin and Abby Fosland. Austin has averaged a team-leading 15.5 points per game this year and is also shooting 77.6% from the stripe.

“The key for us is going to be trying to stop the drive and not putting (Austin) at the free throw line,” Roney said. “She’s a really good free throw shooter, so as long as we can limit her drives and action there.”

Shanley also has the length advantage on the Patriots.

“They’re definitely physical and definitely really fast,” Seavert said. “We got the height over them, but they got the speed and they hustle really well. It’s just going to be a transition game at this point, so that’s what we’re working on.”

David Samson / The Forum

On paper, the Deacons are the underdog. But like any team, they’re going into the tournament with the mentality of winning.

“We have a good chance going up against them,” Seavert said. “It could be a close game, definitely. (Century) being the No. 1 seed, it’s going to be tough. We’ve just got to start out strong and push our way through.”

No matter what happens, Maher said she is excited to see her young squad compete under the bright lights of the Fargodome.

“We’re just really happy to be at state,” Maher said. “This is going to be a learning experience for my young crew getting on the big stage. To have this experience is just going to help build our program.”

David Samson / The Forum

Roney said pulling off a quarterfinal win comes down to clean and consistent basketball.

“We’ve just got to work hard and we’ve got to play together,” Roney said. “Limit our mistakes and just try and play a good, solid game overall.”