(DCC Athletics release)
GLENDIVE – It was a lot tougher this time around, but DCC still escaped with a double digit victory. When they played back in December, the Bucs won by 60 points, 119-59. Stone Child had some additions to their roster for this game and they shot the ball well from outside. In fact, Stone Child took the lead early on when Chris Brown made a basket inside. Brent Finn responded with a 3-pointer on the other end, but then Randall Gardipee also hit a 3-pointer and a driving basket to put the visitors up 7-3. It went back and forth until Gardipee made another basket to give Stone Child a 15-12 lead with 14:46 remaining in the first half. That was the last lead they would have in the game. Finn made 3-pointers on two consecutive possessions for the Bucs who maintained control for the remainder of the half, even though they couldn’t quite push that lead to double digits. Taylan Barrett made a 3-pointer in the final minute to give Dawson their largest lead of the opening half at 47-38. The Bucs shots 55% from the 3-point line and 89% from the free throw line in the first half, though they allowed Stone Child to hang around by turning it over 11 times. Finn led the way with 11 points in the half and Simon Falokun added 10 points and 6 rebounds. Anfernee Standing Rock scored 13 and Chris Brown scored 10 for the visitors.
DCC built on their lead at the start of the second half with a fast break lay-up by Tate Savoie, but Stone Child came right back with a 3-pointer by Chris Brown and a lay-up by Jake Parker to make it a six point game at 49-43. That was the closest they would get for the rest of the night as the Bucs answered back with a couple of free throws and an inside bucket by Falokun, and then a 3-pointer by Tyrel Harper. Dawson built a 20 point lead 7 times in the 2nd half, but just couldn’t quite put the pesky visitors away. Stone Child kept hanging around by knocking down nine 3-pointers in the second half and thirteen for the game. The home team also shot the ball well, making 10-21 from long range, shooting 49% from the field and 78% from the free throw line. They also dominated the boards once again. This time their advantage was 54-28. They collected 85% of the defensive rebounds and 48% of the offensive rebounding opportunities.
It was a balanced effort with all 12 players getting in the scoring column and all 12 players collecting a rebound. Falokun led the way with 22 points on 8-12 shooting from the field and 6-6 from the free throw line. He also led the team in rebounding with 12 (6 offensive and 6 defensive). Harper contributed 18 points and 8 rebounds. Finn finished with 14 points and Barrett added 13 points and 5 rebounds. For the visitors, Gardipee tallied 22 points, Brown had 17 and Junior Day Child had 12 points to go along with 10 assists.
The win moves Dawson to 17-6 on the year. They will resume conference play on Monday at Bismarck State College before returning home next Thursday to play Williston State College. Thursday’s game will be their annual Barefoot Coaching Night where the coaches for all of the teams will be coaching barefoot to raise awareness of the millions of people worldwide who don’t have proper footwear. Fans are encouraged to bring a new pair of shoes to donate or give money to support the cause.
The Lady Bucs also beat Stone Child College 107-63. Even with a dominating 44 point margin of victory, the first half of the game DCC got a run for their money. Stone Child kept the game very close as they were only down 20-28 in the first quarter and eventually won the second quarter 20-18. The halftime score was 46-40 DCC.
The Lady Bucs entered the second half with a totally different approach and used their stifling defense to their advantage. DCC won the third quarter by a landslide 36-12 as well as the 4th quarter 25-11. Stone Child had 28 turnovers, and DCC converted that into 39 points. DCC had 22 steals on the night. More impressively, the Lady Bucs gathered up 63 total rebounds to Stone Child’s 30. On a rough night for Stone Child, they did not have any points off the bench and did not convert any second chance points. Dawson, however, had 14 points off the bench and 31 second chance points.
Playing without the scoring and defensive power of Lexia Bell-White and Ejanae Coopwood, Dawson still managed to receive high-powered attacks from other players. Alexius Foster scored a game high 25 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Emily Harwood would share that game high with Foster with 25 points as well, but Harwood provided a double double adding 13 rebounds and 4 steals. MacKinzie Verke had 20 points, 6 assists, 5 steals and 12 rebounds, recording her first double double of the season. Sara Anderson nearly had a double double with 9 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. Chasity Pope contributed 14 points and 6 rebounds.
A very pleased Head Coach Romeo Lagmay, Jr. said, “I was glad to see a strong comeback in the second half of the game. Stone Child opened up my eyes in the first half, and made me get out of my chair (slight chuckle). When we got to the locker room at half time, it was all agreed upon that this team was out of character, and we had to come out with a night and day approach. Stern defense was our first priority, and that’s what we took to them. The rest took care of itself.”
Dawson will return to Mon-Dak conference action when they face Bismarck State College on the road on Monday, January 29th at 5:30 pm.
