(Editor's note: DCC Athletics release)
BISMARCK, N.D. -- The Dawson Community College Buccaneers clinched their second straight Mon-Dak Conference Men's Basketball Championship on Sunday in Bismarck, North Dakota. They dominated the United Tribes Technical College Thunderbirds 89-64. The Bucs moved to 16-2 in the conference and 17-2 overall, with three games still to play. It was their seventh straight win and puts them four games up on their closest competitor.
Coach Joe Peterson praised his team, “The energy these guys have brought, the sacrifices they have made over the past 6 months, and the work they have put in has paid off. It’s been a crazy year for colleges and college athletics, full of ups and downs. The Mon-Dak Conference has never had a 21 game schedule with everyone playing each other three times. They have shown a lot of toughness to keep scrapping and keep fighting through all of the craziness. They’ve stayed hungry throughout and I don’t think that will change after winning the championship.”
On Sunday, Cordell Stinson got the Bucs off to a good start with a basket on the first possession and Dawson held the lead for the rest of the game. The Bucs forced 10 turnovers and scored 18 points off of them and built up a 27 point lead in the first half. UTTC responded and scored the last 6 points of the half to make the score 49-28 at halftime. Dawson held the Thunderbirds to 31% shooting from the field and 25% shooting from the 3-point line in the half. Jajuan Tot led the way with 14 points and Stinson contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds.
In the second half, Dawson kept control of the game and held United Tribes at bay. The game was never close as Dawson sailed to the 25 point victory. Cordell Stinson posted a career high in points and rebounds with 20 and 12 respectively. He also shot 10-14 from the field and had three monster dunks. Four others were in double figures for the Bucs with JaJuan Tot scoring 16, Michael Jok and Riley Spoonhunter 11 each and Jalen Tot added 10 points.
Dawson returns home to host Williston on Saturday and then will go back on the road for two games with Dakota College Bottineau to close out the regular season the following week.
By winning the conference, Dawson will host all of their Regional Tournament games at home. This year all of the tournament games will be played at the home site of the higher seed. Dawson will get a bye and host the winner of the #4/#5 game on April 1st in the Regional Semifinals. The winner of that will host the Regional Championship game on April 5.
In their last matchup of the season, DCC's women defeated United Tribes Technical College 82-60 on the road in Bismarck, North Dakota. There were 99 rebounds between both teams with United Tribes slightly edging Dawson 51-48.
Dawson had 17 steals for the game and converted them into 19 points. The Lady Bucs also scored 20 second chance points, winning the offensive rebounding battle 20-12.
Head coach Romeo Lagmay, Jr. stated, “We took a lot of shots tonight, which showed our strength in second chance offensive rebounding. Tamiya Francis led the way by hitting some key 3pt shots. It was a great overall team effort. We definitely want to finish out the regular season strong, learning from our mistakes, and hopefully getting better.”
It was great overall balance as the Dawson women had balanced scoring. The Lady Bucs outscored the Lady Thunderbirds from the bench 21-5. Tamiya Francis managed a double-double, and scored a game high 34 points and 10 rebounds, along with 3 assists and 2 steals. Brynn Jolma pumped in 10 points, with 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Aichatou Camara had 9 rebounds, 5 steals (game high) and 5 points. Sarah Billmayer had a team high 6 assists, along with 8 points.
The Lady Thunderhawks had 3 players in double digit scoring, LaTosha Thunderhawk (16), Hannah Golus (14), and Haylee Langdeau (11).
Dawson will return home for Sophomore Night on Saturday, March 20 at 2 p.m. against Williston State College in their final meeting of the season.
