(Editor's note: DCC Athletics release)
GLENDIVE - Dawson Community College picked up a double-header basketball sweep at United Tribes Technical College on Tuesday night.
DCC's men earned their third straight win to open the season with a 98-81 victory. The Bucs raced out to a twenty point half-time lead over the Thunderbirds by forcing 15 turnovers and converting that into 11 points and gaining a 9-0 advantage in second chance opportunities. Riley Spoonhunter, Michael Jok and Charles Lampten got the visitors going with 10 points, 9 points and 9 points in the opening stanza.
In the second half, the Thunderbirds did better against the press and found their shooting touch by going 8-17 from 3-point range and 11-15 from the free throw line. They were only able to close the gap to nine points with six minutes to go, but never got any closer as the Bucs sailed to victory by hitting their free throws down the stretch. Dawson only shot 40% from the field, but held UTTC to 36% shooting on the night and forced 22 turnovers.
"We didn't keep up the same intensity in the second half as we had in the first," said DCC head coach Joe Peterson. "They handled our pressure better as the game wore on and we never really found our shooting touch. We still have a lot of things to work on and UTTC exposed that for us."
Spoonhunter led Dawson with 17 points and Jok added 15. Lampten contributed 13 points, 10 rebound and 3 blocks. Reggie Martin and Jalen Tot rounded out the double digit scorers with 11 each for Dawson. Tate Bear led United Tribes with 23 points.
DCC's women won 87-73 Tuesday night.
“I was just glad to get this team rolling by simply playing a game. Our whole team wasn’t there, but these gals came to play," said Bucs head coach Romeo Lagmay, Jr. "They fought hard, believed in each other, and stayed unfazed when they were losing at times throughout. The victory is good, but being on the court able to compete was a little accomplishment in itself. We will take game by game, and seeing what we are eventually made of.”
After postponing their first two games, the Lady Bucs earned their first victory of the season suiting up only 10 players. Without 4 players in uniform, Dawson Community College had a bit of a slow start with some foul trouble, easy missed shots, and bad passing. United Tribes led most of the first half and would head into halftime with a 43-36 advantage, with sophomore forward Hannah Golus leading the way with a double double of 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Dawson started the second half in the third quarter with a very strong backcourt press outscoring the Lady Thunderbirds 26-9. There were 9 lead changes and 5 ties. United Tribes would outrebound Dawson 53-45, but Dawson would force 20 turnovers, collect 17 steals, and scoring 19 points off turnovers. The Lady Bucs had 27 team assists. With a shortage of players, Dawson still was able to successfully have 28 points off the bench compared to United Tribe’s 14.
Haley Olson led all scorers with 24 points and added 3 rebounds. Megan Lindbo scored 13, along with 3 rebounds and 2 steals. Brynn Jolma pumped in 12 points, 4 assists, and a team high 8 rebounds. Tamiya Francis chipped in with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Sarah Billmayer chipped in with 10 points and 4 rebounds.
Golus finished with an impressive double double of 22 points and 17 rebounds. LaTosha Thunderhawk added a double double as well with 15 points and 17 rebounds.
Both Dawson teams remain on the road to play at Lake Region State College Wednesday night before returning home on Sunday for a match-up with North Dakota State College of Science.
