(DCC Athletics release)
GLENDIVE – After winning their previous two games in high fashion, the post season for the Dawson Community College’s basketball women came to an end Saturday as Miles Community College kept its undefeated season alive in a 77-46 blowout.
“Well, we had a good run and ended our season in a fashionable way,” said DCC head coach Romeo Lagmay, Jr. “I wish we would have fought much harder and competed better, as it takes more than just Foster putting up points. It’s good to know we could do special things if everyone contributes. That was the major issue this past season was team identity. If we showed up, our opponent was in trouble, but if we just were nonchalant about things, then it would call for a long and ugly game. Overall, I’m proud of our players, and I’m glad they duked it out, never giving up.”
Miles would start the game full of energy and swarmed Dawson with their tenacious defense, not allowing the Lady Bucs to come up for air. They were taking no chances of allowing Dawson to hang around as they nearly had trouble putting them away a week ago in conference play. The first quarter showed evidence the Lady Pioneers were not fooling around with DCC, with a score of 32-11. The second quarter was not as bad, but Miles still did damage to the #5 seed by outscoring them 17-6. The Lady Bucs would fight back some, as they have always done in the deficit, and win the 3rd quarter 18-13. That wouldn’t last long as Miles kept the defensive pressure on and converted 42 points out of Dawson’s 28 turnovers. MCC also scored 34 points in the paint, 14 second chance points, and got 28 points from the bench; Dawson only had 7 bench points.
Alexius Foster led both teams in scoring with 27 points, 2 steals and 6 rebounds. Foster outscored her team, with her team totaling 19 points for the game. Ejanae Coopwood had 9 rebounds and 2 steals. Chynna Torrence also had 9 rebounds and 1 steal.
Dawson’s women ended the season with another winning record of 18-14, place in conference.
The Dawson Community College basketball men saw their season come to an abrupt end on Friday night in the semifinals of the Region XIII Tournament in Williston, North Dakota.
For the fifth straight year, it was the North Dakota State College of Science Wildcats who eliminated the Bucs, 78-65. The two teams split their regular season games and, statistically speaking, were the best two defensive teams and rebounding teams in the league.
“Our guys fought so hard and stayed together as a team even though we just couldn’t get it going offensively,” said coach Joe Peterson. “We had a lot of great chances, but didn’t finish plays inside when we got to the basket. Our pressure really created problems for them and got us back in the game, but you have to take advantage of your opportunities. I’m proud of what these guys accomplished. To follow up our success last season and still win 20 games despite losing every player except one is really outstanding. These guys have gotten so much better individually and as a team over the last six months. I’ve never coached a team that was as together as this group was and that played defense the way they did. They have a lot to be proud of.”
They also both had rosters full of freshmen. There were a lot of similarities between them, but it was the shooting of NDSCS, and especially by Noble Cooper, that was the difference in this game. The Wildcats second-leading scorer had two subpar games against Dawson in the regular season, only scoring 4 points and 6 points, but when it counted most, he stepped up. He got NDSCS going early on with a few big 3-pointers that gave them confidence and momentum. He made 3-5 from long range and 6-10 overall in the opening half to score 15 points. Nobody else had more than six points for the 2nd seeded Wildcats. Dawson struggled to get going offensively, only making 9-27 from the field in the first half. Both defenses were stout, but Cooper helped his team get the advantage. Dawson had the chance to cut the deficit to single digits with the last possession of the first half, but a turnover led to a lay-up at the buzzer on the other end for Cooper to put NDSCS up 37-24.
The Bucs came out with a do-or-die attitude in the second half and forced many turnovers using their full-court press. They were able to convert several of those turnovers into fast break layups on the offensive side. They chipped away behind the scoring of CJ Nelson and eventually cut the lead to three points, but that was as close as they would get. The second half was even, with both teams scoring 41 points as NDSCS advanced with a 78-65 victory. They shot a sizzling 93% from the free throw line for the game and 67% from inside the three-point line. Dawson shot 33% from the field in both halves and only 32% from inside the arc.
Cooper finished with 29 points on 11-18 shooting from the field for NDSCS. Oman Oman had 16 and Duoth Gach had 14 points. CJ Nelson led Dawson with 24 points. Man Man Baker was the only other Buc in double digits with 10 points. DCC ends the season with a 20-12 record.
North Dakota State College of Science will meet Williston State College in the Region 13 Championship Game Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. CST.
