A Loss With Signs of Life

We traveled to Devils Lake on Sunday to face off with 2nd place Lake Region State College. We fell to the Royals by a 90-85 tally, however this was the first time in a long time that we showed the fight and ability to stick together that we have not been showing as of late. I was proud of the way the guys fought thru adversity (fouls, some amazing shot, runs).

In the first half it was a back and forth effort with 6 lead changes and 6 ties. Both teams took their share of jump shots, the majority of which in the mid-range area. At half time it was 45-36 Royals after Keouvion McCalop put back a missed shot right at the buzzer. For the first half, DCB shot 46% overall.

In the second half the Royals kept the lead between nine and twelve points for most of the half. Eventually the Jacks would gain steam and use a 12-2 run to turn a 58-48 deficit into a 60 all tie on a Jalyn Turner three from the corner. However, LRSC would respond with a 12-2 run of their own, taking a 72-62 lead with around 3:00 to go. There was still fight left in the Jacks as they would move to a press and start getting the lead cut. The lead would be down to as low as 5 the last minute before the final tally.

The Jacks were hurt in the end by a wide margin in foul calls (24-11 on fouls and 27-8 on Free-Throws). Overall, LRSC controlled the game via the offensive rebound with 22, as well as outscoring DCB 42-21 from three and the charity stripe. For the game, DCB shot 49% overall, and hit 6-19 from three, and only 3-8 from the line. Lake Region hit 48% from the field, 8-17 from three, and 18-27 from the line.

Leading five double digit scorers for the Jacks was Gilbert Carter with 20. Keouvion McCalop added 19 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks off the bench, while Jalyn Turner added 16 points and five assists. The final two in double digits were Darion Hancock with 10 points, and eight rebounds and Louis Williams with 11 points.

The Jack's fell to 14-9 overall and 0-6 in Mon-Dak play. They are next in action on Thursday when they travel north of the border to Winnipeg to face Canadian Mennonite University.