Friday, February 20, 2015

Ready for the Playoffs

Missing three players and 38 points per game, the Jacks hosted the Royals of Lake Region State College in the season finale. In the end the Jack's fought back from as much as 16 down to cut the lead to 4 a couple times before falling 90-82 to the Royals.

In the first half the teams battled back and forth until a 12-2 run by LRSC turned a 33-27 lead into 45-29 just before the half. At the half the Jacks trailed by 16, 47-31. Shooting was a struggle as the Jacks shot only 32% from the field in the half while the Royals hit on 61%.

In the second half both teams went back and forth until a 12-3 run by the Jacks cut the lead to 4 points with just over 6:00 to go. However, as he would three times in the last six minutes, Spencer Halvorson hit a corner three to stop the bleeding. The Jacks would cut the lead to 4 numerous times and each time off a driver or an offensive rebound Halvorson would hit a 3.

Keouvion McCalop led the way for the Jacks with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks. He hit 11-19 from the field. Louis Williams would score 21, while Pat Robinson added 17 including 5-9 from three. DCB shot a blazing 60% in the second half, holding LRSC to 39%. The biggest difference was at the line with LRSC outscoring DCB 16-2 in the second half and 21-7 for the game. In two losses (5 & 8 points) the Royals held a huge advantage at the line overall, 42-15.

The Jacks are next in action on Wednesday, February 25 when they travel to Bismarck for the Region XIII Semi-Final game vs UTTC at 7 pm.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

0-2 and More Injuries

The DCB basketball teams traveled east for two games this past weekend. They traveled to Moorhead, MN to take on Concordia College on Sunday afternoon. The Jacks would fall 64-63 in this game, with three players leading the way scoring wise. Keouvion McCalop led the way with 18 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. Jalyn Turner and Louis Williams each added 15, with both grabbing four rebounds. Darion Hancock had a solid game again on the boards with eight.

On Monday evening the Jacks traveled to NDSCS and never got going in a 98-52 loss. The game was out of reach early as the Wildcats held a 62-24 lead at half, holding the Jacks to 28% shooting, a one half low this year. Pat Robinson and Williams both scored 21, accounting for 42 of DCB's 52 points. Robinson hit on six three point shots.

More importantly than the results was the loss of another player to a leg injury. Shaq Carlyle fell to injury in the first half of Concordia, tearing his Patellar Tendon on a fast break layup. This makes two players out for the season, and a third in leading scorer, Gilbert Carter out indefinitely with a possible return for the playoffs.

The Jacks will host Lake Region in the regular season finale on Thursday at 8:00 pm. Before the game they will take a few minutes to honor the sophomores.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Jacks Fall to Bucs

The Dakota College basketball teams hosted the Bucs from Dawson Community College on Wednesday evening. The men's team battled but fell 91-78.

The first half was back and forth early, with Dawson getting a 9 point lead a few times. The Jacks cut the lead to 4 midway thru when a technical foul, followed by two loose ball fouls upped the lead back to 11. DCB would fight back and cut the lead to 6, 44-38 at halftime. DCB struggled shooting 33% from the field, actually hitting better from three (39%) than from two (30%). DCC hit on 43% of their first half shots, including 5-11 from three and 9-13 from the line.

In the second half another slow start doomed the Lumberjacks as the Bucs came out and scored the first six points upping the lead to 50-38. The teams would trade baskets over the next few minutes before a Dawson 14-2 run elevated the lead to the highest point at 76-52 with just over nine minutes left.

Despite loosing leading scorer, Gilbert Carter to a knee injury, the Jacks started to fight back. They would cut the lead to 11 with just over 4:00 to go in the game and had the ball and a chance to cut it to 8 or 9. However they would not get closer than the 11 before the final tally of 13 was found.

Jalyn Turner led the way with 30 points on 9-15 shooting and 5-7 from three. He also had four rebounds. Carter in limited minutes added 12 points, while Pat Robinson added 10 off the bench. Darion  Hancock had his best game rebounding this season with 11 overall as well as 2 blocks.

DCB fell to 16-12 on the season and 1-9 in Mon-Dak play. They will travel to Moorhead, MN for a non-conference game the JV from Concordia College on Sunday at 3:00 pm. On Monday evening they will travel to NDSCS for an 8 pm game.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Back on the Winning Track

On Thursday the Jacks played host to Division 2 rival, UTTC. The Jacks came out on top 85-76 in the key matchup.

In the first half it was back and forth with neither team able to get going on the defensive side as the teams traded baskets over the first 15 minutes. At the half the Thunderbirds led 41-36, after shooting 50% from the field including four threes. The Jacks struggled at 34% but took 12 more shots.

In the second half the Jacks were able to tie the game up within the first four minutes as Gilbert Carter scored the first six for them. From this point on both teams went back and forth, as the game was tied nine times and there were 5 lead changes. The Jacks took their final lead with about 4:00 to go in the game at 76-74. They would finish up a 9-2 run to get the lead up to the final tally of nine.

In the second half DCB shot 51% from the field and hit 12-19 from the line. They held the T-Birds to 35% overall and 3-18 from three. DCB won the boards 56-40, including a season high 21 offensive rebounds. Both teams took care of the ball with the Jacks having 10 TO and the T-Birds 9.

Keouvion McCalop led the way with 23 points and 14 rebounds, while Carter added 20 points including 12 in the second half. He also grabbed six rebounds. Louis Williams scored 18 including two threes and 6-6 from the line. He added 7 rebounds.

The Jacks improved to 16-10 on the year, and will be travelling to Williston State College on Sunday for a 4:00 game vs the Tetons, who are currently ranked 14th in the nation in NJCAA Division 1.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

40 Minutes of Effort

The last couple weeks while we have been on this conference skid, we have preached effort, staying together, and putting in 40 minutes. Last night even with a loss, 88-84 at Bismarck State we saw more positives than negatives. We had great effort, we played and stuck together, and we put in 40 minutes. I am proud of my guys after last nights game and have a feeling this is going to turn around soon enough. If we can get something going we can still finish with 20 wins and a chance at the #1 Region Seed on the D2 side, more importantly hosting the 1st round of the region game.

Last night, was the ultimate game of runs, as both teams made runs in both halves. BSC took control of the game in the first half on the heels of a 17-3 run, going up 14. The Jack's cut the lead to 10 by halftime (47-37). In the second half the defensive effort stepped up, as DCB started the half by stopping the Mystics on 7 of their first 8 possessions. We would answer the 17-3 first half run with an 18-3 run ourselves in the 2nd half.

By 11:00 we would have not only tied the game but taken the lead 61-56, meaning overall it was a 24-9 run in the first 9:00 of the 2nd half. Another run by BSC would lead to another tie with around 8:00 to go. From this point on neither team would take completely control and would continue to go back and forth. With under a minute to go, Gilbert Carter hit a 3 to give us our final lead at 82-81. On the ensuing possession, there would be a collision under the basket leaving a Mystic open in the corner, he would hit a three to make it 84-82. A DCB bucket and a BSC free throw would make it 85-84, with under 45 seconds to go. On our next possession we would miss a good look at a three and Bismarck State would manage to secure the rebound, and outlet it long for a bucket and a foul. At this point it was 88-84 which would be the final tally.

Leading the way for the Jacks was Gilbert Carter with 30 points on 10-17 shooting, including 5-10 from three. He added 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

The Jack's continue their season on Thursday when they host D2 foe UTTC in an all too important game with Region Seed Implications. The game will be slated for approximately an 8 pm start.