14-3 at Break

Trap games, "games that are on the schedule that have hidden dangers". Playing NHSC on Thursday falls into this category, the last game before the semester ends is always tough. Guys looking forward to go home and see their families for the first time in for some 4 months.

We came out this game a bit tight, not ready to play at the level we are capable or expected to. The biggest lead in the first half was 53-43, however the halftime lead was only seven at 61-54. Both teams shot the ball well in the first half, NHSC shot 54% and hit 12 free-throws while the Jacks shot 50%, including 8-20 from three, and only five free-throws.

In the second half it was back and forth scoring wise a good portion of the beginning of the half. Over the first 5:12 of the second half, the Storm would chip away at the halftime deficit before am Orie Brown three pointer tied the game at 75. However the tie was very short lived as the Jacks would proceed to turn up the heat and take over. They would go on a 17-5 run of their own, started by a Kenric Twine free-throw and finalized with a Louis Williams three point make. The score would be 92-78 with 10:21 remaining. The rest of the game the Jacks would slowly expand the lead until it was at a high of 24, 128-104 with 2:29 remaining. The final would be 130-108, the 7th time this year we have broke 120.

Leading the way was Brian Egejuru, playing his first game back from an ankle injury. He had 29 points, 24 in the second half. He also added five assists. JJ Morris scored 25, 20 in the first half on 9-15 shooting and 6-11 from three. Louis Williams added 19 off the bench but also was efficient elsewhere with seven assists and five rebounds. Wesley Harrison added 13 points, while Eric Elliott added 11 and seven rebounds. Malik Jones was once again solid with a double-double of 11 points and 11 assists.

As of now the Jacks lead the nation in scoring points per game at just over 106. We are now 14-3 on the year and will be off until we go to Canada on January 4th.

Jacks Gain 3 Wins but Play 2 Games

This past weekend the Dakota College at Bottineau Lumberjacks traveled to Cass Lake, MN to take on Leech Lake Tribal College. They came away with a sweep, scoring 120 or more both games.  There was also a 3rd win gained, but this will be explained a bit later.

On Friday evening, the Jacks took a while to get going, about 28 minutes or so to be specific but in the end would pull away for the 120-87 win. The Lakers kept things close and very interesting for most the game, as the first half was back and forth with the Jack's leading for all but one possession but never by more than 10. There were a few times that the Lakers pulled within four and even took the lead for one possession, leading by 1 at 32-31. At the half it was DCB up 58-49.

In the second half DCB started to pull away but it was a slow pull. The lead again would never get higher than 12 for the first 8:00 of the half. Finally, the pressure picked up and the Lumberjacks were able to force turnover after turnover. They would go on to outscore the Lakers 62-38 in the second half, cruising to the win. 

Leading the way was Neal Hodges with a career high 21 points and seven rebounds. He led six Jacks in double figures. JJ Morris added 20 points, Kenric Twine earned the double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Malik Jones added 17 as well, with Eric Elliott and Alex Majarin adding 12 and 10. 

"Leech Lake gave us all we could handle, but we responded in the end. It seemed to be a bit of bus lag, after the five hour drive to get to Cass Lake. Once we got going though we looked like our old energetic selves."

On Saturday it was round two, this time there was no doubt from the tip as the Jacks were up 20 by 12:00 in the first half, and led by 13 at halftime on the way to the 123-82 win. DCB came out with more energy from the tip, jumping to a 13-2 lead and never looking back. In the first half the game never got below double digits with DCB leading 60-47 at half.

In the second half it was much the same as the first game, except this time after the first score by Leech Lake the Dakota College defense took over, expanding the lead over the entire half. There was never any kind of sustained run made by the Lakers as the Jacks outscored them 63-35 in the second half.

Malik Jones led the way for the Jacks with 23 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Wesley Harrison added 19 points and nine rebounds, while Louis Williams added 16 from the bench.

"Our energy was high from start to finish, it was great to put 40 minutes together."

The third win came courtesy of a forfeit from an earlier game. Sheridan College was made to forfeit their 102-92 win over us earlier in the year. With that plus the two wins we now stand 13-3 on the season.