Sports

Jacks huff, puff, complete sweep

By Matthew Semisch

11/18/2014

Looking past a lesser opponent can be a dangerous thing, and Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) found that out the hard way on Tuesday.

Back on Nov. 11, the Lumberjacks basketball team ran roughshod over Turtle Mountain Community College (TMCC) in Belcourt.

The Mikinocks began to dig their way back into the game late, but DCB found itself cruising to a 111-82 victory.

DCB beat TMCC again 110-92 on Tuesday, but the rematch was a very different affair.

Nothing came easily for the Jacks when they welcomed the Mikinocks to the Woodshed. TMCC brought a large crowd down Highway 5 to Bottineau - the fans’ split inside the gym approached 60-40 - and their team looked much improved.

The Jacks found themselves behind 51-43 at halftime on Tuesday. TMCC started the second half well, too, hitting a couple of quick three-pointers at the start of the half to go further ahead.

From there on, though, DCB woke up and used an 11-0 run to get itself back into the game. From there on, the Jacks wore down a TMCC team lacking depth with only three players on the bench.

“We came out in that second half and played the way we’re capable of,” DCB head coach Brandon Colvin said. “It’s a situation where Belcourt got a couple threes right at the start of the second half and I thought, ‘OK, maybe we’re not ready, we’re not going to pick it up,’ but then we did and we looked as good as I thought we could. 

“I thought this was the best game we’ve played by far, the hardest we’ve played by far.”

Two Mikinocks players played in at least 38 of the game’s 40 minutes, and they led their team in scoring. Guard Kolton Keplin finished with 25 points, while forward Jordan His Law finished close behind with 23.

DCB guard Jalyn Turner had arguably his best game yet this season for the Jacks. He led his team on Tuesday in minutes played (32), points (29) and steals (four).

Forward Keouvion McCalop and guard Gilbert Carter also reached the 20-point plateau in the game by posting 25 and 23, respectively.

Backup guard Shaquille Carlyle also turned in an excellent performance against the Mikinocks. The sophomore finished the game with 11 points off of the bench as well as eight rebounds and a perfect 4-for-4 performance from the free throw line.

As a team, DCB’s shooters only connected on 39 percent of their shots from the field. The Jacks’s 71-43 rebounding advantage, however, helped to see them through.

“I don’t know if we were looking past (TMCC) after what we had with them last week or if the guys just weren’t ready,” Colvin said. “I didn’t feel like we moved the ball well against their zone defense, and we didn’t ‘D’ up well ourselves, and Belcourt did what they wanted in that first half. 

“I give (TMCC) a lot of credit,” Colvin continued. “They’re not the most talented team in the nation, but they’re maybe the hardest-working. 

“We wore them out eventually, but their coach does an unbelievable job with his guys.”