Sports
Jacks snap losing streak at 12
Tyler Ohmann
02/21/2012
The Dakota College at Bottineau finally broke their losing streak.
A 115-97 win over Concordia JV on Sunday ended a 12-game Jacks losing streak. The Jacks lost twice earlier in the week against United Tribes Community College (UTTC) and Jamestown JV.
Sunday’s win and offensive explosion excited Head Coach Ken Keysor.
“We feel that this was the breakout game we needed after the past several weeks,” Keysor stated.
DCB shot 50 percent from beyond the arc and made 26-of-30 free throws in the impressive win, which included a 71-point second half.
Cameron Malzer and Jayden McMillin combined for 57 points, 29 and 28 respectively. McMillin also nabbed up a team-high 13 rebounds.
Also in double figures for the Jacks were Colby Boyes (18) and Jeremy Chambers (13).
“Our hope is that this game will springboard us for the push this week as we enter the playoffs on Sunday,” Keysor stated. “We know we can play with the teams in our region and if the guys continue to work hard good things can and will happen.”
Woodshed whipping
The week began with a loss to UTTC on Thursday.
Despite shooting 29 percent from the field the Lumberjacks hit the hardwood fast and aggressive and hung with UTTC last Thursday at the Woodshed.
However, in the end the game swung the way of the T-birds as the Jacks fell for the 11th straight time, 68-60.
“This is the most disappointed I’ve been in a basketball team,” Keysor stated. “We just can’t get it together.”
It couldn’t have started better for the Jacks, however, as they began the game with a 12-0 run and freshman Jayden McMillin scored 12 points in the first seven minutes of the game.
McMillin finished with 24 points, most of which came in the first half. The shots just did not fall for the Jacks in the second half.
“I think mainly it was defense, because we were getting stops at the start, and getting open looks,” McMillin said. “In the second half we just couldn’t hit the buckets, and that happens unfortunately. We can’t really dwell on it.”
The Jacks led for much of the first half, but fell behind by eight at halftime. They came out in the second trading blow for blow with the T-birds, but missed a few tough opportunities late.
I’m not sure what it is, but we don’t do as directed coming out of time outs, at the beginning of games or at halftime. We can’t hit an open shot. We get killed on the boards,” Keysor stated.
McMillin said that it’s been tough being on the losing end during the streak.
“It has been going on for a long time now, and we’re on like a 10-game losing streak, and it’s hard,” McMillin said. “We have four games left in the season and I guess it’s now about playing for pride.”
“We just have to work hard and get to practice, especially on the defensive end, because that is where we get our open looks,” McMillin added.
The T-birds out rebounded the Jacks 50-31 as their 6-foot, 6-inch center Macaulay Brown grabbed 11 rebounds and scored 14 points in the win.
Jimmied
DCB hit a low on the season as they lost their 12th straight game 89-43 on Saturday afternoon against Jamestown JV.
No stats were available, just a statement from Keysor.
“Every time someone says it can’t get any worse I just cringe, because it’s worse,” Keysor stated.
DCB is currently 8-19 overall and 0-8 in the MonDak for the season.
They played again last night against Lake Region State in Bottineau, but stats were unavailable by press time.
The Jacks will host the Williston State Tetons at 8 p.m. on Thursday for their final regular season match up.
The Sub Region playoffs begin on Feb. 26.