Sports

Ladyjacks sign area basketball standouts for 2012-13 season

By Tyler Ohmann

06/12/2012

Dakota College at Bottineau announced the signing of two Ladyjacks basketball players for the 2012-13 season this past week.

Leigha Schmaltz of Barton, N.D. and Quinn Parisien of Belcourt, N.D. comitted to attend and play basketball at DCB next year .

The five-foot, nine inch Schmaltz played forward and center for the Rugby Panthers in her high school career. As a senior Schmaltz averaged 6.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 37 percent from the field.

"We are happy to welcome Leigha as a DCB Ladyjack," stated Ladyjacks Head Coach Wayne Johnson. "We look for her to make solid contributions to our program. Leigha brings an aggressive, hard working attitude to the floor. We are seeking players who will help our on-court toughness and she really seems to be the type of player who will provide improvement in that area."

Schmaltz was an All-District selection in 2011, and is the daughter of Jeff and Jeri Schmaltz of Barton.

"She is strong defensively in the post and should help our interior defense. She led the Panthers in offense rebounding last year and that’s another area we hope to improve upon," Johnson stated. "Leigha is a solid citizen and seems to be the type of player we are looking for to wear the Ladyjack uniform."

Parisien, the daughter of Troy and Michelle Parisien of Belcourt, is a five-foot, eight inch guard, who started at Turtle Mountain Community High School.

"We are extremely pleased to have added Quinn to our Ladyjacks basketball team. She is a very athletic young lady with good length," Johnson stated. "We believe those traits will create an immediate impact both defensively and offensively for the Jacks."

Quinn Parisien averaged 9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a senior for the Bravettes.

"Lack of size at the guard position has hampered our ability to take away the easy pass defensively and made it more difficult for us to make the easy pass on the offensive end," Johnson stated. " Quinn will help give us the ability to improve in both of those areas."

She also led the Bravettes in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio in her senior season.

Her teammates named her the senior MVP and the Most Dedictated Player.

"She also has good offensive scoring punch and seems to have the ability to create for others by getting to the lane. She looks like a great fit for the Ladyjack program," Johnson stated. "Quinn is an excellent student academically and appears to have the qualities we seek in a student/athlete."

The Ladyjacks went 13-18 on the season last year, falling to Bismarck State in the semifinals of the Region XIII tournament. They had only one sophomore on last year’s team, and return leaders Jackie Miller, Shakira Walker and Jordyn Sondrol.