Sports

DCB tips off season with Classic

By Tyler Ohmann

11/05/2013

The Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) women’s basketball team kicked off their season as they hosted Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) and the Winnipeg Selects as part of the Kevin Thom Classic.

The Ladyjacks downed both teams, beating the CMU Blazers 61-35 on Friday and the Selects 81-64 on Saturday.

On Friday the Ladyjacks unveiled their new uptempo style of play against the Blazers, and showed it off by firing up 91 shots in the 26-point win.

Unfortunately for the Ladyjacks they were inefficient from the floor and were actually out shot 26 percent to 25 percent by the Blazers from the field. The Ladyjacks were also only 4-of-32 from beyond the arc.

“This was a fairly typical opening game of the season, not pretty,” stated DCB head coach Wayne Johnson. “Neither team shot the ball well and that usually leads to an ugly game.”

However, the Ladyjacks did force 43 turnovers, while only committing 13 in the win, which helped lead to the victory.

“We did force the Blazers into 43 turnovers which was a big positive,” Johnson stated. “On the negative side we didn’t capitalize often enough on their miscues.”

DCB led by 12 at halftime, and continued to extend their lead throughout the second half.

Zirahuen Hernandez played strong for the Ladyjacks with 12 points and six steals.

“Zirahuen had a nice game to lead us and was the only Ladyack with a decent offensive efficiency shooting night,” Johnson stated. “She also made a number of big defensive plays.”

The Ladyjacks were led in scoring by freshman Savannah Bruce, who had 14 points and nine rebounds. Mary Jones added eight points, five assists and four steals, while Imani Scott had 10 points.

“It was a rough start to the 2013-14 season but some of that can be expected with the youth on our roster,” Johnson stated. “Nine of our players are freshmen and it will take a bit of time for them to catch up with the speed of the college game.”

“Overall it was great to start the season with a victory and get out without any more injuries,” Johnson added. 

The Ladyjacks showed more patience, which led to an 81-64 win in Saturday’s Classic match up against the Winnipeg Selects.

DCB shot 45 percent in the first half to open up a 44-36 lead at the break. In the second half the defense stepped up, holding the Selects to 26 percent shooting, and grinding out a 17-point victory.

“This was a much better shooting game for us than the first night of the Kevin Thom,” Johnson stated. “Their big gal in the middle caused problems for us, especially in the first half.”

That big gal was the Selects’ 6-foot, 5-inch center Alexandria Macivor, who scored 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting, most coming in the first half.

Scott led the Ladyjack effort with 24 points. Sophomore Leah Parizek posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards.

“I thought we did a good job of getting a lot of bodies in the paint eliminating much of the space she was getting in the first half,” Johnson stated.

Freshman Whitney Brandvold, a Bottineau High School graduate from last spring, made her debut for the Ladyjacks in the Classic, and admitted to rushing a few shots.

“I think it went pretty well,” Brandvold said. “I was rushing my shots, and we weren’t prepared defensively, but offensively we are getting better.”

Brandvold saw an increased role due to two other DCB post players, who were in walking boots.

She finished with 11 points and eight rebounds on the weekend.
Brandvold, who was All-District 11 last season for the Stars, said that she does her best to do whatever is asked of her.

“I always prepare myself to play, so that when coach puts me in I’m ready,” Brandvold said.

Branvold said the Ladyjacks learned a lot from the weekend’s play.

“We learned we need to help each other and can’t be selfish,” Brandvold said.

Johnson was glad to see the pair of wins, as well as seeing that no other players were put on the shelf from injury.

“It was nice to start the season with two wins while getting playing time for 12 healthy players,” Johnson stated. “We came away from the weekend realizing we have plenty of areas that need work but believing we have a lot of potential to succeed.”

The Ladyjacks will travel to Devils Lake next weekend, and will play Jamestown JV and Northern JV in the Lake Region State Classic.