Sports

Ladyjacks lose two heartbreakers

By Tyler Ohmann

02/11/2014

Two narrow losses were endured by the Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) Ladyjacks basketball team as they fell to a pair of MonDak opponents.

Last Monday the Ladyjacks and Bismarck State College (BSC) went to double overtime to settle a close game. The Mystics came out on top 109-103.

Then on Thursday DCB fell 70-67 to United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) in a game that would have clinched the Ladyjacks ability to host the Region XIII Tournament.

First on Monday the Ladyjacks and Mystics did battle in a barn burner at the Woodshed in front of a massive crowd.

Imani Scott and the Ladyjacks took the upper hand near the end of the first half as they led by four at halftime.

Both teams exchanged leads in the second half, and the Mystics managed to tie the game after erasing a Ladyjacks lead.

Scott, who had 32 points had a shot to win at the end of regulation, but it clanked off the iron, and the game went to overtime.

In the first overtime the two teams again were unable to gain momentum from each other. The Ladyjacks took a lead, but the Mystics three-point shooting (they went 17-for-48 on the night) helped keep them in it.

Again DCB had a shot to earn the win, but were unable to hit the shot, and the game went to double overtime.

“In spite of their long range shooting I thought we answered the call and gave ourselves every chance to win,” stated Ladyjacks head coach Wayne Johnson. “We had a good look at the end of regulation and a good opportunity at the end of the first overtime but we were not successful on either attempt.”

“If we would have been told we would have had those opportunities before the game we would have liked our position,” Johnson added.

In that overtime the Mystics did get the momentum, and earned a six-point win.

“It’s tough to be disappointed after such a good effort by the ladies in front of an awesome crowd. We played so hard and well,” Johnson stated. “BSC had one of those nights when they knocked in their three point shots and when they do that they are difficult to beat.”

Scott was close to a triple double with nine rebounds and nine assists to go with her 32 points. Mary Jones was also close as she had a team-best 13 rebounds and also nine points and nine assists.
Tiffany Bradford added 16 points, Mishae Roper had 10 and Shikaya Chase had 11 rebounds and nine points.

“We really had some players step up,” Johnson stated. “I was very pleased with our floor game for the most part.”

Unbeknownst to the Ladyjacks they were in for yet another heartbreak in a trip to play UTTC in Bismarck.

The Thunderbirds and Ladyjacks duked it out early on, and UTTC took a narrow halftime lead.

UTTC led most of the way, but DCB was never out of it.

“We played from behind all night and just could not gain any momentum until the final few minutes,” Johnson stated.

DCB trailed by 10 entering those pivotal final minutes. They clawed their way back, and got to within three and had the ball with the final seconds ticking off the clock.

A look from three as regulation expired rimmed out, however, and DCB’s chances of hosting the region tournament shrunk.
DCB was out rebounded 52-36, which Johnson said likely deterimined the outcome.

“No doubt the game was determined on the boards,” Johnson stated. “We were in position many times but just could not finish the play. We were very disappointed in our performance on both ends of the court, especially in such an important game.”

DCB was without an important piece of their team in Savannah Bruce, who served the second game of a two-game suspension for an elbow that she threw against Lake Region State back on Jan. 27.

The Ladyjacks, who are now 11-14 overall, still have a chance to host that region tournament.

“We are now in a difficult, but not impossible, position for having to defeat one of the three remaining DI teams on our schedule to have a chance at hosting the playoffs,” Johnson stated.

The first of those games comes as DCB hosts Fort Berthold at 7 p.m., on Wednesday.