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CITY, N.D (NewsDakota.com) It was the regular season finale and senior night at W.E Osmon Fieldhouse on Saturday night where the Women’s and Men’s Viking basketball teams both claimed victory over the Presentation Saints.
With the 74-46 win, and the Dakota State loss to University of Jamestown, the Viking Women have clinched third place in the North Star Athletic Association. The win lifts the Vikings to 13-11 over all with a 3-5 record in the North Star.
The Vikings took the lead from the beginning and never relinquished it throughout the game. Lehner, the only senior on the team, led the Vikings on the score sheet with an outstanding 18 points and six rebounds. As a team the Vikings had 21 assists on 29 baskets in the victory.
Off the bench Megan Trautman helped out the Vikings with 16 points, and Stephanie Pedersen would finish the game with nine points. .
The Saints were led on the score sheet by Hannah Phillips who scored 13 points.
The Vikings next game will be on Sunday, March 2nd when they open up the North Star Tournament on the road at the University of Jamestown.
In the 70-58 men’s game, it was once again the lone senior who led the way for the Vikings. Aaron Duske worked past the Saints for 14 points on the night. When he was not making baskets, he was pulling down rebounds. The Buffalo, Minnesota native grabbed a team high eight boards in the game.
Much like the women, the Men took the lead early in the first half and never looked back. After three consecutive three-point baskets by Mac Kroeplin, the Vikings would take a 34-24 advantage into the break. In the second, VCSU kept the led by shooting 52% from the field.
Aside from Duske, four other Vikings would finish the night with double digit points. Jeremy Ware topped Valley City with 15 in the game, Paxton Lloyd had 10 points on the night, and Kroeplin would finish with four three pointers contributing to his total of 14 points.
With the win, the Vikings clinched the three seed in the North Star Athletic Association Tournament. They will open the post season on Saturday, March 1st with a trip to Dakota State. In the regular season, the Vikings split the two game series with the Trojans.
Valley City ends the regular season with a 5-3 record in the NSAA and an overall record of 14-13.
Both the Women’s and Men’s game can be heard on 1490 KOVC.