Neither the Viking Boys’ or Girls’ basketball teams could slow down the Dakota State Trojans as they rolled to a Friday sweep.
The first game was an absolute clinic by the #10 ranked Trojans, as a three-point barrage sparked them to an early 38-8 lead. Caitlin Dyer led the Trojans, who went 4-4 from beyond the arc, while Savannah Walsdorf chipped in with 11 points of her own. For VCSU, their only consistent form of offense came through JayCee Richter, who would finish the game with a team-high 11 points.
The second would once again feature a dominant effort by the Trojans as their focus shifted from the exterior to the interior as they bludgeoned their way to 32 more points as they would take a 70-18 lead into the break. The third and fourth quarters would be played at a much more competitive and reserved pace as VCSU held the Trojans to 18 points in both the third and fourth quarters while dropping 31 second-half points. But when the full-time whistle mercifully blew, it was a resounding 106-49 win for the Trojans as their record now improves to 22-5 on the year. VCSU Meanwhile drops to 12-13 overall and 6-5 in conference play, as they’ll close out their season tomorrow against Bellevue.
The boy’s game consisted of the Vikings going on various runs throughout the game only to watch the rally come up short and evaporate a few possessions later. The first half saw a competitive back-and-forth contest with little separation between the two sides. Unfortunately, the Viking’s defense would falter late, allowing a pair of three-pointers that allowed the Trojans to extend the lead to 47-38 before the break.
The second half would be dominated offensively by Cleveland Bedgood, who erupted for 21 points as he led all scorers with 29 points. A little past the halfway point, VCSU managed to whittle the lead down to three points as they searched for a way to finally overtake the Trojans. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the defense had no answers for the Trojans’ late-game attack as Dakota State got 20 points off the bench from Mison Coilton and a double-double from Uhana Ochan. With the defense faltering, three points would be as close as the Vikings would get as the lead slowly got built up due to the tremendous foul shooting of the Trojans, who finished 26-30 from the stripe. When the dust settled the Trojans walked away as 95-79 victors.
The Vikings now fall to 11-14 on the year and 3-10 in conference play and will also close out their season tomorrow against Bellevue.
Ivy Real Estate Group Players of the Game: JayCee Richter, Cleveland Bedgood