BELLEVUE, NE (NewsDakota.com) The start of North Star Athletic Association play was unkind to Valley City State Saturday.
The Viking women had a 13-point lead undone by a 19-2 Bruins run, while the men, missing two starters, allowed 59 first-half points to the Bruins, in losses of 70-65 in womens play and 105-66 in mens play in Bellevue, NE.
Both teams were playing for the first time in 10 days, while Bellevue had met the Mayville State Comets the night before. The Viking men were missing Tyrel Creger and Agwa Nywesh due to illness.
The Viking women used 62% shooting in the first 14 minutes of the game in a hot start, eventually building a 47-34 lead in the early third quarter. But the Bruins forced 17 turnovers against the Vikings and responded with a 19-2 run to take a four-point edge at the end of the frame.
Bellevue would eventually stretch the lead to eight at 62-54. The Vikings hit a pair of key three-pointers down the stretch from double-figure scorers Ashlyn Diemert and JayCee Richter, but would get no closer than three to close out.
Freshman Abby Aslesen led the Vikings with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Diemert added 18 points and Richter tossed in 13. Elyse Hebrink and Ellie Braaten each grabbed 10 rebounds.
In mens play, TJ Fritz hit the first five three-point shots of his night, allowing Bellevue to open a 20-6 lead early, en route to a 59-31 lead at haftime. Fritz had 26 points by the break on seven three-points shot, as well as an additional field goal and three-of-three shooting from the foul line after drawing a foul on a three.
From there, Bellevue’s size took over. Reserve posts Emarr Vinson and RJ Smith combined for 26 points on 11-15 from the field in a high-low look that the Vikings struggled with in the second half. The Bruins outrebounded the Vikings 44-20.
Lamar Grayson led the Vikings with 17, and Ladarious Stanfield added 14 bench points. Shaheed Muhammad knocked in 10 despite a tough 3-16 from the field. Odier Olange scored nine.
The Vikings face Dakota State Sunday in Madison, SD