VALLEY CITY, ND (NewsDakota.com) While the game results were different, the circumstances will be the same for the Vikings at the end of the regular season.
The Viking women were beaten by the North Star Athletic Association’s (NSAA) top team Dakota State 82-52 Saturday, while the Viking men were dominant in a 93-74 win over the Trojans.
Both teams will go to Dickinson Thursday with similar circumstances. A win over Dickinson State secures home games in the NSAA opening round, losses could put the teams on the road. The Viking men could climb to the third seed.
Dakota State scored 53 points in the paint as they repeatedly attacked the basket, taking a 48-26 lead at halftime. The Trojan defense, one of the top defenses in the league, stifled the Vikings throughout the day. Valley City State committed 20 turnovers.
Adriana Torres led the Vikings with 10 points, playing through injury to be the only Viking in double figures.
In men’s play, the Vikings forced six Dakota State turnovers in the first 8:30 of the game, and quickly pulled away, leading at halftime 50-32. The lead would eventually reach 31 before head coach Ryan Montgomery rotated through eight seniors that will leave the Viking program after this year on Senior Day.
Daevonte Munson again led the Vikings with 20 points, adding eight rebounds. Duoth Gach and Cayden Rickard kept the perimeter on fire with 18 and 15, respectively.
The day was punctuated with the Viking home crowd giving loud ovations for each senior that entered and left the game. Every active player scored, save for Tate Hebrink, who spent the majority of his second half setting up shots for reserve players that had a chance to play for the final time at the W. E. Osmon Fieldhouse.
The Viking women fall to 7-6 in NSAA play, 14-12 overall. The men improve to 8-5 in the league, winning six of their last eight league games. They are now 15-12 overall.
Both teams play at Dickinson State to wrap up the regular season Thursday. Conference tournament play begins Tuesday, February 21st.