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(NewsDakota.com)- There is no love lost in the Valley City State and Jamestown College rivalry as the two storied programs get set to meet Wednesday night on the hardwood. The last couple basketball meetings have only fueled the fire.
Two seasons ago, the women met in a win-or-go home DAC Championship match which the Vikings won at home. Last season, they played four times with VCSU winning only once, on a neutral site to secure their second straight trip to Nationals. Both teams bring back a large portion of the 2011-12 teams that both made Nationals.
Outside of bragging rights in the rivalry, there’s also a lot at stake Wednesday as the teams battle for Top 25 recognition and spots at Nationals. In the women’s game, it is a Top 25 match-up. Jamestown College (19-4) is ranked No. 15 in the country in the latest Top 25 poll released Tuesday afternoon. Mayville State is No. 19 and Valley City State (18-4) is No. 24.
The men only met twice last season, but both ended on buzzer-beaters. Valley City State’s AJ McDonald’s three on the last possession of overtime won a game in which the Jimmies had battled back from a 19-point second half deficit. Then a week later at the Bubble, Byron Jones returned the favor with a half-court launch to steal one for JC.
The Jimmies and Vikings met last Sunday in the Dakota Tip-off Classic Final with Jamestown rallying from a nine-point second half deficit to win 69-66. The Viking men (17-5) are currently ranked No. 22 while the Jimmies (11-13) are not ranked.
Tip-off Wednesday night is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. for the women and the men to follow at approximately 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard across the Dakota Country Network. The Jimmie broadcast with Steve Linzmeier and Brian Willhide will be on 1400 KQDJ and the Viking broadcast with Mark Potts will be on 1490 KOVC, 1220 KDDR and 1600 KDAK. The broadcasts can also be streamed online at NewsDakota.com.
It is the first of two Viking-Jimmie doubleheaders in an eight-day stretch. They’ll also play Feb. 6 at the Jamestown Civic Center.