DCC Bucs Win Mon-Dak Conference Tip-off Championship
On Sunday evening in New Town, ND, the DCC Buccaneers won the Championship Game of the Buster Gillis Mon-Dak Conference Tip-off Tournament for the 2nd time in 3 years. The Bucs put an exclamation point on the weekend with a 91-84 victory over the United Tribes Technical College Thunderbirds. Dawson has opened the season with four straight wins. In the championship, they used a hot shooting first half to build a big lead. In the opening twenty minutes they connected on 8-16 from the 3-point line with four different player making a 3-pointer, led by Damon Gros Ventre’s three from long range. In contrast, UTTC didn’t make any 3-pointers in the first half. Both teams’ stars led the way in the early going with Dawson’s Joe Mpoyo scoring 13 points and Famous Left Hand scoring 10 points. The Bucs had a big advantage on the boards 30-21. There were 5 ties and 3 lead changes until Dawson took control and got up by 16 points at one point, carrying a 50-36 advantage into the locker room at half.
DCC built a twenty point lead right out of the break on field goals from Gros Ventre and Mpoyo, but then UTTC came roaring back. They made a couple of good runs in the second half and outscored Dawson 48-41, but it wasn’t enough and they never got closer than 7 points as the Bucs secured the victory and the championship. Dawson’s shooting from the field cooled in the final twenty minutes, but they continued to win the rebounding battle and shot well from the free throw line. Dawson ended the game with a 55-44 advantage on the boards and made 25 of 30 from the charity stripe.
“I was really proud of the effort, toughness and togetherness we showed this weekend,” said Dawson coach Joe Peterson. It’s not easy playing 4 games in 5 days and back to back to back. Our guys didn’t look tired in any way. They brought energy, played through mistakes and adversity and stayed together as a team. We won all of our games this weekend in different ways, which shows our depth and versatility. We are a young team, but with a lot of potential to keep improving if we maintain the right focus and work ethic.”
Five Bucs finished in double figures led by Mpoyo’s 21 points and 5 rebounds. Gros Ventre finished with 17 points while Payton Sanders scored 14, including a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. Dawson point guards Aidan Fishell and Ty Buckmon combined for 20 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists.
DK Middleton had a game high 24 points and 9 rebounds for the Thunderbirds. Famous Lefthand contributed 19 points.
The Bucs will be back in action at home on Saturday at 4:00 pm vs. Bismarck State College.
