Dawson Rolls Into Championship Game
The Dawson Buccaneers sailed into the championship game for the fifth straight year in the Buster Gillis Mon-Dak Conference Tip-off Tournament. They have won three of the last four tournaments. Dawson defeated the Williston State College Tetons 102-79 on Saturday night in the final game of the day. The final score wasn't indicative of what a close, hard fought contest it was.
Williston took an early lead in the game when Demetric Kindle scored the first seven points. There were four ties in the early going. Neither team made a very long run in the opening twenty minutes, but eventually Dawson took their biggest lead at 36-26. Williston closed the game to seven points at the break, trailing 51-44. Seth Amunrud led Dawson with 20 points in the first half. Dawson took ten more shots than Williston thanks to a +3 offensive rebounding advantage and a +3 advantage in turnovers. Rex Stirling led the Tetons with 14 points and 5 rebounds. The teams were even on the boards with 23 each.
The second half had a similar feel as the first half until the Tetons began to wear down from the Bucs pressure and Dawson exploded on an 18-3 run that was fueled by Kur Maler who scored 11 points and Jordan Jasper who scored 15 points in the second half. Dawson collected 12 offensive rebounds in the final twenty minutes and shot 50% from the field and 44% from the 3-point line while holding Williston to 36% from the field and 27% from the 3-point line to build the double digit lead and blow the game open.
The Bucs won the rebounding battle in the game by four, but more importantly, had 31 second chance points, compared to the Teton's 13. Their bench also dominated Williston's bench 44-30. Dawson scored 51 points in each half, but their defense picked up in the second half and held Williston to nine less points than they scored in the first half.
"I think we really wore them down as the game went on," shared Dawson Coach Joe Peterson. "You could tell they were getting tired and we were able to get to the rim much easier in the second half. They are a mentally tough team and really played well for a good chunk of the game. Our guys kept competing and kept pressuring on both ends. Our depth really paid off tonight."
Amunrud finished with a game high 24 points. Jordan Jasper was close behind with 21 points. Kur Maler finished with 15 points while Sam Massaquoi contributed 11 and Justin Asi rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points. Jasper and Amunrud each collected 9 rebounds. Stirling led Williston with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Kindle added 13 points.
Dawson will face off with in-state rival, Miles Community College, in the Mon-Dak Tip-off Championship Game at the 4Bears Events Center in New Town, ND on Sunday around 5:15 pm CST.
