Their Sunday Best: Lady Royals team earns win over Red River
It was a perfect end to a busy three-day stretch of games for the Lake Region State College men and women's basketball teams.
Article by Harry Lipsiea, Devils Lake Journal Sports, November 14th, 2016.
It was a perfect end to a busy three-day stretch of games for the Lake Region State College men and women's basketball teams. After both squads split in their first two games at the Holiday Inn Classic, the Royals capped off the home event with convincing victories over Red River Community College out of Winnipeg, Canada.
The common link between the two games was that both Lake Region State College teams used big stretches in the second half to run away from its opponents. A 27-3 run was huge in the Royal women's 105-39 victory. Meanwhile, a number of important stretches led the LRSC men to a 104-64 triumph.
"Overall, I thought it was a good game for us. It was a great opportunity to get everyone minutes and help us with confidence," Royal women's head coach Danny Mertens told the Journal.
The final game of the Holiday Inn Classic was also good for the men's team. LRSC head men's coach Jared Marshall was impressed with his team's performance in the second half.
"That extra energy in the second half was huge for us. It was the third game in three days and an early afternoon game, so you know it's never going to be perfect. I loved the energy and enthusiasm our guys played with as the game went on. It was a good victory," he pointed out.
It didn't take long for the Royal women to take control against the Rebels. After a steal by Emily Schafer, the home team got on the board as sophomore guard Mackenzie Irwin with a 14-foot jumper. Teammates Cassidy Nelson and Mikayla Wallace gave the squad an 8-2 advantage after a three-point play and a shot from beyond the arc, respectively.
LRSC continued to control the action using a strong performance in the paint by Nelson. The sophomore post scored eight of her team's next 11 points to give the Royals a commanding 11-point lead in the first quarter.
The Rebels put together a bit of a comeback as baskets by Tiara Cruz and Suzzie Namgunigo. A layup by Cruz near the first-quarter buzzer cut LRSC's lead to 22-16 after one period of play.
A 9-0 run for the Royals was fueled by aggressive defense and the shooting of Jadyn Fee and Irwin. Red River tried to bounce back with four points of its own to make the score 31-20. From there, however, it was all LRSC.
A basket in transition by Irwin and a three by freshman Ella Gobald got the squad going. After several key defensive stops by LRSC, Jillian Hanson sunk two at the line to give her team an 18-point advantage with a minute remaining in the second. The first half came to a close as post players Gobald and Mer Gach each scored inside 10 feet to give the Royals a 42-22 advantage.
It was more of the same in the final two quarters. Defensive pressure continued to be the name of the game for the home team. Steals by Irwin led to early buckets by Wallace and Nelson. From there a Schafer basket and a three by Irwin gave LRSC the 55-26 advantage.
As the Royals' defense continued to make stops, their offense started heating up even more. Back-to-back baskets by Gach coupled with free throws from Jillian Hanson and two threes by Helen Schuster made the score 69-29. Buckets in transition by Jaden Hanson and Gobald helped the Royals close out the third quarter with a 75-31 advantage.
LRSC controlled the action in the final stanza. Gach accounted for three straight buckets inside for the Royals. A Jaden Hanson jumper and seven straight points by Karly Kennelly capped off a 105-39 victory for the home squad.
LRSC received contributions from everyone.
Nelson, one of five Royals in double figures for scoring, led the charge offensively. The sophomore finished with 16 points. Gach, a freshman from Austin, Minn., added 15 points off the bench. Australian native Gobald chipped in with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Jaden Hanson and Irwin finished with 10 points apiece. Schuster added nine points while Fee had eight. Wallace and Kennelly each scored seven points. R'rionna Brocks and Jillian Hanson finished with four points apiece. Schafer rounded out the scoring with two points.
The post play of LRSC was key in the team's victory. That is an extremely important component for the squad, Mertens pointed out.
"That scoring from our inside players is what we have to have to be successful. They had a great day and it showed all over the court," the third-year head coach said. "When we get scoring from the post that really opens up our outside shots. Working inside-out is very important for us."
With a 5-1 record, LRSC takes to the road later this week. On Friday, the Royals will play Miles Community College before taking on McCook Community College Saturday. Both non-conference contests will be played in Miles City, Mont.
The road trip will be a good test for the Royals.
"We are going to a different environment and play two good basketball teams," Mertens added. "Our players are going to need to be prepare for a battle in both of those games. It's going to be important to come out, play good defense and hopefully the shots will keep falling."