Dawson Keeps Perfect Conference Record Intact
With a 107-78 win over the United Tribes Technical College Thunderbirds, the Dawson Buccaneers moved to 25-2 on the season and a perfect 11-0 in conference play. The Bucs are 13-0 at home this season and have now won 12 straight games overall.
After a Houston Davis 3-pointer gave the visiting Thunderbirds a 12-11 lead four minutes into the game, Dawson outscored them 39-17 over the next ten minutes. During that stretch it was mostly points in the paint for the Buccaneers. The big run was capped by a dunk from 5'10" guard Sam Massaquoi. Dawson ended the half leading 57-39. They outscored UTTC in the paint 38-20 in the opening twenty minutes and outrebounded them 23-14. The biggest discrepancy was in field goal shooting. Dawson shot 60% from the field and United Tribes only shot 40%. Seth Amunrud led the way with 12 points while Justin Asi and Massaquoi had 10 each.
Dawson started the second half well, outscoring the Thunderbirds 6-2, but then UTTC got three straight lay-ups and a dunk to pull within 14 points. They eventually cut it to 12 points two times before Dawson went on a 17-5 run to put the game away with a little over seven minutes remaining. Justin Asi scored 10 points during that run, all in the paint. Even though the Bucs went cold from long range in the second half (3-14), they still dominated inside with 38 points in the paint again, shooting 66% on two-pointers.
Dawson's depth was a big key as their bench outscored the visitors 47-12 in the game. DCC also forced 18 turnovers and outscored UTTC 27-10 on points off turnovers. The Bucs shot 55.6% from the field while holding the Thunderbirds to 42.5% shooting and a measly 17.1% from 3-point range (6-35). Dawson won the rebounding battle on the offensive glass, 14-9, and overall, 45-33.
"United Tribes is a little banged up right now with two of their best players injured," explained Dawson Coach Joe Peterson. "We caught them at a good time, but we also played with better intensity tonight for most of the game. We had one lull for about 5-6 minutes in the second half. We are getting closer to putting together a full forty minutes. When we play with maximum effort defensively, communicating and flying around; and then match that with great ball movement and good shot selection on the offensive end, we are a really good team. Without those ingredients, we are a pretty average team."
All 12 Buccaneers played double digit minutes, scored, and grabbed at least one rebound. Justin Asi led the way with 22 points. Seth Amunrud had 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Sam Massaquoi had 13 points and 9 rebounds. Delray Lilley and Aries Lewis had 10 points each. Lewis also grabbed 7 rebounds. Houston Davis finished with a game high 31 points and 10 rebounds for United Tribes. Jacolby Pearson contributed 17 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists.
The win guaranteed Dawson at least a share of the Mon-Dak Conference regular season championship with three games remaining. A win in any of their final games will clinch the conference title outright for the Bucs.
Dawson will be back in action next Monday night at home vs. Miles Community College. It will be sophomore night for Dawson's five sophomores. The "Dino Night with the Bucs" game will be sponsored by Friends of Makoshika.
