Coyotes Look ORU Saturday -...

Mount Marty College needed overtimeto score a 98-96 victory over Northwesternin junior varsity women’s basketball actionon Thursday at Laddie E. Cimpl Arena.

MMC trailed 39-34 at the half, but bat-tled back to force overtime, tied at 84.

Erica Dreckman scored 26 points andhad seven rebounds and four assists tolead MMC. Kieran O’Malley had 25 pointsand six rebounds. Brittany Bormann netted13 points and four assists. Ashley Greenhad 11 points, Sam Blake had seven re-bounds and Trista Morgan added five stealsin the win.

Yankton grad Morgan Tessier had sixpoints, four rebounds and four assists forNorthwestern.

MMC, 5-6 in JV action, hosts Morning-side on Monday.

S.D. STATE 71, ORAL ROBERTS 46: BROOKINGS — A24-3 run midway in the first half powered the South DakotaState women’s basketball to a 71-46 victory over OralRoberts University Thursday night in Summit League actionin front of 1,841 fans at Frost Arena.

Friday, 1.30.15ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net

SPORTS DEPARTMENT: sports@yankton.netPRESS DAKOTANP A G E 6 A

sports

The Yankton Steamway Cleaning and Restoration Explosion fin-ished first in their sixth grade girls’ division at the Mount Martyyouth basketball Tournament on Jan. 24. Team members include(front) Isa Castillo, (middle) Kylie Cwach, Meghan Delozier, Mya Fer-nandez, (back) coach Jane Bochman, Emma Christensen, KylieBochman, Emily Rafferty, Jaidyn Wishon and coach Travis Wishon.

The Yankton Lakers won their fourth grade girls’ division at the Mount Marty youthbasketball Tournament on Saturday. Team members include (front) Hannah Sailer, Sha-layne Nagel, Taryn Fitzgerald, Nora Welker, (back) Thea Chance, Hailey Oswald, GraceBehrns, Elsie Larson and Emma Yost. Not pictured are coaches Matt Yost and JayFitzgerald.

Mount Marty Tournament Champions

‘Dons Avenge Loss To USD Men

BY JEREMY HOECKjeremy.hoeck@yankton.net

VERMILLION — As he ranoff the court prior to pre-game warmups, Tyler Larsonsaid to a group of on-lookers,“We really need this one.”

That goal will have to waitfor the University of SouthDakota men’s basketballteam.

For the second game in arow, the Coyotes struggled of-fensively, this time suffering a66-55 loss to Fort Wayne inSummit League action Thurs-day night at the DakotaDome.

“I don’t know what it is, itfeels like us as a team we set-tle on things, and we’re notas aggressive on defense,”said USD senior JamesHunter, whose 14 points wasa team high.

Against the pre-season fa-vorite Mastodons (10-11, 3-5),the struggles were mainly onoffense for the Coyotes.

South Dakota shot 40 per-cent, 24-of-60, to narrowlyavoid going under the 40mark for a fifth consecutivegame. And conversely, theCoyotes couldn’t do much toslow down Fort Wayne postSteve Forbes — he was 8-of-10 for 21 points.

“They big-boy’d us in a lotof ways,” USD head coachCraig Smith said.

Since a 3-0 start to theleague season, the Coyotes(10-12, 4-4) have scored 68,50 and 55 points and havefallen to the middle of thepack in the league race.

“We’ve got to stop settlingfor what’s easy and what’sopen,” said Smith, who addedwith a smile that there’sprobably a reason thoseshots are open.

It wasn’t as though theCoyotes weren’t gettinglooks, it’s just that the makeswere few and far between.

The hosts finished 3-of-19on three-pointers, and arenow 5-of-32 from deep in thelast two games.

“We’re in a rut right nowwith some things offensively,so it puts a ton of pressureon you defensively,” Smithsaid. “You have more break-downs and you start gam-bling a little bit more.

“It takes some will powerand some toughness to grindthings out.”

Perhaps the one play thatepitomized USD’s struggleswas on a defensive seriesmidway through the secondhalf.

The Mastodons missed afree throw (after making thefirst), got the rebound andfound an open shooter for acorner three.

Suddenly, the lead for FortWayne was 13 with 9:14 toplay. And the Coyotes nevergot within single digits.

“We just have streakswhere we don’t score,” Smithsaid.

The issues for the Coyotes

THOMAS HATZENBUHLER/FOR THE PLAIN TALKSouth Dakota’s James Hunter attacks the basket against Fort Wayne’s Steve Forbes during their Summit League men’s basketball matchup on Thursday at the Dakota-Dome in Vermillion. Both big men led their respective teams — Forbes with 21 points, Hunter with 14 — but Forbes had more help in a 66-55 victory over the Coyotes.

Hora Powers Viborg-Hurley Girls Past CentervilleHURLEY — Scoring a total

of 32 points, Viborg-Hurley’sAby Hora led the Cougars to a50-45 win against the Center-ville Tornadoes Thursdaynight in Hurley.

Angie Lee added 11 pointsand seven steals in the win,with Angie Lee adding 11points. Hora also had eight re-bounds, with Hannah Jor-gensen adding six rebounds.

Emily Snyder and Val Sun-derland had 12 points for theTornadoes, with Rebecca Hy-bertson adding eight re-bounds. Sunderland alsorecorded 13 rebounds, withKristina Laska adding eight re-bounds.

Viborg-Hurley participatesin the TVC Classic in YanktonSaturday, while the Tornadoesface Bon Homme in the Classic. CENTERVILLE (10-3).............................10 20 32 45VIBORG-HURLEY (10-4)........................15 29 40 50

Crofton 51, Pierce 38CROFTON, Neb. — After a slow first

half, the ladies from Crofton were able todefeat a rather impressive Pierce side onThursday night with a score of 51-38.

Quinn Wragge led Crofton with 17points, four rebounds and two assists. Al-lison Arens led with five rebounds andadded seven points.

Leading the way for the visiting teamwas Rachelle Tucker who scored 16points.

Crofton will be out of action until Feb.12 when they host Norfolk Catholic in aMid-state Conference game. PIERCE (16-3) ..........................................9 22 25 38CROFTON (18-0)....................................16 21 38 51

Freeman Academy 47,Irene-Wakonda 41

FREEMAN — Clara Koerner scored13 points Thursday night to lead the Free-man Academy Bobcats to a 47-41 winagainst the Irene-Wakonda Eagles inFreeman.

Koerner also had a total of nine re-bounds in the win, with Hannah Yoderadding nine points and four steals.

Amy Morman had 16 points for theEagles, with Caitlin Hinseth contributingnine points, nine rebounds and foursteals.

Both teams play in the Tri-Valley Con-ference Classic on Saturday in Yankton.Irene-Wakonda (9-3) faces Wagner, whilethe Bobcats (4-7) takes on Scotland.

Lennox 44, Beresford 34LENNOX — Jordan Kruse scored 12

points Thursday night to lead the LennoxOrioles to a 44-34 win against the Beres-ford Watchdogs in Lennox.

Kruse also recorded eight rebounds,while Taylor Weeldreyer and Harlie Breckeach added 10 points to the win.

Hannah Hepner scored 12 points forthe Watchdogs.

Beresford faces Sioux Falls Christianin the Dakota XII Classic in Lennox Satur-day, while the Orioles faces Dakota Valleyin the tournament. BERESFORD (7-7) .................................11 16 21 34LENNOX (7-6).........................................11 24 35 44

Emerson-Hubbard 60,Allen 43

ALLEN, Neb. — Emerson-Hubbardused a 29-13 surge in the middle quartersto pull away to a 60-43 victory over theEagles in Lewis & Clark Conference girls’basketball action on Thursday.

No statistics were reported for Emer-

son-Hubbard, 14-3 and winners of sixstraight. The Pirates open the Lewis &Clark Conference Touranment at homeagainst Winside on Saturday.

Gabby Sullivan led Allen with 14points and 12 rebounds. Lindsey Sullivanhad four steals.

Allen also begins tournament playnext, traveling to Ponca on Saturday toface Homer in the opening round of theLewis & Clark Conference Tournament.EMERSON-HUBBARD (14-3) ................15 32 44 60ALLEN (8-10) ..........................................17 26 30 43

Gayville-Volin 50, Bloomfield 36

BLOOMFIELD, Neb. — The Gayville-Volin Raiders improved their impressiveseason with a victory over Bloomfield onThursday night. Final score for the gamewas 50-30.

Kelia Barta led Gayville-Volin with 16points, Megan Hersch added 11.

Leading the way for the home sidewas Amanda Goeden who had 11 pointsand five rebounds. Karly Jensen led withsix rebounds and added five points.

Gayville-Volin will face Canstota onSaturday in the Tri-Valley ConferenceClassic. Bloomfield will be in action againon Saturday as they participate in theirconference tournament.GAYVILLE-VOLIN(13-1) .........................19 30 35 50BLOOMFIELD(7-10) ...............................10 15 27 36

Niobrara-Verdigre 64, Santee 18

VERDIGRE, Neb. — Niobrara-Verdi-gre jumped out to a 44-11 halftime leadand cruised to a 64-18 victory over San-tee in Niobrara Valley Conference girls’basketball action on Thursday.

Emily Knust led a balanced Niobrara-Verdigre attack with 17 points and 15 re-bounds, including nine on the offensiveend. Brittany Eisenhauer had 11 points.

Kylee McManigal and Ashley Guenthereach had 10 points in the victory.

No statistics were reported for Santee.Both teams begin play in the NVC

Tournament on Saturday in Bassett. San-tee faces Boyd County at 2:30 p.m., fol-lowed by Niobrara-Verdigre against NorthCentral at 4:15 p.m.SANTEE (2-11) .........................................8 11 18 18NIOBRARA-VERDIGRE (7-11)...............21 44 58 64

Dakota Oyate Chall.Marty Indian 77,Crazy Horse 23

HURON — Marty Indian scored 59first-half points on the way to a 77-23 vic-tory over Crazy Horse in the first round ofthe Dakota Oyate Challenge on Thursdayat Huron Arena.

Alexis Medicine Horn scored a game-high 25 points and Apollonia Zephier had19 points for Marty Indian.

For Crazy Horse, Amber LaMont ledthe way with 10 points.

Marty Indian will face Crow Creek inthe semifinals today (Friday) at 4:30 p.m.Crazy Horse draws Lower Brule in a con-solation matchup at noon.CRAZY HORSE..................................................13 23MARTY ...............................................................59 77

Omaha Nation 59, Flandreau Indian 49

HURON — Cheyenne Webster scored 18points to lead Omaha Nation in a 59-49 winagainst Flandreau Indian School to advance in theDakota Oyate Challenge Thursday night in Huron.

Ona Parker contrbuted 12 points, whileShalise Porter added 10 points in the win. DestinyHastines also had eight points.

Cheyenne Greger had a total of 17 points forFlandreau Indian, with Savannah Vetter addinganother 11 points. Maste Gray Grass also had ninepoints.

Omaha Nation faces Tiospa Zina today (Fri-day) in the tournament. OMAHA NATION ................................................31 59FLANDREAU INDIAN SCHOOL.........................14 49

Tiopsa Zina 75, Takini 30HURON — Tiospa Zina scored 56

first-half points and coasted to a 75-30victory over Takini in the opening roundof the Dakota Oyate Challenge on Thurs-day at Huron Arena.

Fidelity Eastman led a balanced Tiospa Zinaattack with 17 points. Bethany Robertson netted14 points. Julissa Max and Luta Christensen eachhad 12 points in the win.

For Takini, Christine Mexican scored 13 pointsto lead the way.TIOSPA ZINA......................................................56 75TAKINI.................................................................22 30

Crow Creek 56, Lower Brule 40

HURON — Jamie Marks scored a game-high30 points to lead Crow Creek to a 56-40 victoryover Lower Brule in the opening round of theDakota Oyate Challenge on Thursday at HuronArena.

Ryan Gray scored 22 points, including hittingsix three-pointers, for Lower Brule.

Crow Creek faces Marty Indian in the semifi-nals today (Friday) at 4:30 p.m. Lower Brule drawsCrazy Horse in a consolation matchup at noon.LOWER BRULE..................................................15 40CROW CREEK...................................................24 56

Big East Tourn.Sioux Valley 67, Howard 27

VOLGA — Carley Peterson scored 21 pointsto lead the Sioux Valley Cossacks in a 67-27 winagainst the Howard Tigers Thursday night in Volgain the Big East Conference.

Peterson also recorded six rebounds and fiveassists in the win, with Kaylee Granum adding 19points and six assists. Courtney Vanderzee alsohad eight points , four rebounds, four assists andfour steals.

Kelsey Dawson scored 10 points and had ninerebounds for the Tigers, with Bailey Rudebuschcontributing eight pionts, six rebounds and threeassists.

The Cossacks will play Garretson in the tour-nament today (Friday), while Howard will faceFlandreau.

Lancer JV Squad TopsNorthwestern In OT

Coyotes LookTo Get Back OnTrack AgainstORU Saturday

COYOTES | PAGE 7A

WOMEN | PAGE 7A

GIRLS | PAGE 6A