In the first three minutes, it looked like it would be a very competitive game. Kaden Perron connected on two free throws to give Rocky a 2-0 lead and then Scott Malikie scored inside to make it 4-0. Jaron Masis then got Dawson on the board with a jump hook in the lane and Devin Collins followed it up with a 3-pointer on an assist by Man Man Baker. Malikie scored again to help the visiting Bears take the lead 6-5. That was the last lead they would have as Dawson took control of the game with a 44-9 run in the final seventeen minutes of the first half. The run was fueled by the Bucs defense forcing 15 turnovers which led to 30 points. They also scored 17 second chance points. Dawson didn’t shoot it well from long range in the first half, but it didn’t matter as they held Rocky to 22% shooting and went into half-time with a 51-15 lead. It was a balanced effort with all thirteen Buccaneers playing significant minutes and getting in the scoring column.
The second half started the same way the first half ended as Dawson scored the first six points with Baker getting a basket, followed by Collins scoring twice inside and CJ Nelson getting into the action. Slade Cobb scored 8 points in a three minute stretch, but Rocky just couldn’t get their offense going with 15 more turnovers in the second half and shooting only 34% from the field. The Bucs outscored the Bears 59-22 in the final twenty minutes to come away with the 110-37 victory.
It was a balanced effort all the way with all thirteen Bucs playing between 12-19 minutes each. Everyone scored and twelve of the thirteen got at least one rebound. The home team put five players in double figures, led by Devin Collins who finished with 16 points on 6-9 shooting from the field. Roulervee Vann contributed 11 assists to go along with 8 points and 5 steals. Dawson scored 52 points off of turnovers for the game and 22 second chance points. Their bench outscored Rocky 73-16.
Dawson Coach Joe Peterson liked the effort, “I liked the mentality we came out with tonight. We played hard and played well together as shown by our 29 assists. We have been stressing all year that we play our style no matter who we play, where we play and what time we play. Hopefully this will get us ready for tomorrow’s game against Gillette.”
The win moves Dawson to 6-2 on the season with a rematch versus Gillette College on Saturday at 6:00 pm in Glendive. Gillette came back from 15 points down to beat Dawson last Friday in Wyoming 82-80. The Pronghorns come into the game with a perfect 8-0 record on the season.