Dickinson High travel to Glendive for preseason skirmish

Nov. 30—DICKINSON — For the third consecutive year, Dickinson High is gearing up to tip off the season with an intense showdown against their western border rivals, the Dawson County Red Devils. The Midgets will hit the court as the visiting team on Saturday, Dec. 1, marking the beginning of their season. This matchup serves as a valuable warm-up before diving into conference play, offering fans and spectators an exciting entry into the basketball season.

The boys' varsity game is set to commence at 4 p.m., followed by the girls' match.

The Midgets, having triumphed in their last two face-offs against Dawson County, are entering the night with a determined mindset to secure a third consecutive victory.

Both DHS programs are gearing up for a defensively focused season in the Western Dakota Association. The girls, bolstered by a robust senior presence with varsity experience, will be spearheading the defensive efforts come Saturday. Notably, in the previous year, the girls secured a commanding victory over Dawson County with a scoreline of 74-25.

In the post, Senior Jazmin Barry will play a pivotal role, while Abbey Dutke, a versatile shooting guard, adds another dimension to the team. The squad also boasts a group of juniors and a handful of sophomores with proficiency in the forward position. According to Dutke, the senior class of five exudes a strong sense of team chemistry, intending to pass on this valuable trait to the returning players next year.

"As seniors, we have been playing together since the third or fourth grade and so it is really special for us to make it through our senior year all together," Dutke said. "We have a really close relationship with the underclassmen and that is going to be important for us on the court."

Senior Sadie Steveson will seize the opportunity to enhance her offensive skills against Dawson County, assuming the role of the shooter both in the upcoming game and throughout the season. Senior Braelynn Farnsworth and junior Lauren Selle will take on leadership roles from the perimeter, relying on the young varsity players to absorb valuable lessons and adapt from their preseason match.

"We are hoping to instill confidence in the younger girls," Stevenson said. "Just so they know they can handle the ball and they can play at a varsity level. Because we got going to need their help this year."

The boys' team is anchored by a group of seniors poised to take on leadership roles. A substantial sophomore class, brimming with talent, is expected to play a significant role both in the upcoming season and particularly against the Red Devils. The team faced a setback with the departure of three starting seniors from the previous year, a notable loss including Alex Dvorak, who achieved the milestone of scoring his 1000th career point against Dawson County last season.

The upcoming clash between the two teams promises to be a thrilling matchup, as indicated by last year's competitive 79-68 result. Emphasizing a defensive mentality, the boys are gearing up for the challenge, beginning with rigorous and disciplined practice sessions. Senior point guard Damon Glasser, the returning highest shooter, emphasizes the importance of underclassmen reflecting on hard work and being coachable as integral elements for success.

"We are not the biggest crew, so got to be fast and shoot well and work hard," Damon Glasser "We have been having 6 a.m. workouts for two hours and lifting for an hour. So we have just been putting in a lot of work."

In addition to Glasser, seniors Dante Oyugi, Owen Bittner, and Thomas Freer are anticipated to log significant playing time on the court. Their roles will involve controlling the tempo through swift plays and quick hands, contributing to the team's dynamic performance.

Following their excursion to Montana, the Midgets have two more non-conference games lined up next week within the confines of the Dickinson gymnasium: a matchup against Grand Forks Central on Friday, Dec. 8, and a face-off with Fargo South on Dec. 9.

"We go into every game differently against who we are playing in the match ups and ever since we have been playing them we have done very well, so hopefully we can keep that going."