Midgets' streak continues with tough loss to Watford City
Jan. 5—DICKINSON — The Dickinson Midgets, continue to face difficulties in the season, after a tough loss on Tuesday night against the Class A team in Watford City, falling short with a score of 46-38. Their struggle in making 3-pointers and a high number of 25 turnovers proved to be insurmountable obstacles. As a result, they find themselves in a three-game losing streak, now holding an overall record of 5-3.
The Midgets had limited connections on their shots and were left to be devoured by the Wolves, who took advantage with a dominating 24-point second quarter. Watford City had three standout players who scored in double digits.
Jessica Morgen of the Wolves emerged as the top scorer in the game, notching 18 points by adeptly navigating the paint and making 3 out of 4 free throws. Morgen also came close to achieving a double-double with an impressive 9 rebounds on the night. Additionally, sophomore Bailey Mattson and junior Adi Schaff contributed to their team's scoring, with Mattson tallying 12 points and Schaff adding 11.
Dickinson High managed to maintain a slightly higher field goal percentage (35% compared to 32%) than their opponents, Watford City. However, their struggle primarily stemmed from not attempting enough three-point shots and they only capitalized on 50% of their free throw opportunities.
Senior Jazmin Barry and junior Lauren Selle both stepped up with 11 points each to lead their team in scoring. Barry's impressive performance extended to the free-throw line, where she made 3 out of 4 attempts, highlighting her offensive prowess. In addition to their scoring, Barry and Selle also led in steals, with Barry recording 4 steals and Selle contributing 3.
The Midgets displayed a stronger defensive effort, securing 25 of their 35 rebounds by snagging the ball off their opponents' backboards.
Among the Midgets, senior Sadie Stevenson led the team in defensive rebounds with 5, while seniors Abbey Dutke and along with sophomore Jenna Nelson, each contributed 4 defensive rebounds. Seniors Jazmin Barry and sophomore Braelynn Farnsworth, also chipped in with 3 defensive boards each.
Selle was the top rebounder for her team, amassing a total of 8 rebounds, with 5 of those coming from the offensive end of the court.
Dickinson High has dedicated early-season efforts to improve their boxing-out skills, and this investment has paid off, benefiting their performance. However, as the season progresses, their success will likely hinge on their ability to score efficiently, which could either lead to smooth sailing or challenging times ahead.
Their upcoming match is set against the Mandan Braves (2-1, 6-2) on Friday, Jan. 5, in Dickinson. The Midgets have maintained an unbeaten record at home this season and aim to preserve that streak while breaking a current losing streak. The game expects to be a closely contested pairing, with both teams positioned in the middle of the pack in the WDA standings.
