Ginuwine Tropnas (34)/Photo via LRSC
After playing their first two home games and going back on the road for three more, both of Lake Region State College’s basketball teams are now 5-3 on the season.
The deep men’s team, after winning four of its first five games, has now lost two of its last three. Meanwhile, the small but mighty women’s team has won its last two games after a brief two-game stumble. It’s still very early for both squads as they gear up for conference play.
The men won 92-82 against Minnesota North College — Hibbing on Nov. 9 to complete a home sweep, following their home-opener victory the day prior.
Poet Davis, after a relatively quiet performance in the first home game (though still a double-double), went back to leading the scoring, as he put up 23 points. Akok Ajou and Ginuwine Tropnas both had double-doubles, with 16 points/11 rebounds and 15 points/10 rebounds, respectively.
The Royals went just 7-of-19 from the free throw line and had their lowest point total in a game thus far, but they did enough to improve to 4-1 at the time.
So back on the road this team went after the home sweep. Over in Williston, LRSC lost to North Idaho College 95-78 on Friday. The Royals trailed 54-34 at halftime. They outscored the Cardinals 44-41 in the second half, but still fell short. Up until this loss, LRSC had scored 497 points in five games, just a few short of averaging 100 per game.
Remy Davis Warrington led the team with 20 points. Bronson Chambers had 13, and Ajou had 10.
But the Royals bounced back with their most dominant performance yet on Saturday, both offensively and defensively. They beat Rocky Mountain JV 112-66 to improve to 5-2.
Davis, LRSC’s most prolific scorer thus far, only had two points in the win — both on free throws. But the Royals are a team with a deeper array of weapons this year compared to last season. Ajou and Chambers had 25 and 23 points, respectively, while Antonio Speed had 17. Ajou also had 13 rebounds to give him a commanding double-double.
The Royals got back in the losing column on Monday against the University of Jamestown JV, falling in a 91-82 battle. The Jimmies made 11 three-pointers compared to LRSC’s five.
The women, after an identical 3-1 start as the men, took a close loss on Nov. 9 in their second home game. After a 101-31 thumping the day prior, they fell to Concordia College JV 49-47.
Arden Faulkner, a sophomore returner who’s taken on a larger role this season, was the only Royal to reach double-digit points in the loss. Kiara Holweger, also a sophomore returner getting more substantial playing time, had 12 rebounds.
The Royals took their third loss of the season on Friday against North Idaho College, 67-58. Among their three losses, two have been by nine-point gaps while one has been by a two-point gap.
LRSC, after falling to 3-3, won its next two games by getting some much-needed close wins. The Royals beat Rocky Mountain JV 58-51 on Saturday, with Faulkner leading the way once again. They outscored the Battlin’ Bears by 12 in the second quarter, and were outscored in the second half but did enough to win.
That led to an 84-79 win over Jamestown JV on Monday, making the Royals victorious in another close contest. Nicole Lillard, the sophomore returner who got the most playing time last year, led with 21 points. Faulkner had 16, and redshirt freshman transfer Jenna Tierney had 15.
Both teams, sitting at a couple games over .500, continue their seasons against Minnesota West Community and Technical College on Friday evening. Each club has four games left in its November schedule before returning home on Dec. 4.
