A new year is quickly coming upon us as the 1st semester of college begins to wrap up. Our student-athletes are learning to manage time between high expectations on the court, as well as the demands of passing classes with above average grades. There is a unique level of stress which can not be put into words by each individual, but simply internalized as we all cope with these pressures differently. With that being said I would like to express my level of gratitude for this year's Lumberjack TEAM.
I would be a liar if I said the plan was to go 15-2 to begin the season leading to the accomplishment of becoming ranked #17 in the nation. This ranking means absolutely nothing as it pertains to our overall objective, but it is a vote of confidence for the student-athletes who have traveled a long way from home to attend Dakota College in a small town called Bottineau. It would be a 50/50 coin toss if we went down the line and asked each player to spell "Bottineau". WE chose to embark on this journey TOGETHER, and we are a long ways away from the finish line but these young men are quickly growing to become bigger than a basketball TEAM. Each and every day these players pleasantly surprise me through their unselfish play, knack for cracking personal jokes without taking it personal, ability to deal with confrontation, and lastly the fact no player believes they are more important than the TEAM. For these reason I am very grateful to be at Dakota College and thankful to have the opportunity to coach these Jack Boyz.
We are a long ways away from the finish line and much work is to be done, but going into break this TEAM has taken care of business at the right times. This past week the TEAM went 2-0 by defeating Turtle Mountain Community College 111-71 and Jamestown College JV 88-56. Just like every other game of the year it was a TEAM effort with different players having standout performances. Freshman Jalyn Turner lead the way vs. TMCC with 18 points, Sophomore transfer Jake Arck had his best game of the year with 14 and Billy Engel tallied 13 points. Going into the Jamestown game we were certain somebody would emerge as the spark, and Freshman Wesley Harrison came to play with 18 points establishing his new career high to go with 6 rebounds. There were several great TEAM plays made throughout the game, and most importantly we head into break with a win.
The Lumberjacks are off until January 3rd when we travel to Northland Technical and Community College to play two games. Our Coaching Staff will be hitting the road to focus primarily on next year's recruiting class. Have a great holiday, travel safe, and stay grateful.
Thank you for the support!
Get Jacked UP,
Cory Fehringer
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Jacks 13-2: Take Two at Bismarck Classic
The end of the first semester can be rather difficult at times in a college basketball season. Freshman have played more games in a short span than ever before, road trips have begun to lose their luster, academics create stress due to eligibility concerns for many programs, and of course the common cold is catching up with everyone including coaches. As if those issues were not enough the TEAM bus froze up over night and created havoc among game day routines, travel plans, and delayed arrival back to home! Both teams handled the mishap in stride and arrived safely 5 hours behind scheduled time.
Although WE would like to be playing the best TEAM basketball up to this point it might be best to simply be grateful for wins and stay healthy going into break. Over the weekend the Lumberjack TEAM competed in a two-day classic at Bismarck State College. Fortunately WE came home with two wins and no injuries. As always this group played very well in stretches but also found ourselves struggling to be consistent at times along the way. Good news is players made the right plays at the right time as we pulled together when necessary.
GAME 1: Jamestown College JV - 86-62 (W)
The first 15 minutes of the game our TEAM executed offensive strategies shooting 67% from the field and defensive philosophy extremely well holding the Jimmies to 32% as WE took a 40-11 lead. At half-time the score was 49-25 with several players performing well but none more exciting than Freshman Patrick Robinson who was 3/3 from the arc in 5 minutes of play. He continues to be a source of electricity with a canny ability to score several points in a short amount of time. Julian Vasquez also tallied in 11 points during the first 20 minute session.
The second half would prove to be more interesting as the two teams played a dead lock game both scoring 37 points in the second half. Offensively WE put the breaks on so to speak and defensively WE began to get somewhat loose in our execution. When it was all said and done 4 players found themselves with double digit scoring during a balanced attack. Freshman Gilberto Shojgreen and Vasquez led with 13 a piece, followed Robinson finishing with 12 and rounded out by Freshman Justin Musgrave who totaled in 10 points.
GAME 2: Minot Air Force Base - 99-88 (W)
I have said it before and will say it again, the second day of any classic provides an opportunity for anything to happen. MAFB is older, bigger, and stronger than our TEAM as well as play for the "fun" of the game. They can be a difficult opponent no matter the day, but it appeared on Saturday afternoon WE would drop a game to MAFB. The score at half was 53-47 in favor of the Lumberjacks while literally no defense was being played. WE shot 55% from the field and MAFB shot 54% as it appeared both teams were playing 5 on 0.
In the second half there was room for concern as MAFB would take an 8 point lead with nearly 10 minutes left in the game. Eventually the TEAM would return to form by way of defensive stands followed with transition offense. The final 10 minutes of the game our Jack Boys would outscore MAFB by 19 to finish with an 11 point victory. Gilberto Shojgreen was very impressive posting his 1st college double-double with 18 points (majority dunks) and 11 rebounds. Julian Vasquez possibly played his best basketball in the second half with 25 points and 8 rebounds. Freshman Jalyn Turner supplied 16 points in the win as he has found more rhythm in the offense. Most importantly the TEAM had 22 assists to only 11 turnovers which is the best ration of the year.
COMING UP:
The Lumberjacks return to action tomorrow night as WE travel to Turtle Mountain CC. Tip-off is set for 8pm following the Ladyjacks game.
Thank you for the continued support!
Get Jacked UP,
Cory Fehringer
Although WE would like to be playing the best TEAM basketball up to this point it might be best to simply be grateful for wins and stay healthy going into break. Over the weekend the Lumberjack TEAM competed in a two-day classic at Bismarck State College. Fortunately WE came home with two wins and no injuries. As always this group played very well in stretches but also found ourselves struggling to be consistent at times along the way. Good news is players made the right plays at the right time as we pulled together when necessary.
GAME 1: Jamestown College JV - 86-62 (W)
The first 15 minutes of the game our TEAM executed offensive strategies shooting 67% from the field and defensive philosophy extremely well holding the Jimmies to 32% as WE took a 40-11 lead. At half-time the score was 49-25 with several players performing well but none more exciting than Freshman Patrick Robinson who was 3/3 from the arc in 5 minutes of play. He continues to be a source of electricity with a canny ability to score several points in a short amount of time. Julian Vasquez also tallied in 11 points during the first 20 minute session.
The second half would prove to be more interesting as the two teams played a dead lock game both scoring 37 points in the second half. Offensively WE put the breaks on so to speak and defensively WE began to get somewhat loose in our execution. When it was all said and done 4 players found themselves with double digit scoring during a balanced attack. Freshman Gilberto Shojgreen and Vasquez led with 13 a piece, followed Robinson finishing with 12 and rounded out by Freshman Justin Musgrave who totaled in 10 points.
GAME 2: Minot Air Force Base - 99-88 (W)
I have said it before and will say it again, the second day of any classic provides an opportunity for anything to happen. MAFB is older, bigger, and stronger than our TEAM as well as play for the "fun" of the game. They can be a difficult opponent no matter the day, but it appeared on Saturday afternoon WE would drop a game to MAFB. The score at half was 53-47 in favor of the Lumberjacks while literally no defense was being played. WE shot 55% from the field and MAFB shot 54% as it appeared both teams were playing 5 on 0.
In the second half there was room for concern as MAFB would take an 8 point lead with nearly 10 minutes left in the game. Eventually the TEAM would return to form by way of defensive stands followed with transition offense. The final 10 minutes of the game our Jack Boys would outscore MAFB by 19 to finish with an 11 point victory. Gilberto Shojgreen was very impressive posting his 1st college double-double with 18 points (majority dunks) and 11 rebounds. Julian Vasquez possibly played his best basketball in the second half with 25 points and 8 rebounds. Freshman Jalyn Turner supplied 16 points in the win as he has found more rhythm in the offense. Most importantly the TEAM had 22 assists to only 11 turnovers which is the best ration of the year.
COMING UP:
The Lumberjacks return to action tomorrow night as WE travel to Turtle Mountain CC. Tip-off is set for 8pm following the Ladyjacks game.
Thank you for the continued support!
Get Jacked UP,
Cory Fehringer
Sunday, November 24, 2013
"Mega-Bowl Champions" - Jacks Take Two at Cobbleston Classic
When working with student-athletes during a college basketball season it can be very easy to loose focus over a 5 month span of competing for wins, and losses. One thing we attempt to do at Dakota College is to keep a sense "child-like enthusiasm" for a game WE are fortunate to play. Over the past two weeks we have progressively earned a bid into a tournament known as the "Mega-Bowl" (yes, reference to Semi-Pro movie), and successfully won three games this week to become champions. There was a short celebration following Saturday's victory over Trinity Bible. WE are attempting to wire our TEAM to understand the necessity of playing each game as the most important game on the schedule. In order to be a great TEAM we must keep our horizons short while striving to reach our pinnacle at the right time, February and March.
This weekend Dakota College hosted the 1st annual Cobblestone Classic held at "The Woodshed".
GAME 1 vs Northland Technical and Community College: Final Score 92-52 (Win)
The first half seemed to be a defensive battle as the score was 36-23 after 20 minutes of action. Our TEAM did a tremendous job a playing suffocating defense while rotating out of natural, and designed traps. WE continued to play with great energy on the defensive end coming into the second half as the ball began to fall into the hoop a little more often for our TEAM. Eventually we would break away from the pack with consecutive stops and scores as pressure continued to cause problems. When it was all said and done four players found themselves in double figures led by back up point guard Xavier Cruz who scored 22 points. Freshman guard Jalyn Turner who came to the Lumberjacks from Chicago played aggressively and found himself with 16 points.
GAME 2 vs Trinity Bible: Final Score 101-81 (Win)
This contest was much closer than the score appears as Trinity Bible played us very well and exposed several weaknesses. At half-time the WE held a 7 point lead, but clearly was struggling to execute at a high level. Trinity handled the pressure well limiting turnovers and created confusion with some zone play against our offense. Once again the TEAM seemed to rally down the stretch as they played together on both ends of the floor. WE had 20 assists on 38 baskets (52%), held Trinity Bible to 33% from the field, and shot 40% from the arc (10/25) to separate the last 5 minutes of the game.
Julian Vasquez led the TEAM with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in 30 minutes of play. Cruz added 17 to the bunch while Freshman Travis Frye had a solid game scoring 13 points, and collecting 8 rebounds. Our interior play has not been special thus far, but Freshman Wesley Harrison played much more aggressive with 12 points along the way going 5-6 from the field.
COMING UP:
The Lumberjacks are back in action at "The Woodshed" on Tuesday evening against Turtle Mountain Community College. TMCC is located just 45 minutes away so WE expect the atmosphere to be great, along with the competitive nature of the game. Come check the TEAM out as tip-off is at 8pm following the Ladyjacks at 6pm.
Get JACKED UP,
Cory Fehringer
This weekend Dakota College hosted the 1st annual Cobblestone Classic held at "The Woodshed".
GAME 1 vs Northland Technical and Community College: Final Score 92-52 (Win)
The first half seemed to be a defensive battle as the score was 36-23 after 20 minutes of action. Our TEAM did a tremendous job a playing suffocating defense while rotating out of natural, and designed traps. WE continued to play with great energy on the defensive end coming into the second half as the ball began to fall into the hoop a little more often for our TEAM. Eventually we would break away from the pack with consecutive stops and scores as pressure continued to cause problems. When it was all said and done four players found themselves in double figures led by back up point guard Xavier Cruz who scored 22 points. Freshman guard Jalyn Turner who came to the Lumberjacks from Chicago played aggressively and found himself with 16 points.
GAME 2 vs Trinity Bible: Final Score 101-81 (Win)
This contest was much closer than the score appears as Trinity Bible played us very well and exposed several weaknesses. At half-time the WE held a 7 point lead, but clearly was struggling to execute at a high level. Trinity handled the pressure well limiting turnovers and created confusion with some zone play against our offense. Once again the TEAM seemed to rally down the stretch as they played together on both ends of the floor. WE had 20 assists on 38 baskets (52%), held Trinity Bible to 33% from the field, and shot 40% from the arc (10/25) to separate the last 5 minutes of the game.
Julian Vasquez led the TEAM with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in 30 minutes of play. Cruz added 17 to the bunch while Freshman Travis Frye had a solid game scoring 13 points, and collecting 8 rebounds. Our interior play has not been special thus far, but Freshman Wesley Harrison played much more aggressive with 12 points along the way going 5-6 from the field.
COMING UP:
The Lumberjacks are back in action at "The Woodshed" on Tuesday evening against Turtle Mountain Community College. TMCC is located just 45 minutes away so WE expect the atmosphere to be great, along with the competitive nature of the game. Come check the TEAM out as tip-off is at 8pm following the Ladyjacks at 6pm.
Get JACKED UP,
Cory Fehringer
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Jacks Improve to 7-1: Stay Undefeated at Home
The Lumberjack Basketball TEAM improved to 7-1 on the year, as well as defending home court by moving to 4-0 at "The Woodshed". Yesterday evening WE competed against Concordia Moorhead JV squad with the final score being 95-62. Offensively the TEAM came out clicking in the first half shooting 67% from the field and 55% from the arc (6/11) tallying up 56 points. Ultimately WE played an aggressive first half on both ends of the floor allowing us to separate early and never looking back.
Although the TEAM was able to put up 95 points, the most impressive statistic would be the fact WE had 24 assists on 34 made baskets. Anytime a group can assist on over 70% of field goals made a coach begins to believe the TEAM "Trusts the Pass", and puts the "TEAM before self". It was a balanced scoring attack from the Lumberjacks as Travis Frye (Myrtle Beach, SC) set the pace with 17 points (4/5 3FG) to go along with 4 assists. Joining Frye in double digits was Julian Vasquez who tallied 15 points/7 rebounds, Wesley Harrison 11 points/5 rebounds, and Patrick Robinson with 10 points in 13 minutes. Our bench has been extremely productive early in the season and once again came through totaling 52 of the 95 points scored.
Up next for the TEAM is the Cobblestone Classic played at "The Woodshed" this Friday and Saturday (November 22nd and 23rd). Turtle Mountain will be the secondary host team as WE compete against Trinity Bible and Northland Community Technical College. Games will begin Friday at 2pm with Turtle Mountain taking on Trinity Bible. WE will be competing against NCTC at 8pm with the Ladyjacks starting at 6p. On Saturday games will tipoff at noon when Turtle Mountain plays NCTC followed by Ladyjacks and Lumberjacks going against Trinity Bible. OUR TEAM's will begin at 4p with the Men's game at 6p.
Competition begins to tighten up as the first semester is coming to a close. WE look forward to becoming battle tested, but this group is playing several stretches of 3 games in 4 days. Our mission is to maintain focus on becoming a better TEAM, sacrificing for the TEAM, and committing to TEAM concepts and strategies regardless of the opponent as we prepare for conference play.
MON-DAK PLAYER OF THE WEEK: XAVIER CRUZ
Cruz has been a tremendous addition the Lumberjack TEAM and we congratulate him for this accomplishment.
Get JACKED UP (and come support your HOME TEAM!),
Cory Fehringer
Although the TEAM was able to put up 95 points, the most impressive statistic would be the fact WE had 24 assists on 34 made baskets. Anytime a group can assist on over 70% of field goals made a coach begins to believe the TEAM "Trusts the Pass", and puts the "TEAM before self". It was a balanced scoring attack from the Lumberjacks as Travis Frye (Myrtle Beach, SC) set the pace with 17 points (4/5 3FG) to go along with 4 assists. Joining Frye in double digits was Julian Vasquez who tallied 15 points/7 rebounds, Wesley Harrison 11 points/5 rebounds, and Patrick Robinson with 10 points in 13 minutes. Our bench has been extremely productive early in the season and once again came through totaling 52 of the 95 points scored.
Up next for the TEAM is the Cobblestone Classic played at "The Woodshed" this Friday and Saturday (November 22nd and 23rd). Turtle Mountain will be the secondary host team as WE compete against Trinity Bible and Northland Community Technical College. Games will begin Friday at 2pm with Turtle Mountain taking on Trinity Bible. WE will be competing against NCTC at 8pm with the Ladyjacks starting at 6p. On Saturday games will tipoff at noon when Turtle Mountain plays NCTC followed by Ladyjacks and Lumberjacks going against Trinity Bible. OUR TEAM's will begin at 4p with the Men's game at 6p.
Competition begins to tighten up as the first semester is coming to a close. WE look forward to becoming battle tested, but this group is playing several stretches of 3 games in 4 days. Our mission is to maintain focus on becoming a better TEAM, sacrificing for the TEAM, and committing to TEAM concepts and strategies regardless of the opponent as we prepare for conference play.
MON-DAK PLAYER OF THE WEEK: XAVIER CRUZ
During three wins last week he scored 49 points shooting
53% from the field, had 13 rebounds, 8 assists and 11 steals. Xavier is from Miami, Florida and he played
his high school basketball at Coral Gables High School.
Cruz has been a tremendous addition the Lumberjack TEAM and we congratulate him for this accomplishment.
Get JACKED UP (and come support your HOME TEAM!),
Cory Fehringer
Monday, November 18, 2013
Jacks Move to 6-1: 3-0 on the Week
This past week the Lumberjack Basketball TEAM began what some like to call a "winning streak". From what I'm told it happens when a TEAM wins consecutive games without losing one in between. Our program has won the past three games by defeating Dawson CC (NJCAA D1), Presentation JV, and Hibbing CC (NJCAA D3). The TEAM is now 6-1 as WE prepare to play 3 more games this week.
GAME 1 vs Presentation JV
The final score was 91-60 with our TEAM shooting 60% from the field, winning the rebound battle 48-27, and creating 11 steals through pressure defense. During the first half the guys did a great job of causing havoc with defensive traps and hard rotations, but we definitely had moments where TEAM focus was not present. WE expect our players to play the possession instead of the score, and with having many young players this TEAM has a tendency to take plays off. The Presentation team did a great job of playing the second half at a higher level and causing problems. 7 of our players reached double digit scoring, but was lead by Xavier Cruz with 14 and Wesley Harrison who dropped in 12.
GAME 2 vs Hibbing CC
I'm not sure if an "Over-time Thriller" would be the best description of this contest, but our TEAM was lucky enough to skate away with a win 81-72 in OT. This game was self-destruction on both sides as we turned the ball over 20 times, but was fortunate Hibbing CC had 30 turnovers. It was a positive win for the program because we were forced into a corner, and pulled together at the right time to hold onto a win. OUR defense held Hibbing CC to less than 40% from the field, we won the rebound battle 48-44, had 9 steals, and 10 less turnovers.
I am confident in our player's ability to score the ball, but interestingly enough we shot only 17% from the arc (4-23) and 55% from the FT Line (17-31). Once again if there was a silver lining from an OT victory outside of the win column, it's fairly easy to win games when the ball goes in the basket but how does your TEAM respond when shots are not falling? WE answered that question through defense and rebounding. A great TEAM has the guts to defend and the guts to rebound every game.
Top performer once again was Freshman Xavier Cruz who filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals, and 2 assists. Cruz had a tremendous week for our TEAM, and continues to give us great balance behind Engel. Sophomore Julian Vasquez had a solid outing with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Vasquez would be the first to admit his play has not been extraordinaire of late, but he continues to rebound and make our TEAM better.
Action picks up tomorrow evening at "The Woodshed" as the Lumberjacks take on Concordia-Moorhead JV team. It should be an interesting event as the Concordia team will bring a style we have yet to see.
Thank you for following and see you at The Woodshed!
Get JACKED UP,
Cory Fehringer
GAME 1 vs Presentation JV
The final score was 91-60 with our TEAM shooting 60% from the field, winning the rebound battle 48-27, and creating 11 steals through pressure defense. During the first half the guys did a great job of causing havoc with defensive traps and hard rotations, but we definitely had moments where TEAM focus was not present. WE expect our players to play the possession instead of the score, and with having many young players this TEAM has a tendency to take plays off. The Presentation team did a great job of playing the second half at a higher level and causing problems. 7 of our players reached double digit scoring, but was lead by Xavier Cruz with 14 and Wesley Harrison who dropped in 12.
GAME 2 vs Hibbing CC
I'm not sure if an "Over-time Thriller" would be the best description of this contest, but our TEAM was lucky enough to skate away with a win 81-72 in OT. This game was self-destruction on both sides as we turned the ball over 20 times, but was fortunate Hibbing CC had 30 turnovers. It was a positive win for the program because we were forced into a corner, and pulled together at the right time to hold onto a win. OUR defense held Hibbing CC to less than 40% from the field, we won the rebound battle 48-44, had 9 steals, and 10 less turnovers.
I am confident in our player's ability to score the ball, but interestingly enough we shot only 17% from the arc (4-23) and 55% from the FT Line (17-31). Once again if there was a silver lining from an OT victory outside of the win column, it's fairly easy to win games when the ball goes in the basket but how does your TEAM respond when shots are not falling? WE answered that question through defense and rebounding. A great TEAM has the guts to defend and the guts to rebound every game.
Top performer once again was Freshman Xavier Cruz who filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals, and 2 assists. Cruz had a tremendous week for our TEAM, and continues to give us great balance behind Engel. Sophomore Julian Vasquez had a solid outing with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Vasquez would be the first to admit his play has not been extraordinaire of late, but he continues to rebound and make our TEAM better.
Action picks up tomorrow evening at "The Woodshed" as the Lumberjacks take on Concordia-Moorhead JV team. It should be an interesting event as the Concordia team will bring a style we have yet to see.
Thank you for following and see you at The Woodshed!
Get JACKED UP,
Cory Fehringer
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Jacks Split at LRSC: Give #8 Iowa Western a Run for the Money
Over the weekend our TEAM traveled to Lake Region State College to compete against Jamestown College JV, and Iowa Western. WE played well enough to come home with one win and one loss on our way to a 3-1 start to the 2013-2014 season. So far this TEAM has shown moments of outstanding offensive fluidity to go along with tremendous stretches of TEAM defense to create fast paced scoring. Although coaches and players are saying it's early in the season WE have too many glimpses of poor execution, miscommunication, and lack of physical rebounding.
The final score against Jamestown JV was 74-52. WE had a 20 point lead at halftime while shooting 80% from the field, and forcing 18 turnovers in the first twenty minutes of play. During the second half we did not sustain are defensive prowess, began taking contested shots, and proved we have much work to do regarding our consistency of TEAM philosophy. I'm sure several spectators would assume WE are being too critical as our guys did play hard, but it is HARD WORK to become a great TEAM.
Going into our second game with Iowa Western I believed we clearly needed a reality check, because our guys started to have a false confidence toward our individual and collective ability to play basketball with a couple of wins under our belt. Iowa Western is currently ranked #8 in the nation at the NJCAA DI level. The final score was 99-88 as we came up short. At halftime the score was 43-39 in favor of Iowa Western, and with 10 minutes to play it was a two point game. Free throws (or lack there of), rebounding effort, and poor passing down the stretch was the difference. Most importantly our TEAM was disappointed in the outcome because WE did not give Iowa Western our best shot. It was a learning lesson versus a strong opponent as well as an eye opener demonstrating the "potential" this TEAM may have if we begin taking ownership over our preparation, execution, and readiness to play BEFORE the ball goes in the air.
Julian Vasquez played extremely well delivering 30 points and 5 assists in only 26 minutes due to foul trouble. Vasquez has struggled to find a balance between aggressive offense and distributing the basketball to teammates early in the season. Freshman PG Xavier Cruz was also instrumental in keeping us competitive coming home with 17 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. He has been very effective coming off the bench for Billy Engel, and continues to change the game immediately upon checking in.
Our next game is tomorrow, November 11th against Dawson Community College with tip-off at 8p. WE will attempt to get back on track. Get to "The Woodshed" and support your Ladyjacks at 6p followed by or Men's TEAM at 8p.
Get Jacked UP,
Cory Fehringer
The final score against Jamestown JV was 74-52. WE had a 20 point lead at halftime while shooting 80% from the field, and forcing 18 turnovers in the first twenty minutes of play. During the second half we did not sustain are defensive prowess, began taking contested shots, and proved we have much work to do regarding our consistency of TEAM philosophy. I'm sure several spectators would assume WE are being too critical as our guys did play hard, but it is HARD WORK to become a great TEAM.
Going into our second game with Iowa Western I believed we clearly needed a reality check, because our guys started to have a false confidence toward our individual and collective ability to play basketball with a couple of wins under our belt. Iowa Western is currently ranked #8 in the nation at the NJCAA DI level. The final score was 99-88 as we came up short. At halftime the score was 43-39 in favor of Iowa Western, and with 10 minutes to play it was a two point game. Free throws (or lack there of), rebounding effort, and poor passing down the stretch was the difference. Most importantly our TEAM was disappointed in the outcome because WE did not give Iowa Western our best shot. It was a learning lesson versus a strong opponent as well as an eye opener demonstrating the "potential" this TEAM may have if we begin taking ownership over our preparation, execution, and readiness to play BEFORE the ball goes in the air.
Julian Vasquez played extremely well delivering 30 points and 5 assists in only 26 minutes due to foul trouble. Vasquez has struggled to find a balance between aggressive offense and distributing the basketball to teammates early in the season. Freshman PG Xavier Cruz was also instrumental in keeping us competitive coming home with 17 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. He has been very effective coming off the bench for Billy Engel, and continues to change the game immediately upon checking in.
Our next game is tomorrow, November 11th against Dawson Community College with tip-off at 8p. WE will attempt to get back on track. Get to "The Woodshed" and support your Ladyjacks at 6p followed by or Men's TEAM at 8p.
Get Jacked UP,
Cory Fehringer
Monday, November 4, 2013
Lumberjacks Score 239 points in Two Games at Thom Classic
It was an exciting weekend at "The Woodshed" for the Lumberjacks fans. Our TEAM scored a combined 239 points in two games against Canadian Mennonite University and University of Winnipeg. The Lumberjack players were able to trust the pass, stay aggressive in transition, and force easy baskets off of turnovers. Going into the weekend WE wanted to create an intense environment through our defensive pressure in order to create scoring opportunities for our offense. Our ability to play a deep bench allowed us to continue pressuring the opponents offense without showing fatigue.
The first game was played against CMU with the final score tallying 122-72. Freshman Travis Frye of Myrtle Beach, SC was nearly perfect from the arc going 7-8 from deep finishing with 28 points to go along with 9 boards and 5 assists. Backup PG Xavier Cruz from Miami, FL also a freshman came through with 20 points, 6 boards and 4 assists. Justin Musgrave (FR) had 16, and Julian Vasquez (SO) scored 15 to finish out the double digit scorers. Every player who suited up scored at least one basket. Scoring is typically considered the excitement of the game but more importantly our TEAM won the battle of the boards by 25 total rebounds (58-33). This statistic will forever be our source of success and failure.
Game 2 versus Winnipeg brought about much of the same scoring pace as the TEAM did a great job of distributing the basketball to the open man. The final score was 117-87, but the guys emphasized our ability to attack the rim rather than settle for open 3's. Six players reached double figures lead by Julian Vasquez with 15, Kobli Selby (SO) out of Faith, SD went 4-5 from the arc to score 14, point guard Billy Engel (SO) was 9-10 from the FT to help get to 13, Gilberto Shojgreen (FR) caught a few alley-oops and reached 13 points while Jalyn Turner (FR) finished with 11 points. Once again the rebounding battle went to our TEAM 44-30. We were not as consistent on the defensive end or on the defensive boards, but the ball pressure provided several opportunities to capitalize on transition baskets.
Probably our greatest highlight of the weekend is the fact all players were able to score in each game. We are a balanced group who enjoys celebrating our teammates accomplishments. As a coaching staff and a TEAM we were pleased with the results, but far from satisfied. Several areas of concern will need to be addressed moving into next weekend.
Our next game will be played at the Lake Region Classic against Jamestown College JV with a 6:30p start on Friday, November 8th. Saturday will be the toughest test early in the year as WE square off with Iowa Western (#5 NJCAA D1) at 2p.
Thank you to all who were in attendance over the weekend. It was a great environment.
Get Jacked UP,
Cory Fehringer
The first game was played against CMU with the final score tallying 122-72. Freshman Travis Frye of Myrtle Beach, SC was nearly perfect from the arc going 7-8 from deep finishing with 28 points to go along with 9 boards and 5 assists. Backup PG Xavier Cruz from Miami, FL also a freshman came through with 20 points, 6 boards and 4 assists. Justin Musgrave (FR) had 16, and Julian Vasquez (SO) scored 15 to finish out the double digit scorers. Every player who suited up scored at least one basket. Scoring is typically considered the excitement of the game but more importantly our TEAM won the battle of the boards by 25 total rebounds (58-33). This statistic will forever be our source of success and failure.
Game 2 versus Winnipeg brought about much of the same scoring pace as the TEAM did a great job of distributing the basketball to the open man. The final score was 117-87, but the guys emphasized our ability to attack the rim rather than settle for open 3's. Six players reached double figures lead by Julian Vasquez with 15, Kobli Selby (SO) out of Faith, SD went 4-5 from the arc to score 14, point guard Billy Engel (SO) was 9-10 from the FT to help get to 13, Gilberto Shojgreen (FR) caught a few alley-oops and reached 13 points while Jalyn Turner (FR) finished with 11 points. Once again the rebounding battle went to our TEAM 44-30. We were not as consistent on the defensive end or on the defensive boards, but the ball pressure provided several opportunities to capitalize on transition baskets.
Probably our greatest highlight of the weekend is the fact all players were able to score in each game. We are a balanced group who enjoys celebrating our teammates accomplishments. As a coaching staff and a TEAM we were pleased with the results, but far from satisfied. Several areas of concern will need to be addressed moving into next weekend.
Our next game will be played at the Lake Region Classic against Jamestown College JV with a 6:30p start on Friday, November 8th. Saturday will be the toughest test early in the year as WE square off with Iowa Western (#5 NJCAA D1) at 2p.
Thank you to all who were in attendance over the weekend. It was a great environment.
Get Jacked UP,
Cory Fehringer
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Lumberjacks Ready for Opening Night
This year our TEAM believed in competing against higher level opponents during preseason play. WE had exhibition or scrimmage contests versus NCAA DII (Minot State University), NAIA (Dickinson State University), NJCAA DI (BSC and Dawson CC), and a 5-year Canadian institution(Brandon University). The goal was to learn more about our TEAM as far as weaknesses and strengths are concerned prior to beginning the regular season. All in all it seemed to be a fairly successful start as the Lumberjacks played well together at times, but also were given an opportunity to learn from mistakes. WE have only one returning player from last season which means 14 new faces will be asked to execute new roles within a new program.
The regular season kicks off this Friday, November 1st at "The Woodshed" against Canadian Mennonite University with tip set for 8pm. Even though it is the first game our TEAM has begun to build an identity based on playing extremely intense on both ends, sharing the basketball through trust, attempting to play fast at any given opportunity, and the TEAM seems to having fun during the process. Last year the coaching staff was limited in resources due to the bench not having much depth. This coming season we anticipate playing a variety of different lineups to maximize players strength, or opponent weaknesses. One key element is the fact our strongest players do not have to deliver extraordinary performances night in and night out to be successful, because several new additions have the ability to help win games when specific players seem to be struggling.
Transition Offense/Defense, Rebounding, and Assist-Turnover ratio are three primary basketball related statistics of concern for our TEAM this season. The game will be played up-tempo meaning WE need to get easy baskets offensively while forcing the opponent to play a half-court style in simple terms. All coaches emphasize rebounding but as a smaller TEAM every player must take responsibility over the battle on the boards if WE want to stand a chance against stronger teams. Finally this group must trust the pass as WE strive to make the right play (singles) vs. the hard play (home runs). Much of our emphasis is to play more like Peyton Manning and less like Brett Favre.
Communication, Uncommon Work Ethic, and Child-Like Enthusiasm to get better each day over a long year will be three areas associated with our attitude, and preparation which can not be charted through statistical analysis. Our guys enjoy the game of basketball and we should be so thankful to be allowed to play at the college level. This season will go by extremely fast and we only have so much time together as a group before sophomore's move on, new freshman are on campus, and we begin the process all over.
Let's all embrace the 2013-2014 basketball season!
Embrace the Success
Embrace the Adversity
Embrace the Experience
See everybody Friday night at 8pm.
Get Jacked UP,
Cory Fehringer
The regular season kicks off this Friday, November 1st at "The Woodshed" against Canadian Mennonite University with tip set for 8pm. Even though it is the first game our TEAM has begun to build an identity based on playing extremely intense on both ends, sharing the basketball through trust, attempting to play fast at any given opportunity, and the TEAM seems to having fun during the process. Last year the coaching staff was limited in resources due to the bench not having much depth. This coming season we anticipate playing a variety of different lineups to maximize players strength, or opponent weaknesses. One key element is the fact our strongest players do not have to deliver extraordinary performances night in and night out to be successful, because several new additions have the ability to help win games when specific players seem to be struggling.
Transition Offense/Defense, Rebounding, and Assist-Turnover ratio are three primary basketball related statistics of concern for our TEAM this season. The game will be played up-tempo meaning WE need to get easy baskets offensively while forcing the opponent to play a half-court style in simple terms. All coaches emphasize rebounding but as a smaller TEAM every player must take responsibility over the battle on the boards if WE want to stand a chance against stronger teams. Finally this group must trust the pass as WE strive to make the right play (singles) vs. the hard play (home runs). Much of our emphasis is to play more like Peyton Manning and less like Brett Favre.
Communication, Uncommon Work Ethic, and Child-Like Enthusiasm to get better each day over a long year will be three areas associated with our attitude, and preparation which can not be charted through statistical analysis. Our guys enjoy the game of basketball and we should be so thankful to be allowed to play at the college level. This season will go by extremely fast and we only have so much time together as a group before sophomore's move on, new freshman are on campus, and we begin the process all over.
Let's all embrace the 2013-2014 basketball season!
Embrace the Success
Embrace the Adversity
Embrace the Experience
See everybody Friday night at 8pm.
Get Jacked UP,
Cory Fehringer
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Dickinson State Jamboree Considered Successful: Next Up, Brandon University
The Lumberjack basketball TEAM began the preseason competing at Dickinson State in a Jamboree. We played 3 games in 5 hours on our way to a 2-1 finish. It was nice to see the freshman in action and the sophomores embracing leadership roles. Overall we finished the Jamboree with wins against Dawson CC and Dickinson State before falling to Bismarck State in our final game. It would be easy to pass judgment after a few competitions, but the finish line is too far away for any true evaluation. At the end of the day I can say we had moments of tremendous teamwork, intensity, and execution but several concerns were validated along the way.
At this point in the preseason we expect our sophomores to carry the load of preparation and breeding confidence to the TEAM. Julian Vasquez was fairly solid on the offensive end with a good mixture of scoring and passing. Our organization and tempo was controlled by Billy Engel throughout the 1st two contests. Transfers Jake Arck and Kolbi Selby stepped in and looked comfortable in new uniforms as they executed TEAM strategies at an above average level. These four players will be asked to fast forward the learning curve through a better understanding of competition at the college level.
Coaches understand one of the primary keys to consistently winning is the wisdom of veteran leadership. Many coaches also understand in junior college this is not a luxury to be counted on, and young players must step in immediately to impact games. Several incoming freshman performed exceptionally in their first form of college competition. Xavier Cruz (PG), Jalyn Turner (G), Giberto Shojgreen (F), Same Robinson (F) and Travis Frye (G) had several moments where the coaching staff believes these players can be counted on as we move forward. We do have two key players who are continuing to rehab nagging injury. Julian Short (F) and Wesley Harrison (F) were both unavailable to play due to minor physical pain.
DSU's Jamboree provided great insight on the type of TEAM we can be, and the type of TEAM we can not be. Shot selection (our shot vs your shot) became an issue at times which is always a concern for young teams, of course rebounding without two of your interior players was difficult, and playing at a consistently fast tempo will be areas of improvement for our guys. The best part of the Jamboree is all negative comments to be made are problems with an obvious solution. It is up our to our coaching staff and the commitment of our players to be honest with each other as we strive to become better on a daily basis.
WE are in action again over the weekend with two exhibition games against Brandon University. Friday, October 18th we will tip off in Brandon at 8pm followed by a 6pm tip off on Saturday the 19th. This is another strong contest against an older opponent (5 year institution) who is good enough to expose our weaknesses during mistakes. Stay tuned for an update on Sunday to catch up on the news and details.
Take Care Lumberjack Supporters!
Get Jacked UP,
Cory Fehringer
At this point in the preseason we expect our sophomores to carry the load of preparation and breeding confidence to the TEAM. Julian Vasquez was fairly solid on the offensive end with a good mixture of scoring and passing. Our organization and tempo was controlled by Billy Engel throughout the 1st two contests. Transfers Jake Arck and Kolbi Selby stepped in and looked comfortable in new uniforms as they executed TEAM strategies at an above average level. These four players will be asked to fast forward the learning curve through a better understanding of competition at the college level.
Coaches understand one of the primary keys to consistently winning is the wisdom of veteran leadership. Many coaches also understand in junior college this is not a luxury to be counted on, and young players must step in immediately to impact games. Several incoming freshman performed exceptionally in their first form of college competition. Xavier Cruz (PG), Jalyn Turner (G), Giberto Shojgreen (F), Same Robinson (F) and Travis Frye (G) had several moments where the coaching staff believes these players can be counted on as we move forward. We do have two key players who are continuing to rehab nagging injury. Julian Short (F) and Wesley Harrison (F) were both unavailable to play due to minor physical pain.
DSU's Jamboree provided great insight on the type of TEAM we can be, and the type of TEAM we can not be. Shot selection (our shot vs your shot) became an issue at times which is always a concern for young teams, of course rebounding without two of your interior players was difficult, and playing at a consistently fast tempo will be areas of improvement for our guys. The best part of the Jamboree is all negative comments to be made are problems with an obvious solution. It is up our to our coaching staff and the commitment of our players to be honest with each other as we strive to become better on a daily basis.
WE are in action again over the weekend with two exhibition games against Brandon University. Friday, October 18th we will tip off in Brandon at 8pm followed by a 6pm tip off on Saturday the 19th. This is another strong contest against an older opponent (5 year institution) who is good enough to expose our weaknesses during mistakes. Stay tuned for an update on Sunday to catch up on the news and details.
Take Care Lumberjack Supporters!
Get Jacked UP,
Cory Fehringer
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
2013-2014 Season is Underway
On October 1st, 2013 the Lumberjack Basketball TEAM officially began the season with practice. Although this date is considered to be the 1st day a TEAM is legally able to improve as a unit, our TEAM began the process much earlier. The only difference was our TEAM began building the foundation without a basketball or a court. Our preseason was filled with new experiences for individuals who have for the better part traveled a long ways from home in order to compete for Dakota College. Of course there was some strength/conditioning and individual workouts, but the majority of our "work" consisted of developing a positive outlook toward accepting new roles with the emphasis being to create an environment based upon servant leadership.
TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES:
-Stain a deck on Lake Metigoshe
-Cut down 25 trees and split into firewood for Shepherd's Hill (Christian Youth Camp)
-Move pianos, washers, dryers, fire place for individuals in the community
-Host a Car Wash and Bake Sale
-Assist local Salon in transitioning store to new location
With that begin said, the coaching staff is extremely excited for the competitive season to kick-off. The 1st scrimmage will be held this Sunday, October 13th at Dickinson State University as we play 3 games (Dickinson State University, Bismarck State, and Dawson CC). This years group of student-athletes will be much more dynamic on both ends of the floor as the recruiting class is considered to be much more talented. Our size and speed have been improved along with the amount of offensive/defensive threats to be utilized in different schemes.
PLAYER OUTLOOK:
Billy Engel - Only returning player from last year's team. He is a gym rat who is always prepared and understands what steps must be taken to be successful. Engel's role will change in some ways as he is expected to be an extension of myself on the floor in practice, and games.
Julian Vasquez - Redshirted the previous year and is receiving attention from several NCAA D2 schools. Very talented offensive player with a knack for getting the TEAM involved. As competitive of player as I have coached, or played with in college.
Jake Arck - Transfer from Cyprus College (CA). Arck is a diligent worker, gym rat, and extremely athletic. Difficult to guard in transition and an exceptional rebounder on both ends.
Kolbi Selby - Transfer from Gillette CC (SD). Quick trigger from long-distance and an understanding of what it takes to be successful at the college level. Has proven to be the most consistent shooter up to this point.
Gilberto Shojgreen - Freshman from Miami, FL. Naturally talented at 6'7 with a 7' wing span. Will only get better with time in the gym as he polishes his game, and becomes more than just a guy who can dunk.
Sam Robinson - Freshman from Chicago, IL. TOUGH! Robinson will be asked to typically guard the other teams best offensive player. We believe Robinson's attitude is contagious and he is willing to accept any role for the betterment of the TEAM.
Xavier Cruz, Jalyn Turner, Patrick Robinson and Travis Frye are all freshman guards who will be expected to contribute. Each player has a unique skill set to be of value to the TEAM. They are working together daily to improve and understand our TEAM philosophy.
Julian Short, Wesley Harrison and Justin Musgrave will work together to improve our protection of the paint, defending bigger players and working to win the rebounding battle. Once again each player brings a different strength to the table and will be asked to impact games in different ways.
WE look forward to competing with your support. Stay tuned for more updates following the scrimmage at Dickinson State University. Let's have a great 2013-2014 basketball season.
Get JACKED UP,
Cory Fehringer
Head Coach
Lumberjack Hoops
TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES:
-Stain a deck on Lake Metigoshe
-Cut down 25 trees and split into firewood for Shepherd's Hill (Christian Youth Camp)
-Move pianos, washers, dryers, fire place for individuals in the community
-Host a Car Wash and Bake Sale
-Assist local Salon in transitioning store to new location
With that begin said, the coaching staff is extremely excited for the competitive season to kick-off. The 1st scrimmage will be held this Sunday, October 13th at Dickinson State University as we play 3 games (Dickinson State University, Bismarck State, and Dawson CC). This years group of student-athletes will be much more dynamic on both ends of the floor as the recruiting class is considered to be much more talented. Our size and speed have been improved along with the amount of offensive/defensive threats to be utilized in different schemes.
PLAYER OUTLOOK:
Billy Engel - Only returning player from last year's team. He is a gym rat who is always prepared and understands what steps must be taken to be successful. Engel's role will change in some ways as he is expected to be an extension of myself on the floor in practice, and games.
Julian Vasquez - Redshirted the previous year and is receiving attention from several NCAA D2 schools. Very talented offensive player with a knack for getting the TEAM involved. As competitive of player as I have coached, or played with in college.
Jake Arck - Transfer from Cyprus College (CA). Arck is a diligent worker, gym rat, and extremely athletic. Difficult to guard in transition and an exceptional rebounder on both ends.
Kolbi Selby - Transfer from Gillette CC (SD). Quick trigger from long-distance and an understanding of what it takes to be successful at the college level. Has proven to be the most consistent shooter up to this point.
Gilberto Shojgreen - Freshman from Miami, FL. Naturally talented at 6'7 with a 7' wing span. Will only get better with time in the gym as he polishes his game, and becomes more than just a guy who can dunk.
Sam Robinson - Freshman from Chicago, IL. TOUGH! Robinson will be asked to typically guard the other teams best offensive player. We believe Robinson's attitude is contagious and he is willing to accept any role for the betterment of the TEAM.
Xavier Cruz, Jalyn Turner, Patrick Robinson and Travis Frye are all freshman guards who will be expected to contribute. Each player has a unique skill set to be of value to the TEAM. They are working together daily to improve and understand our TEAM philosophy.
Julian Short, Wesley Harrison and Justin Musgrave will work together to improve our protection of the paint, defending bigger players and working to win the rebounding battle. Once again each player brings a different strength to the table and will be asked to impact games in different ways.
WE look forward to competing with your support. Stay tuned for more updates following the scrimmage at Dickinson State University. Let's have a great 2013-2014 basketball season.
Get JACKED UP,
Cory Fehringer
Head Coach
Lumberjack Hoops
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
1st Round of Region Tournament
Lumberjack supporters. I apologize for taking time to catch up on our blog. WE have been extremely busy with recruiting, scouting/preparing for upcoming games, as well as handling a difficult situation with an injured player who is a long ways away from home.
All year long as a TEAM each game was valued as the most important game of the year. WE understood the only game we had control over was the one in front of us. It is time to throw all cliche's out the window because the most exciting time of the year in college basketball is upon us.
WIN or GO HOME.
Tonight we will tip-off against UTTC for the third time this season. The game will be play at UTTC in Bismarck beginning at 7pm.
For those supporters who follow our program closely, we are on a 3-game skid with losses to UTTC, Lake Region State College, and finished the year against Williston State College. Obviously this is not the type of run any team would like to have, but I am confident our TEAM will continue to compete as it has all year long. As many sports fanatics know anything can happen when it becomes a one game season.
There is no doubt a team must have talent, chemistry, and a desire to win in order to be successful in a tournament setting. With that being said, probably the most underrated aspect of post-season play is a teams overall health. At this point the Lumberjacks are struggling in this department as Jayden McMillin continues to battle back and the latest loss of Kristoff Walker.
Kristoff Walker suffered a severe leg fracture of his tibia and fibula. He is recovering in Grand Forks at this moment but will be returning home to New Orleans in the near future. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. In moments like this WE begin to learn how precious our time can be, and what is truly important. Being great teammates, valuing the opportunity to play, and embracing the moment for good and bad are all aspects of college athletics which have gained a new perspective for our young men.
This TEAM has stuck together through ups and downs throughout the year. I have no doubt in my mind we will play as hard as we have ever played tonight. Regardless of the outcome I believe our student-athletes strive to be the best basketball players they can be, as well as the best teammates a coach could ask for.
Embrace the Moment.
Let's Get JACKED UP.
Coach Fehringer
All year long as a TEAM each game was valued as the most important game of the year. WE understood the only game we had control over was the one in front of us. It is time to throw all cliche's out the window because the most exciting time of the year in college basketball is upon us.
WIN or GO HOME.
Tonight we will tip-off against UTTC for the third time this season. The game will be play at UTTC in Bismarck beginning at 7pm.
For those supporters who follow our program closely, we are on a 3-game skid with losses to UTTC, Lake Region State College, and finished the year against Williston State College. Obviously this is not the type of run any team would like to have, but I am confident our TEAM will continue to compete as it has all year long. As many sports fanatics know anything can happen when it becomes a one game season.
There is no doubt a team must have talent, chemistry, and a desire to win in order to be successful in a tournament setting. With that being said, probably the most underrated aspect of post-season play is a teams overall health. At this point the Lumberjacks are struggling in this department as Jayden McMillin continues to battle back and the latest loss of Kristoff Walker.
Kristoff Walker suffered a severe leg fracture of his tibia and fibula. He is recovering in Grand Forks at this moment but will be returning home to New Orleans in the near future. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. In moments like this WE begin to learn how precious our time can be, and what is truly important. Being great teammates, valuing the opportunity to play, and embracing the moment for good and bad are all aspects of college athletics which have gained a new perspective for our young men.
This TEAM has stuck together through ups and downs throughout the year. I have no doubt in my mind we will play as hard as we have ever played tonight. Regardless of the outcome I believe our student-athletes strive to be the best basketball players they can be, as well as the best teammates a coach could ask for.
Embrace the Moment.
Let's Get JACKED UP.
Coach Fehringer
Sunday, February 17, 2013
TEAM Battles Back From 16 Down: Defeat Concordia
How Will We Finish?
This is a question without an answer at this point, but if today was any indication of how we will respond to adversity then I'd say WE REFUSE to give up. Coming out of half-time against Concordia JV, OUR TEAM surrendered a 10-0 run to put us 14 down. Eventually the lead would even slip to 16 points in the second half until WE finally stopped playing gimmicks and just said "full court man to man" with 10 minutes to go. WE rotated guards in to sustain pressure, as a TEAM we rebounded the ball aggressively, and guy after guy came up with big plays. When it was all said and done, OUR JACKS won the game with a final score of 85-81 against a very sound Concordia team.
Yesterday's loss was a tough pill to swallow because earlier in the year we had defeated Jamestown JV. Today did not look like the outcome was going to be positive midway through the second half, and to be honest I was not sure what our guys had left. Third game in four days with a conference game tomorrow as well. The mood was just right to roll over and allow Concordia JV to finish what they had started in the second half... Then it happened... Tyler Storseth began to knock down deep 3's giving our TEAM excitement, Marquis Thomas grabbed rebound put backs, Billy Engel nailed key jump shots, Kristoff Walker penetrated and distributed the ball to Roybell Baez, Ben Veith, and DaShamone McCarty.
With :50 seconds to play the defense came up with a big stop as the game was tied 81-81, from there WE would call timeout and decide what way to go with a crucial possession. The ball was given to Walker, Thomas set a great screen, and Walker delivered with a game winning lay-up as he was fouled along the way give US a 3-point lead. Although Walker sealed the deal this was a collaborative effort as once again all players clocked in 10 plus minutes, and nobody played 30 or more minutes. Credit goes out to our guys desire to not allow a bad situation to dictate their attitudes and efforts.
Statistical Highlights:
Kristoff Walker - 24 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, game-winning basket
"Did a good job of being aggressive on both ends, distributed the ball on key plays, and kept the pressure up on ball handlers".
Tyler Storseth - 17 points, 4/4 from 3FG
"Truly changed the game with clutch shooting. Whenever Tyler plays well we seem to play with more energy and enthusiasm".
Billy Engel - 11 points, 3 assists
"Has been faced with a tough stretch recently, but Billy is a competitor. He has played the most minutes this year and it was good to see Billy gain confidence again today".
Just as today was our biggest game of the year. Tomorrow is another big test because UTTC will be our 1st opponent to open up regional play. We tip at 8pm in Bismarck.
Let's Get Jacked UP,
Coach Fehringer
This is a question without an answer at this point, but if today was any indication of how we will respond to adversity then I'd say WE REFUSE to give up. Coming out of half-time against Concordia JV, OUR TEAM surrendered a 10-0 run to put us 14 down. Eventually the lead would even slip to 16 points in the second half until WE finally stopped playing gimmicks and just said "full court man to man" with 10 minutes to go. WE rotated guards in to sustain pressure, as a TEAM we rebounded the ball aggressively, and guy after guy came up with big plays. When it was all said and done, OUR JACKS won the game with a final score of 85-81 against a very sound Concordia team.
Yesterday's loss was a tough pill to swallow because earlier in the year we had defeated Jamestown JV. Today did not look like the outcome was going to be positive midway through the second half, and to be honest I was not sure what our guys had left. Third game in four days with a conference game tomorrow as well. The mood was just right to roll over and allow Concordia JV to finish what they had started in the second half... Then it happened... Tyler Storseth began to knock down deep 3's giving our TEAM excitement, Marquis Thomas grabbed rebound put backs, Billy Engel nailed key jump shots, Kristoff Walker penetrated and distributed the ball to Roybell Baez, Ben Veith, and DaShamone McCarty.
With :50 seconds to play the defense came up with a big stop as the game was tied 81-81, from there WE would call timeout and decide what way to go with a crucial possession. The ball was given to Walker, Thomas set a great screen, and Walker delivered with a game winning lay-up as he was fouled along the way give US a 3-point lead. Although Walker sealed the deal this was a collaborative effort as once again all players clocked in 10 plus minutes, and nobody played 30 or more minutes. Credit goes out to our guys desire to not allow a bad situation to dictate their attitudes and efforts.
Statistical Highlights:
Kristoff Walker - 24 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, game-winning basket
"Did a good job of being aggressive on both ends, distributed the ball on key plays, and kept the pressure up on ball handlers".
Tyler Storseth - 17 points, 4/4 from 3FG
"Truly changed the game with clutch shooting. Whenever Tyler plays well we seem to play with more energy and enthusiasm".
Billy Engel - 11 points, 3 assists
"Has been faced with a tough stretch recently, but Billy is a competitor. He has played the most minutes this year and it was good to see Billy gain confidence again today".
Just as today was our biggest game of the year. Tomorrow is another big test because UTTC will be our 1st opponent to open up regional play. We tip at 8pm in Bismarck.
Let's Get Jacked UP,
Coach Fehringer
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Final Stretch: How Will WE Respond?
When the month of February is upon a college basketball TEAM and the supporters who follow, it is difficult to recall what happened over the course of the year. Whether a TEAM has early success or struggled to run an offense. In college hoops it's what you do in February and March that ultimately determines the level of your success or failure. The NCAA tournament will have multiple 20+ win teams fall in the 1st/2nd round, and the common phrase will be "upset". Other teams may squeak their way into the NCAA tournament or NIT, and be declared "Cinderella" story's all because they finished the season with a couple of wins. How WE finish is much more important than where WE are at, or where WE have been.
Currently the Jacks TEAM is facing another tough stretch of games. 5 games in 7 days, with 3 of the 5 games coming against conference opponents. Thursday night OUR TEAM suffered a difficult loss to BSC by a score of 86-105. The score was not the frustrating part for me or the guys, but rather due to the fact WE did not make BSC earn the win. WE had a lack of discipline rebounding the basketball, lack of focus to identify personnel's strengths for BSC, and lack of competitive desire in front of a great crowd. Everyone knew it was a big game and WE must learn to be mentally/physically tougher when a great opportunity presents itself.
Today WE competed against a very scrappy and well-balanced Jamestown College JV team. WE lost 74-64 after having the lead at half. Just before the game began, WE received notice Jayden McMillin would not be available because of a possible concussion. This group has had to face tremendous opposition from injury issues, eligibility, and a seemingly NBA schedule at times. On a positive note WE did a much better job of defensively rebounding, oddly enough WE won every statistical category except Free Throw's, and had 38 points off the bench. With a difficult road ahead it was crucial we balance out our minutes on the floor. All 10 players accumulated more than 10 minutes of playing time, and nobody cracked over 30 minutes.
Tomorrow the road continues as we compete against another very good Concordia JV team. They have "upset" several Junior College teams already and WE will not take them lightly. OUR TEAM will continue to play balanced minutes as every player will have a chance to improve because this weekend is a non-conference match-up with the most important part of our season ahead of us.
HOW WILL WE FINISH? Several people may believe the writing is on the wall for this group, but I am crazy enough to think "Cinderella" teams don't just pop-up in the NCAA tournament.
Stay tuned for Lumberjack updates.
Get Jacked UP,
Coach Fehringer
Currently the Jacks TEAM is facing another tough stretch of games. 5 games in 7 days, with 3 of the 5 games coming against conference opponents. Thursday night OUR TEAM suffered a difficult loss to BSC by a score of 86-105. The score was not the frustrating part for me or the guys, but rather due to the fact WE did not make BSC earn the win. WE had a lack of discipline rebounding the basketball, lack of focus to identify personnel's strengths for BSC, and lack of competitive desire in front of a great crowd. Everyone knew it was a big game and WE must learn to be mentally/physically tougher when a great opportunity presents itself.
Today WE competed against a very scrappy and well-balanced Jamestown College JV team. WE lost 74-64 after having the lead at half. Just before the game began, WE received notice Jayden McMillin would not be available because of a possible concussion. This group has had to face tremendous opposition from injury issues, eligibility, and a seemingly NBA schedule at times. On a positive note WE did a much better job of defensively rebounding, oddly enough WE won every statistical category except Free Throw's, and had 38 points off the bench. With a difficult road ahead it was crucial we balance out our minutes on the floor. All 10 players accumulated more than 10 minutes of playing time, and nobody cracked over 30 minutes.
Tomorrow the road continues as we compete against another very good Concordia JV team. They have "upset" several Junior College teams already and WE will not take them lightly. OUR TEAM will continue to play balanced minutes as every player will have a chance to improve because this weekend is a non-conference match-up with the most important part of our season ahead of us.
HOW WILL WE FINISH? Several people may believe the writing is on the wall for this group, but I am crazy enough to think "Cinderella" teams don't just pop-up in the NCAA tournament.
Stay tuned for Lumberjack updates.
Get Jacked UP,
Coach Fehringer
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Jacks Lose by 12 at WSC
Once again our Lumberjacks hit the road to take on a very tough Williston State College (20-7). At the end of the first half the Tetons held a 7-point lead by hitting a buzzer beater. The second half would be much of the same as we were outscored by 5-points ultimately resulting in a 71-59 loss. Defensively our TEAM did a nice job of executing the game plan by slowing up the ball in transition, and limiting second possessions against a very skilled/athletic WSC team. When it was all said and done our TEAM simply did not finish opportunities around the rim, or knock down open shots when we had good looks from good shooters. Many would probably agree a 12-point loss at Williston would be classified as a "good try", but in my opinion the Tetons did not get our best punch.
If there is one thing to say about our guys, it is the fact we have been dealt with much adversity throughout the year due to a tough schedule and injuries. Our game against WSC was our 3rd game in four days, arguably against our most difficult opponent and once again our TEAM was one player short as Billy Engel sat out with a rib injury. WE competed at a high-level in many stretches, but our focus, confidence and energy was not consistent enough to take down a strong opponent in their gym. After the game WE discussed what "winning" on a nightly basis required.
Play Hard:
20-25 minutes = LOSS
25-30 minutes = Probable LOSS
30-35 minutes = Might WIN
35-40 minutes = Great Chance to WIN
Statistical Highlights:
Jayden McMillin - 18 points, 6 rebounds
"We needed to do a better job of delivering Jayden the ball in scoring position as he was extremely effective and efficient with his touches."
Kristoff Walker - 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Next week we have a huge opportunity to really push ourselves in the right direction leading into Regional Tournament play. Bismarck State visits "The Woodshed" on Thursday evening with tip-ff set for 8pm. WE will say a big "Thank You" to Terry Charnholm for everything he has done to help Dakota College. It will also be "Think Pink" night in support for Coaches vs Cancer.
Come support your Lumberjacks as we compete to take down the Mystics.
Let's Get Jacked UP,
Coach Fehringer
If there is one thing to say about our guys, it is the fact we have been dealt with much adversity throughout the year due to a tough schedule and injuries. Our game against WSC was our 3rd game in four days, arguably against our most difficult opponent and once again our TEAM was one player short as Billy Engel sat out with a rib injury. WE competed at a high-level in many stretches, but our focus, confidence and energy was not consistent enough to take down a strong opponent in their gym. After the game WE discussed what "winning" on a nightly basis required.
Play Hard:
20-25 minutes = LOSS
25-30 minutes = Probable LOSS
30-35 minutes = Might WIN
35-40 minutes = Great Chance to WIN
Statistical Highlights:
Jayden McMillin - 18 points, 6 rebounds
"We needed to do a better job of delivering Jayden the ball in scoring position as he was extremely effective and efficient with his touches."
Kristoff Walker - 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Next week we have a huge opportunity to really push ourselves in the right direction leading into Regional Tournament play. Bismarck State visits "The Woodshed" on Thursday evening with tip-ff set for 8pm. WE will say a big "Thank You" to Terry Charnholm for everything he has done to help Dakota College. It will also be "Think Pink" night in support for Coaches vs Cancer.
Come support your Lumberjacks as we compete to take down the Mystics.
Let's Get Jacked UP,
Coach Fehringer
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Back in the Win Column
Last night's game had some exciting moments from both teams as the Lumberjacks defended their home court by defeating Turtle Mountain CC 95-84. With the return of Jayden McMillan into the lineup it appeared WE might pull away from the Mikinocks with a 13-point lead at half. The largest lead would be 20-points on the night, but Turtle Mountain did a great job of hanging around and providing a good basketball game to be a spectator. It was good for our guys to get back in the W column after a tough stretch recently, but the relief will short lived as we travel to Williston State College who is 19-7 tonight.
Lately we have had trouble getting the ball in the basket and it hasn't always been because the defense is so great, but rather individual confidence isn't always as high as it should be. Last night it seemed we found some of that confidence by shooting 49% from the field, 46% from the arc, and 82% from the FT line. As mentioned before, basketball is a game of made and missed baskets, as long as you knock down open shot and make easy baskets majority of the time you will have a chance to win. Defensively we were more aggressive out of traps by creating 10 steals, and 18 turnovers but had to many lapses of "lazy" possessions due to the score. Against the top tier teams there is never a possession where OUR TEAM can do anything but give maximum effort.
Statistical Highlights:
Kristoff Walker - 34 points, 5 assists, 2 steals
"Over the course of the last two weeks Kristoff has played at an extremely high level. His ability to attack the rim, create his own shot, and distribute the basketball has been impressive as a coach. As coaches we can always be critical but he has done a superb job of improving down the stretch."
Jayden McMillan - 19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
"It was great to see #20 in the lineup again. Jayden appeared to bring another level of confidence to our guys as well, and I do believe those 19 points were the quietest of his career. Hopefully he had a chance to get his legs back underneath of him, and find a little rhythm."
Tyler Storseth - 17 points, 4/10 from 3FG
"Whenever Tyler knocks down perimeter shots, we seem to play inspired basketball. He allowed us to separate early and is always a threat to go on a run. Outside of hitting shots, Tyler does a good job of playing physical defense and rebounding."
WE had a great crowd last night, and WE appreciate the support. Next Thursday Bismarck State will be traveling to "The Woodshed". It will be Terry Charnholm's appreciation game as well as "Pink Night" so get to the game and BE LOUD!
Let's Get JACKED UP,
Coach Fehringer
Lately we have had trouble getting the ball in the basket and it hasn't always been because the defense is so great, but rather individual confidence isn't always as high as it should be. Last night it seemed we found some of that confidence by shooting 49% from the field, 46% from the arc, and 82% from the FT line. As mentioned before, basketball is a game of made and missed baskets, as long as you knock down open shot and make easy baskets majority of the time you will have a chance to win. Defensively we were more aggressive out of traps by creating 10 steals, and 18 turnovers but had to many lapses of "lazy" possessions due to the score. Against the top tier teams there is never a possession where OUR TEAM can do anything but give maximum effort.
Statistical Highlights:
Kristoff Walker - 34 points, 5 assists, 2 steals
"Over the course of the last two weeks Kristoff has played at an extremely high level. His ability to attack the rim, create his own shot, and distribute the basketball has been impressive as a coach. As coaches we can always be critical but he has done a superb job of improving down the stretch."
Jayden McMillan - 19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
"It was great to see #20 in the lineup again. Jayden appeared to bring another level of confidence to our guys as well, and I do believe those 19 points were the quietest of his career. Hopefully he had a chance to get his legs back underneath of him, and find a little rhythm."
Tyler Storseth - 17 points, 4/10 from 3FG
"Whenever Tyler knocks down perimeter shots, we seem to play inspired basketball. He allowed us to separate early and is always a threat to go on a run. Outside of hitting shots, Tyler does a good job of playing physical defense and rebounding."
WE had a great crowd last night, and WE appreciate the support. Next Thursday Bismarck State will be traveling to "The Woodshed". It will be Terry Charnholm's appreciation game as well as "Pink Night" so get to the game and BE LOUD!
Let's Get JACKED UP,
Coach Fehringer
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Jacks Fall One Stop Short at NDSCS
Sometimes in athletics a team runs out of time before having the ability to take a lead. On Monday night the Lumberjacks left too many seconds on the clock as NDSCS Wildcats (20-4) was able to force the game into OT. With :20 seconds to go in the second half our TEAM took a 69-68 lead off of a Walker assist to Thomas. As time winded down a tough foul call was made on a difficult shot attempt allowing a Wildcat player to make a free throw providing both teams with 5 more minutes of play. In the extra session our Jacks were unable to convert on the offensive end while the Wildcats went 6-9 from the field and pulled off a win 83-75.
Some might say we are "snake bitten" to an extent up to this point, but what is most important during a college basketball season is to keep PERSPECTIVE.
per-spec-tive : ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance
Reality is, this TEAM has gone through a tough stretch of games and to be honest, WE have not performed at an exceptional level as a whole. Jayden McMillan has been injured for majority of the spring semester. This TEAM has yet to play at full strength for more than 3 games this entire season. NDSCS is a very well coached team as the overall record would indicate, and winning any game on the road in college athletics is difficult. On Monday night our guys competed at an uncommon level, stuck together through moments of adversity, continued to play TEAM basketball, and improved our overall ability to stay disciplined for majority of possessions. With that being said, WE are still participants in the "marathon" of a college basketball season and it seems these Jacks appear ready to play solid basketball.
ULTIMATE GOAL - Play our best TEAM basketball in the month of February.
After one game in February there is no argument WE competed as a TEAM at our highest level up to this point in the season. Jayden McMillan is set to make his return tomorrow night against Turtle Mountain CC at "The Woodshed" with tip set for 8pm following the Ladyjacks game. I'm not sure how we will finish the season or what our record might be, but I will say this TEAM has continued to show resiliency throughout the season which is the mark of strong competitors.
Statistical Highlights:
Kristoff Walker - Hands down played his best college basketball season. Played at a different level than any other player in the gym. 29 points and 7 assists.
DaShamone McCarty - Chipped in with 12 points while playing hard nosed defense.
Marquis Thomas and Billy Engel added 10 points a piece.
Some might say we are "snake bitten" to an extent up to this point, but what is most important during a college basketball season is to keep PERSPECTIVE.
per-spec-tive : ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance
Reality is, this TEAM has gone through a tough stretch of games and to be honest, WE have not performed at an exceptional level as a whole. Jayden McMillan has been injured for majority of the spring semester. This TEAM has yet to play at full strength for more than 3 games this entire season. NDSCS is a very well coached team as the overall record would indicate, and winning any game on the road in college athletics is difficult. On Monday night our guys competed at an uncommon level, stuck together through moments of adversity, continued to play TEAM basketball, and improved our overall ability to stay disciplined for majority of possessions. With that being said, WE are still participants in the "marathon" of a college basketball season and it seems these Jacks appear ready to play solid basketball.
ULTIMATE GOAL - Play our best TEAM basketball in the month of February.
After one game in February there is no argument WE competed as a TEAM at our highest level up to this point in the season. Jayden McMillan is set to make his return tomorrow night against Turtle Mountain CC at "The Woodshed" with tip set for 8pm following the Ladyjacks game. I'm not sure how we will finish the season or what our record might be, but I will say this TEAM has continued to show resiliency throughout the season which is the mark of strong competitors.
Statistical Highlights:
Kristoff Walker - Hands down played his best college basketball season. Played at a different level than any other player in the gym. 29 points and 7 assists.
DaShamone McCarty - Chipped in with 12 points while playing hard nosed defense.
Marquis Thomas and Billy Engel added 10 points a piece.
Friday, February 1, 2013
No Excuses
"They are bigger than us"
"Jayden is hurt"
"9 games in 14 days"
After losing to Lake Region State College 92-73, these are thoughts that could very easily be running through our TEAM. The only problem is, not one of these issues should affect our ability to compete, play physical, or execute our strategies. Our guys did an excellent job of bouncing back from an early deficit 25-12 to make it a 4-point game going into halftime 47-43. WE played confident, WE played hard, WE played together. LRSC took control of the second half immediately and never budged as they created second opportunities through offensive rebounding and made us pay by taking advantage of turnovers for lay-ups. WE are a TEAM with a small margin of error when we play teams like LRSC, NDSCS, BSC or Williston State. Our discipline can not take a play off or it costs us 2 to 3 points almost every time.
It is easy to point out what was wrong but we also had several positives surface once again. Our scoring was more balanced than it has been up to this point meaning we are doing a better job of sharing the ball. WE were 43% from the field and 39% from the arc which is a major improvement from our previous game, and hopefully our confidence is starting to return. When we played hard/disciplined basketball WE created stops through playing physical and ran for easy baskets. Right now WE are struggling to play well in the second half for about 5-7 minutes. If we can begin to limit mental/physical mistakes during this dry stretch the game is going to change for us, and we will start giving ourselves a chance at the end of the game.
NO EXCUSES. We have a few days off now with an opportunity to prepare for NDSCS who is now 19-4. Of course it will be another difficult road game, but until we get fed up with finding the easy way out good teams will continue to get away from us. I can not accept these excuses nor can our TEAM as the primary objective must stay in tact. Get better everyday and play our best basketball come the end of February.
Statistics:
Kristoff Walker - 16 points, 4 assists
Roybell Baez - 15 points, 6 rebounds
Colby Boyes - 12 points, 3-4 from 3FG
Marquis Thomas - 11 points, 5 rebounds
We had a great crowd on Wednesday night and I hope we can continue to support our Jacks through this tough run of games. Our next home game will be Wednesday, Feb. 6th against Turtle Mountain.
Let's Get JACKED UP,
Coach Fehringer
"Jayden is hurt"
"9 games in 14 days"
After losing to Lake Region State College 92-73, these are thoughts that could very easily be running through our TEAM. The only problem is, not one of these issues should affect our ability to compete, play physical, or execute our strategies. Our guys did an excellent job of bouncing back from an early deficit 25-12 to make it a 4-point game going into halftime 47-43. WE played confident, WE played hard, WE played together. LRSC took control of the second half immediately and never budged as they created second opportunities through offensive rebounding and made us pay by taking advantage of turnovers for lay-ups. WE are a TEAM with a small margin of error when we play teams like LRSC, NDSCS, BSC or Williston State. Our discipline can not take a play off or it costs us 2 to 3 points almost every time.
It is easy to point out what was wrong but we also had several positives surface once again. Our scoring was more balanced than it has been up to this point meaning we are doing a better job of sharing the ball. WE were 43% from the field and 39% from the arc which is a major improvement from our previous game, and hopefully our confidence is starting to return. When we played hard/disciplined basketball WE created stops through playing physical and ran for easy baskets. Right now WE are struggling to play well in the second half for about 5-7 minutes. If we can begin to limit mental/physical mistakes during this dry stretch the game is going to change for us, and we will start giving ourselves a chance at the end of the game.
NO EXCUSES. We have a few days off now with an opportunity to prepare for NDSCS who is now 19-4. Of course it will be another difficult road game, but until we get fed up with finding the easy way out good teams will continue to get away from us. I can not accept these excuses nor can our TEAM as the primary objective must stay in tact. Get better everyday and play our best basketball come the end of February.
Statistics:
Kristoff Walker - 16 points, 4 assists
Roybell Baez - 15 points, 6 rebounds
Colby Boyes - 12 points, 3-4 from 3FG
Marquis Thomas - 11 points, 5 rebounds
We had a great crowd on Wednesday night and I hope we can continue to support our Jacks through this tough run of games. Our next home game will be Wednesday, Feb. 6th against Turtle Mountain.
Let's Get JACKED UP,
Coach Fehringer
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Jacks Run Out of Gas in the Second Half
Last night our Lumberjacks suffered a tough loss at home against a big, and strong UTTC team. The final score was 75-56, but I'm telling you the score does not indicate how close the game actually was throughout the contest. You may not even believe me when I tell you WE had the lead at halftime 34-32. Kristoff Walker had a sensational 1st half by scoring 21 points while going 10-12 from the field. Tyler Storseth drilled a corner 3 as time expired to give us an emotional lift and 2-point lead. Probably the worst thing that could've happened was the energy being halted by the halftime buzzer.
In the second half we lost the lead and the momentum due to the fact UTTC is exceptional in the half-court, and forces teams to play a methodical style of basketball. WE fell right into the trap. Eventually we would be put in a position to gamble by extended pressure to full-court, and allowed UTTC either easy lay-ups because they handled the pressure or fouls. Either way our main issue was not necessarily our defense or rebounding, but simply the fact the ball wouldn't go in the basket. Once again we shot 20% from the 3fg and less then 40% for the game. The right guys are taking the shots, and we are getting good looks. Knocking down shots is not always easy, but tough players are able to put the ball in the basket during tough moments.
With that being said, our TEAM showed signs of improving in areas which have been a concern for majority of the year. Guards valued the ball throughout the game allowing 12 turnovers, and made good decisions leading to 17 assists. Our assist to turnover ration has not been on the positive side for awhile, especially if you take into account several missed baskets as well. Giving up offensive rebounds has been just brutal, and last night we gave up 11 to a very BIG team but once again it was better than we did previously. Right now all we can be focused on is how do we improve each day. WE must stop discussing what the problem is and do a better job of emphasizing what is our solution.
Player Stats:
Kristoff Walker - 25 points and 4 assists
Billy Engel - 9 assists and 5 rebounds
Marquis Thomas - 10 points and 4 rebounds
Two goals this TEAM must strive to meet:
1. Be a greater TEAM today than WE were yesterday
2. Be a greater TEAMMATE today than I was yesterday
Our attitude and effort is all that we can control right now.
Thanks to those who came out and supported our TEAM.
"Without pain there is no pleasure. Without valleys there are no mountaintops. Without struggle there is no achievement."
Let's get JACKED UP,
Coach Fehringer
In the second half we lost the lead and the momentum due to the fact UTTC is exceptional in the half-court, and forces teams to play a methodical style of basketball. WE fell right into the trap. Eventually we would be put in a position to gamble by extended pressure to full-court, and allowed UTTC either easy lay-ups because they handled the pressure or fouls. Either way our main issue was not necessarily our defense or rebounding, but simply the fact the ball wouldn't go in the basket. Once again we shot 20% from the 3fg and less then 40% for the game. The right guys are taking the shots, and we are getting good looks. Knocking down shots is not always easy, but tough players are able to put the ball in the basket during tough moments.
With that being said, our TEAM showed signs of improving in areas which have been a concern for majority of the year. Guards valued the ball throughout the game allowing 12 turnovers, and made good decisions leading to 17 assists. Our assist to turnover ration has not been on the positive side for awhile, especially if you take into account several missed baskets as well. Giving up offensive rebounds has been just brutal, and last night we gave up 11 to a very BIG team but once again it was better than we did previously. Right now all we can be focused on is how do we improve each day. WE must stop discussing what the problem is and do a better job of emphasizing what is our solution.
Player Stats:
Kristoff Walker - 25 points and 4 assists
Billy Engel - 9 assists and 5 rebounds
Marquis Thomas - 10 points and 4 rebounds
Two goals this TEAM must strive to meet:
1. Be a greater TEAM today than WE were yesterday
2. Be a greater TEAMMATE today than I was yesterday
Our attitude and effort is all that we can control right now.
Thanks to those who came out and supported our TEAM.
"Without pain there is no pleasure. Without valleys there are no mountaintops. Without struggle there is no achievement."
Let's get JACKED UP,
Coach Fehringer
Monday, January 28, 2013
Lumberjacks Split in Canada: Finding Our Way
At Dakota College we have an opportunity to compete in Canada a couple of times during the basketball season. Crossing the border and competing against new opponents provides a new experience for our players, and one which they may never duplicate the rest of their basketball career. The court is still 94-feet, hoops are still 10-feet high, and each team can only play 5 guys at a time... BUT there are several areas of the international game that differ from our typical college game.
International Rules:
-24 second shot clock
-Timeouts must be requested at scorer's table
-4 quarters of play
-Ball can be played off of the cylinder
-Substitution policy
These are just a few of the adjustments our TEAM needed to make as we traveled to Winnipeg to take on Canadian Mennonite University back-to-back days. As I mentioned earlier, this was a great experience for coaches and players, but midway through a college season for freshman and sophomores it can also create some difficulties. What WE really liked about the situation was the fact our TEAM had to learn on the fly, and make game time adjustments according the differences of international style of play.
Both games seemed to have a similar feel as Game 1 was determined by 3 points with the Lumberjacks falling 57-60, and Game 2 decided by 1 point in a win for the Jacks 68-67. In both competitions we did a good job of taking early leads and sustaining control for majority of the game. CMU did a better job of managing the 24 second shot-clock, shot the ball from a higher percentage at the 3-pt line, and took care of the ball limiting their turnovers. On the other hand, for us the shot-clock became an issue forcing difficult shots, we have not been shooting the ball very well from deep, and valuing the ball continues to be an major concern.
Without Jayden McMillin on the floor the last 3 games scoring has been an uphill battle, but this weekend I think we started to figure out how to be a more balanced TEAM. Players needed to increase roles on the offensive end by being more aggressive, and defensively had to play much harder because we lack size/athleticism around the rim. Roybell Baez was huge in Game 2 scoring 21 points to go with 6 rebounds. He also nailed the game winning bucket with under a minute to play. Billy Engel came up with 17 points/5 assists to aid in the victory. During Game 1 it was Tyler Storseth who kept us in the game by scoring 17 points and grabbing rebounds.
The next game is always the most important game, and for us this couldn't be more true tonight. UTTC comes into "The Woodshed" with tip-off set for 8p following the Ladyjacks game. WE must continue to take strides forward as this is the time of the year teams either find or lose their identity.
Come Support Your Jacks. WE need your help.
Let's Get JACKED UP!
Coach Fehringer
International Rules:
-24 second shot clock
-Timeouts must be requested at scorer's table
-4 quarters of play
-Ball can be played off of the cylinder
-Substitution policy
These are just a few of the adjustments our TEAM needed to make as we traveled to Winnipeg to take on Canadian Mennonite University back-to-back days. As I mentioned earlier, this was a great experience for coaches and players, but midway through a college season for freshman and sophomores it can also create some difficulties. What WE really liked about the situation was the fact our TEAM had to learn on the fly, and make game time adjustments according the differences of international style of play.
Both games seemed to have a similar feel as Game 1 was determined by 3 points with the Lumberjacks falling 57-60, and Game 2 decided by 1 point in a win for the Jacks 68-67. In both competitions we did a good job of taking early leads and sustaining control for majority of the game. CMU did a better job of managing the 24 second shot-clock, shot the ball from a higher percentage at the 3-pt line, and took care of the ball limiting their turnovers. On the other hand, for us the shot-clock became an issue forcing difficult shots, we have not been shooting the ball very well from deep, and valuing the ball continues to be an major concern.
Without Jayden McMillin on the floor the last 3 games scoring has been an uphill battle, but this weekend I think we started to figure out how to be a more balanced TEAM. Players needed to increase roles on the offensive end by being more aggressive, and defensively had to play much harder because we lack size/athleticism around the rim. Roybell Baez was huge in Game 2 scoring 21 points to go with 6 rebounds. He also nailed the game winning bucket with under a minute to play. Billy Engel came up with 17 points/5 assists to aid in the victory. During Game 1 it was Tyler Storseth who kept us in the game by scoring 17 points and grabbing rebounds.
The next game is always the most important game, and for us this couldn't be more true tonight. UTTC comes into "The Woodshed" with tip-off set for 8p following the Ladyjacks game. WE must continue to take strides forward as this is the time of the year teams either find or lose their identity.
Come Support Your Jacks. WE need your help.
Let's Get JACKED UP!
Coach Fehringer
Friday, January 25, 2013
Jacks Looking to Bounce Back in Canada
The Lumberjacks have encountered some recent struggles during a tough stretch of games. Monday night the difficulties continued in Belcourt as the Jacks dropped to 8-10 overall with a 74-60 loss to Turtle Mountain CC. Road wins are always hard to come by, but successful teams beat opponents you are supposed to beat. Turtle Mountain did a tremendous job of jumping out to an early lead in the 1st half and making key shots to extend the lead whenever we made a run. When it was all said and done our TEAM had to face the facts.
FREE THROW's - 16/28
ORB for TMCC- 18
TURNOVERS - 22
Regardless of how poorly we shot from the field (32%) these statistics show a lack of passion from our TEAM. Each of these categories are a caring, focus, and effort statistic which we failed to provide on Monday night. No scheme, strategy, or philosophy will substitute for hard work, discipline, and enthusiasm to be the best TEAM/individual every play of the game. OUR goal is to find the child-like enthusiasm to enjoy what we do on a daily basis. WE have the opportunity to play a kid's game every day WE are in college, and as a whole WE must value this experience as each day our window is closing as a TEAM.
Over the next two days the Lumberjacks will be traveling to Winnipeg, CAN to compete against Canadian Mennonite University (CMU). Once again we are coming off of a 1-day rest and will have a quick turnaround to play on Saturday as well. I believe this TEAM will regain it's confidence and desire to compete. WE are not happy with our past performance but it is important to remember these are college student-athletes who sometimes loose sight of how lucky we are to represent Dakota College.
Just to inform our Lumberjack followers. Jayden McMillin has been sidelined until further notice with a knee injury. He did not play against Turtle Mountain. WE can view this as a major issue or WE can choose to take this hurdle as an opportunity for others to play. In athletics, players are always an injury or bad decision away from getting on the court.
Resiliency - ability to return to original state after being deformed.
OUR TEAM must be resilient during these times of struggle. During our darkest moments is when true chemistry is found and solidified. Please continue to support our guys!
Let's Get JACKED UP,
Coach Fehringer
FREE THROW's - 16/28
ORB for TMCC- 18
TURNOVERS - 22
Regardless of how poorly we shot from the field (32%) these statistics show a lack of passion from our TEAM. Each of these categories are a caring, focus, and effort statistic which we failed to provide on Monday night. No scheme, strategy, or philosophy will substitute for hard work, discipline, and enthusiasm to be the best TEAM/individual every play of the game. OUR goal is to find the child-like enthusiasm to enjoy what we do on a daily basis. WE have the opportunity to play a kid's game every day WE are in college, and as a whole WE must value this experience as each day our window is closing as a TEAM.
Over the next two days the Lumberjacks will be traveling to Winnipeg, CAN to compete against Canadian Mennonite University (CMU). Once again we are coming off of a 1-day rest and will have a quick turnaround to play on Saturday as well. I believe this TEAM will regain it's confidence and desire to compete. WE are not happy with our past performance but it is important to remember these are college student-athletes who sometimes loose sight of how lucky we are to represent Dakota College.
Just to inform our Lumberjack followers. Jayden McMillin has been sidelined until further notice with a knee injury. He did not play against Turtle Mountain. WE can view this as a major issue or WE can choose to take this hurdle as an opportunity for others to play. In athletics, players are always an injury or bad decision away from getting on the court.
Resiliency - ability to return to original state after being deformed.
OUR TEAM must be resilient during these times of struggle. During our darkest moments is when true chemistry is found and solidified. Please continue to support our guys!
Let's Get JACKED UP,
Coach Fehringer
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Jacks Face Tough Schedule in January
Easy vs. Hard
Winning is HARD, winning road games is hard, and winning three straight games on the road would be almost impossible in college basketball. You may not believe me when I say the fact that our TEAM went 1-2 during a three game road trip in three days is a positive step. In fact our TEAM played 4 games in 5 days and WE are about to play our 5th game in 7 days. It would be EASY to make excuses, be upset with the schedule, or begin to fall apart because we are facing adversity but I believe this stretch is going to make us a better TEAM.
We began by playing at Bismarck State in an exciting game. Our Jacks led the majority of the game and with 2 minutes left to play, WE were up by 5 points. Bismarck State has a couple of sophomores who came up clutch with big shots and WE made a few mistakes that cost us the game in a 92-87 loss. Shot selection, rebounding, and staying focused on the task were all areas we need to improve when the game is on the line. Needless to say I thought we took a step in the right direction by controlling the tempo for the most part, competing against a very dynamic Bismarck team, and having an opportunity to win at the end of the day.
Next up was Trinity Bible who has an advantage due to the fact they are a four year institution. Whenever you play an older and more mature team they are going to cause problems for underclassmen. It was a back and forth game but with 22 seconds to play our TEAM was down 5 points, and it appeared we were going to drop another close game. Colby Boyes and Kristoff Walker came to the rescue as Boyes drained a corner 3 with 14 ticks left. After our guys executed a trap off of the in-bounds Walker stole the pass and made a lay-up to force an extra session. Eventually we would pull off a 85-82 comeback, but it would be a quick turn around the next day.
The final stretch. Our most difficult opponent Dakota County took it to us by simply out playing US, and out coach US in every way 70-40. Again, I could blame the fact we only had 14 hours in between games but WE are a better group than what we showed. 16 minutes into the game we had a 1 point lead, and our discipline was out the window. After watching the film our effort/energy/focus was not present.
On Monday night we played against NDSCS who is now 17-3 during the season. They were big, strong, and executed a game plan. Once again for a good portion of the game our TEAM competed against a more talented opponent but could not hold our ground as the Wildcats pulled away for a 77-60 win. Our achilles heel and will continue to be our ability to defensive rebound, because of our lack in size. We gave up too many second chances and eventually that statistic will wear a team out. Rebounding is not a talent statistic, but a caring and effort statistic. Guards must do a better job of making physical contact, bench must be more productive, and our teamwork must improve as far as passing, screening, and cutting is concerned.
I apologize for taking this much time to update our blog, but WE have been busy. Keeping a positive perspective is most important as this year is not going to get any easier. WE constantly play D1 opponents who are having a high level of success, but we must strive to for daily improvement. When it is all said and done NDSCS, Williston State, Lake Region, and Bismarck State is not what is most important but focusing on what WE do.
Please continue to support OUR TEAM this year, as I can tell you WE will keep working to make Dakota College proud of our effort and resilience.
"Adversity Does Not Build Character, it Reveals Character" - WE must embrace the HARD.
Coach Fehringer
Winning is HARD, winning road games is hard, and winning three straight games on the road would be almost impossible in college basketball. You may not believe me when I say the fact that our TEAM went 1-2 during a three game road trip in three days is a positive step. In fact our TEAM played 4 games in 5 days and WE are about to play our 5th game in 7 days. It would be EASY to make excuses, be upset with the schedule, or begin to fall apart because we are facing adversity but I believe this stretch is going to make us a better TEAM.
We began by playing at Bismarck State in an exciting game. Our Jacks led the majority of the game and with 2 minutes left to play, WE were up by 5 points. Bismarck State has a couple of sophomores who came up clutch with big shots and WE made a few mistakes that cost us the game in a 92-87 loss. Shot selection, rebounding, and staying focused on the task were all areas we need to improve when the game is on the line. Needless to say I thought we took a step in the right direction by controlling the tempo for the most part, competing against a very dynamic Bismarck team, and having an opportunity to win at the end of the day.
Next up was Trinity Bible who has an advantage due to the fact they are a four year institution. Whenever you play an older and more mature team they are going to cause problems for underclassmen. It was a back and forth game but with 22 seconds to play our TEAM was down 5 points, and it appeared we were going to drop another close game. Colby Boyes and Kristoff Walker came to the rescue as Boyes drained a corner 3 with 14 ticks left. After our guys executed a trap off of the in-bounds Walker stole the pass and made a lay-up to force an extra session. Eventually we would pull off a 85-82 comeback, but it would be a quick turn around the next day.
The final stretch. Our most difficult opponent Dakota County took it to us by simply out playing US, and out coach US in every way 70-40. Again, I could blame the fact we only had 14 hours in between games but WE are a better group than what we showed. 16 minutes into the game we had a 1 point lead, and our discipline was out the window. After watching the film our effort/energy/focus was not present.
On Monday night we played against NDSCS who is now 17-3 during the season. They were big, strong, and executed a game plan. Once again for a good portion of the game our TEAM competed against a more talented opponent but could not hold our ground as the Wildcats pulled away for a 77-60 win. Our achilles heel and will continue to be our ability to defensive rebound, because of our lack in size. We gave up too many second chances and eventually that statistic will wear a team out. Rebounding is not a talent statistic, but a caring and effort statistic. Guards must do a better job of making physical contact, bench must be more productive, and our teamwork must improve as far as passing, screening, and cutting is concerned.
I apologize for taking this much time to update our blog, but WE have been busy. Keeping a positive perspective is most important as this year is not going to get any easier. WE constantly play D1 opponents who are having a high level of success, but we must strive to for daily improvement. When it is all said and done NDSCS, Williston State, Lake Region, and Bismarck State is not what is most important but focusing on what WE do.
Please continue to support OUR TEAM this year, as I can tell you WE will keep working to make Dakota College proud of our effort and resilience.
"Adversity Does Not Build Character, it Reveals Character" - WE must embrace the HARD.
Coach Fehringer
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Lumberjacks Drop Home Game vs. Dakota County
The Lumberjacks ran into a very talented and athletic team in Dakota County out of Minneapolis by a score of 97-75. We knew going into the game it was going to be a difficult match-up as the Blue Knights of Dakota County have commonly been ranked top 10 nationally this year, along with the fact it was our 1st meeting with a Region XIII opponent. Despite the score our TEAM came ready to play initiating 11 lead changes throughout the first half. In short, as a TEAM we did not take care of the ball (22 turnovers) or convert on FT opportunities (12-25). These two statistics alone created an uphill battle we could not overcome as Dakota County took advantage of our mistakes.
Resiliency: returning to the original form or position after being bent, compressed or stretched.
On a brighter note, WE felt this game provided us an opportunity to reflect on where we are at 13 games into the season (7-6) and where we need to go as the road to an extended post-season will more than likely run through Dakota County. The Blue Knights did a good job of mixing up zone defensive approaches after man-man seemed to not be effective against us. From the coaching staff doing a better job of teaching our TEAM how to attack a variety of zone looks, to our players staying aggressive and understanding what weaknesses can be exposed in a zone became extremely clear. It is easy after a loss to say we could've done this and should've done that, but honestly there is a simple way to resolve some issues raised during the game. Our TEAM must learn how to SUSTAIN three areas of winning pedigrees - Energy/Effort/Focus. Good teams play hard majority of the game but great teams play hard from beginning to end regardless of score, or who is on the floor.
Can our TEAM show signs of being resilient when faced with adversity?
Jayden McMillin - 19 points, 7 rebounds, 8-14 from the field and 3-3 from the arc
Billey Engel - 14 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds
Kristoff Walker - 11 points, 6 assists
Roybell Baez - Led TEAM with 9 rebounds in only 17 min
It is difficult to lose any home games, but the fact remains WE must bounce back as we play 3 away games in a row over the weekend beginning against Bismarck State on Thursday. WE must develop short-term memory, learn from our mistakes, and apply strategies discussed to be better prepared. College basketball is a marathon not a sprint, and we would be foolish to believe one game in January has any indication of what the Lumberjacks are capable of accomplishing.
Continue to support the Jacks as WE will continue to work. Thanks to those who made the trip to "The Woodshed" even though the weather was not most ideal.
Let's Get Jacked UP,
Coach Fehringer
Monday, January 7, 2013
Jacks Shake Christmas Rust at Northland Classic
Although majority of students and families are excited when Christmas break hits, I can assure you basketball coaching staffs around the country are filled with anxiety. The Lumberjacks had 34 days in between games and 14 days of being off campus before we returned to play in a weekend classic at Northland College. With the credit going to our guys we were able to grab two big wins on the road to start the second half of our season. The emphasis was clear, do not allow either opponent to match our competitive spirit. We knew execution was going to be average at best for both teams due to the layoff, but which ever team decided to "grind out" each possession until the clock struck zero would be successful.
Game 1 vs. Rainy River - W 80-69
Game 2 vs. Northland College - W 83-62
Our basketball team received a pleasant Christmas gift as sophomore Roybell Baez returned to the team after sitting out the first semester. He brings a passion for the game as well as an enthusiasm to compete that is hard to find in many common players. On the weekend he averaged 10 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds, which was a much needed contribution. Marquis Thomas was also more than instrumental in the two wins averaging 17 points and 13 rebounds. If he can continue to be a relentless rebounder/defender and finish around the rim it allows Jayden McMillin a little more freedom throughout the game. McMillin was not quiet either as he produced 26 points/12 reb in game one, followed by a 17 point/9 reb showing in game two after only playing 19 min due to foul trouble.
Billy Engel and Kristoff Walker combined for 21 assists in the two games, controlled the tempo of the game, and delivered key baskets when necessary. If those two players will continue to develop into complete guards this team has an opportunity to compete every night because of their ability to drive, pass, score, and defend. Tyler Storseth allowed us to separate in game two by hitting back-to-back 3's in the second half.
Coming back from break we discussed the value of discipline over athleticism. We will not typically be the most athletic team when facing Mon-Dak opponents, but if we continue to improve our discipline when it comes to quality of our shots versus the quality of the opponents we have a chance to be successful. For us, it is not about making a great play but making the right play. Our toughness will be tested over the next 19 days as we will play 10 games. Learning the game on the go will be crucial as mistakes must be limited and not repeated.
This Friday, January 11th at 6pm the Jacks are back in action at "The Woodshed" against a very difficult opponent in Dakota County Technical College. Your support is needed as this is going to be a great measuring stick for our TEAM.
REMINDER- Women will play at 8pm against Minot Air Force Base. Times have been switched to accommodate the traveling team.
Lets' Get Jacked UP on January 11th for both Men and Women programs!
Coach Fehringer
Game 1 vs. Rainy River - W 80-69
Game 2 vs. Northland College - W 83-62
Our basketball team received a pleasant Christmas gift as sophomore Roybell Baez returned to the team after sitting out the first semester. He brings a passion for the game as well as an enthusiasm to compete that is hard to find in many common players. On the weekend he averaged 10 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds, which was a much needed contribution. Marquis Thomas was also more than instrumental in the two wins averaging 17 points and 13 rebounds. If he can continue to be a relentless rebounder/defender and finish around the rim it allows Jayden McMillin a little more freedom throughout the game. McMillin was not quiet either as he produced 26 points/12 reb in game one, followed by a 17 point/9 reb showing in game two after only playing 19 min due to foul trouble.
Billy Engel and Kristoff Walker combined for 21 assists in the two games, controlled the tempo of the game, and delivered key baskets when necessary. If those two players will continue to develop into complete guards this team has an opportunity to compete every night because of their ability to drive, pass, score, and defend. Tyler Storseth allowed us to separate in game two by hitting back-to-back 3's in the second half.
Coming back from break we discussed the value of discipline over athleticism. We will not typically be the most athletic team when facing Mon-Dak opponents, but if we continue to improve our discipline when it comes to quality of our shots versus the quality of the opponents we have a chance to be successful. For us, it is not about making a great play but making the right play. Our toughness will be tested over the next 19 days as we will play 10 games. Learning the game on the go will be crucial as mistakes must be limited and not repeated.
This Friday, January 11th at 6pm the Jacks are back in action at "The Woodshed" against a very difficult opponent in Dakota County Technical College. Your support is needed as this is going to be a great measuring stick for our TEAM.
REMINDER- Women will play at 8pm against Minot Air Force Base. Times have been switched to accommodate the traveling team.
Lets' Get Jacked UP on January 11th for both Men and Women programs!
Coach Fehringer
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