Jackets use experience, depth to sting Lady 'Rockers

By Jeff Easton, Journal staff Thursday, February 21, 2008

SPEARFISH — Depth and experience played key roles in 15th-ranked Black Hills State’s 86-67 defeat of rival South Dakota Mines on Wednesday at the Young Center.

In the simplest of terms, the Yellow Jackets had both, while the Lady Hardrockers did not. Both head coaches felt those factors were the difference in a series dotted with close, heated games.

“Just having that experience is big from a calming standpoint,” said Black Hills State coach Mark Nore, who started seniors Lacey Haughian, Snjezana Dojcinovic and Lindsey Buthe along the frontline. “We had seniors who made some plays.”

Mines, on the other hand, had one upperclassman starting — senior Jennie Malone — to go with two sophomores and two freshmen. Sitting down the bench were seniors Melanie Vedvei and Amber Deweerd, who both had their senior seasons shortened by knee injuries.

“Jennie, she gets it,” Lady Hardrocker coach Barb Felderman said. “You’re playing because it’s BH and Tech.”

Still, Felderman’s team stuck doggedly with the Yellow Jackets for the opening 20 minutes of the game.

Mines did a great job of stopping BH’s high-low passing, which opens up play in the paint, and limiting the Yellow Jackets’ looks along the 3-point arc.

Black Hills State scratched its way to a 26-18 lead on a Katelynn Lamb basket with 5-1/2 minutes to play in the opening half. Mines tied the game with eight unanswered points, with Malone netting five of them.

“We stayed with our game plan the first half nicely,” said Felderman, whose team trailed 33-30 at halftime. “We took away the high low, and got to their shooters. When they pressed, we broke it and made lay-ups.”

A Nicole Martin jumper drew Mines within 38-34 less than 2 minutes into the second half. From that point, Black Hills State took control of the game by picking up the pace of play.

Nore felt sophomore point guard Bayley Chevron was a driving force for the Yellow Jackets, who outscored the

Lady ’Rockers 34-15 over a 12-minute stretch through the heart of the second half.

“Bayley is a big key to everything we do,” Nore said. “She attacked the second half, and she was able to do so in controlled situations. It got us playing more aggressively.”

Plus, Black Hills’ depth began to show through.

Dojcinovic finished with 15 points and Haughian had 13, but six other Yellow Jackets scored between seven and nine points. All told, BH got scoring from 11 players.

“Our depth had a lot to do with (the outcome),” Nore said. “The game played faster and into our hands. We were attacking more, and our ball movement was better.”

Malone finished with 18 points, which gave her 1,000 career points at Mines. She also had team-highs in assists, with five, and rebounds, with seven.

“Jennie played her heart out,” Felderman said. “She’s had to do this for weeks.”

Freshman Jerika Ihnen came off the bench and finished with 17 points, while sophomore Bethany Holyoak chipped in 12.

The Dakota Athletic Conference playoffs await both teams.

Black Hills State, which won its first conference championship, plays Dickinson State on Sunday at the Young Center. The Yellow Jackets (23-5, 11-3 DAC) and Blue Hawks (8-20, 4-10) tip off at 3 p.m.

Mines must take the road for an opening-round game at Mayville State, N.D. The Lady ’Rockers (19-9, 6-8) and Comets (14-11, 8-6) are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. MST.