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Coyote Basketball 2018-19

Coyotes hope to make noise at Eastern C

The Dodson Coyotes have four athletes over six-foot, a lot of returning talent, and a lot of good reason to be optimistic in 2018-19.

The team lost David Jaynes, five-year player for the team, to graduation. Jaynes helped lead Dodson to a fourth-place finish in the 3C district last year. Last year's team had an 11-11 record, picking up a pair of wins in the district tourney. This year the team hopes to make it to the Eastern Conference Divisional and beyond. With the talent that they have returned, there is a warranted reason for optimism.

"A lot of the team has a goal of winning the district title," Coach Frank Benson told the PCN. "And then play in the divisional championship and making it to state."

The team is so focused on doing well in the post-season, they came up with a deal that Coach Benson would be happy to pay up on.

"If we do make it to the divisional title game I have to dress up like a cowboy," Coach Benson said.

The team has returned seniors Tyrese Messerly and Caleb Ditmar. Rounding out the senior class is Sam Main, who transferred from Harlem. Point guard Messerly is a five-year starter for Dodson, who has been named to the All-Conference list in years prior to last season.

"He is a playmaker, and he can shoot, and he makes everybody better," Coach Benson said. "Caleb Ditmar likes to be a role player. He likes to win, and he doesn't care if he scores two points or 10. But I need him to score 10 because he can score."

Coach Benson continued to praise Ditmar for his defense and role-playing, but he hopes to raise his confidence offensively this season.

The junior class is spearheaded by a pair of athletes who were named to the All-Conference list. Shaun Ball, a six-foot combo-guard was named to the list, while Corbin LoneBear, a forward, made the list as an honorable mention.

"I don't think Corbin has reached his full potential yet," Coach Benson said. "He can get a college scholarship. He is 6-4, can play guard, can post people up, and is a gym rat. He lives in the gym."

Ball presents the team with another reliable scorer, averaging close to thirty points last season.

"At times in the game when he doesn't force it, he is un-guardable," Coach Benson said in an earlier interview. "When you put a post on him, he will hit the three or drive right by them, if you put a guard on him, he will post them up and has great post moves. He had a couple 30-point games. The Nashua game (last season) was his highest point total of 34."

The team has set high and lofty goals this year, having to face plenty of tough competition in the 3C District including North Country and Scobey, the perennial powerhouse.

"We have a tough schedule," Coach Benson said. "We play Scobey twice. We play Melstone. They placed third at state last year and will return everyone."

With the team having a tougher schedule in 2018-19, Coach Benson knows that it can only make his team more competitive.

"It makes you way better," Coach Benson said.

He went on to say that he is encouraged by the growth of his team over the past two seasons and is confident that playing those harder teams is beneficial.

2018-19 Coyotes

Varsity Schedule

VARSITY

DATE DAY EVENT Time SITE

Dec. 7-8 Fri-Sat. Wolf Point Tip Off TBA Wolf Point

Dec. 14 Friday Opheim (Boys Only) TBA Opheim

Dec. 21 Friday Turner TBA Turner

Sat. 22 Saturday Nashua TBA Nashua

Jan. 3 Thursday North Country TBA Dodson

Jan. 4 Friday Roy-Winifred TBA Away

Jan. 11 Friday Frazer TBA Dodson

Jan. 12 Saturday Lustre TBA Lustre

Jan. 18 Friday Opheim TBA Opheim

Jan. 19 Saturday Scobey TBA Scobey

Jan. 25 Friday. Turner TBA Turner

Jan. 26 Saturday Nashua (Boys Only) TBA Dodson

Jan. 31 Thursday North Country TBA Whitewater

Feb. 1 Friday Roy-Winifred TBA Dodson

Feb. 8 Friday Frazer TBA Frazer

Feb. 9 Saturday Lustre TBA Dodson

Postseason Tournaments

Feb. 13-16 Wed..-Sat. 3C Boys & Girls District Wolf Point

Feb. 20-23 Thurs.-Sat. Boys & Girls Divisional Glasgow

Feb. 28-Mar. 2 Thurs.-Sat. Girls State Tourney Great Falls

 

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