Mavericks, Coyotes Meet in Close Game

The North Country Mavericks basketball team picked up their first conference win of the season last Friday, December 16, in a 57-50 victory over the Dodson Coyotes.

Both teams struggled in their remaining games last weekend, as the Mavericks fell 36-58 to the Nashua Porcupines on Thursday, December 15, and 44-73 to the Circle Wildcats on Saturday, December 17, in Circle.

The Dodson Coyotes lost 56-19 to the Scobey Spartans last Saturday.

The Mavericks were led by sophomore Blaine Downing in their win over the Coyotes. Downing scored 34 points. Kade Strommen had 11 points. Coy Bowman had seven points, Andrew Boucher had three points, and Laytin Erickson had two points.

"We honestly played a rounded game," North Country Head Coach Haakon Fredrickson said. "The boys stayed out of foul trouble and were able to limit Dodsons shooting from the perimeter. Offensively we got a ton of production in the post from Blaine Downing. Kade Strommen also had his best game of the year and was perfect from the free throw line. I was very impressed with the maturity and composure that the boys showcased up in Whitewater."

Dodson was led by Mikey Jaynes who had 15 points. Tanner Ball had 14 points. Junior Stiffarm had 11 points. Sebastian Best had four points and Mason LoneBear had two points.

The Coyotes had a 14-12 lead going into the second quarter, but the Mavericks outscored the Coyotes 17-9 in the second quarter. The halftime score was 29-23. At the end of the third quarter the score was 40-36, thanks in part to Downing's nine point output. The Mavs outscored Dodson 17-14 in the fourth quarter.

Jaynes had seven points against Scobey the next night. Stiffarm had five points, Best had four points, and Chaske Cliff had three points.

In the Maverick's loss to Nashua, Downing had 27 points. Strommen had four points, Austin Hanley had three points, and Andrew Boucher had two points.

Downing had 25 points in the Mavs' loss to Circle. Strommen had seven points, Bowman had six points, Erickson had three points, Hanley had two points, and Boucher had one point.