Phillips County Clash!!!

The Coyote Den was loud and packed as the North Country Mavericks rolled into Dodson to take on the Dodson Coyotes on Saturday, February 3.

Despite a surge from Dodson in the fourth quarter from the Coyotes, the Mavericks held on to win 51-42.

"This is the third time that we have played Dodson this season," Mavericks' Head Coach Barry Malone said. "We had to play each other in the Tip-Off Tournament. When we played them there, they showed a lot of good things. They play hard. We played them right after Christmas and though we were putting them away. They came back in the third quarter on us."

Coach Malone went on to say that there were times in the game that Dodson out-hustled the Mavs at points in the game.

"They are not going to lie down," Coach Malone said. "They have been fighting to get back to divisionals for the first time in a long time."

Senior Trace Simonson led the Mavericks with 26 points, 14 of which came in the fourth quarter. Simonson also went 6-of-8 from the charity stripe and knocked down four treys.

Dodson's Shaun Ball also had 26 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter.

"They made the shots down the stretch and we didn't," said Coyotes Head Coach Frank Benson. "It was a close one and they (Dodson) played their hearts out. Coaches lose games, players win games."

North Country's Loden Idler had nine points, Chris DePuydt had eight points, Ty Murphy had three points, Austin Leatherberry had two points, John McColly had two points, and Jesse Lee had one point.

Dodson's David Jaynes had nine points, Tyrese Messerly had four points and Corbin LoneBear had three points.

The Mavericks knocked down 13-of-18 attempts at the free throw line. Dodson made it to the line for seven shots and made four.

COYOTES

Dodson was able to pick up a close win over Roy-Winifred on Thursday, February 1, in Roy.

The Coyotes won 50-48, thanks to a 17-14 start in the first quarter and 13-8 run in the third quarter.

Jaynes led Dodson with 15 points. Ball had 12 points, Messerly had nine points, LoneBear had six points, Caleb Ditmar had six points, and Derek Jones scored two points.

The Coyotes are scheduled to host the Frazer Bearcubs on Saturday, February 9. The Coyotes will also travel to Lustre for the last game of the regular season on Saturday, February 10.

"Those are two big games," Coach Benson said. "If we can win those we will be in third place and if we can beat Nashua, we will play one of these teams in the district tournament."

MAVERICKS

The North Country Mavericks lost 69-47 to Scobey on Friday, February 2, in Hinsdale.

The Mavs were led by Simonson, who had 17 points, DePuydt had nine points, Murphy had eight points, Wrangler Jones had four points, Lee had four points, Leatherberry had three points, and McColly had two points.

"They are just so aggressive, strong and we didn't come out and meet the challenge right away," Coach Malone said. "We put ourselves in a big hole. When you get down against a team like that, good luck trying to get it back."

The Mavericks are set to host the Lustre Christian Lions on Friday, February 9, in Hinsdale. They will then see the Frazer Bearcubs in Frazer on Saturday, February 10.