ESCANABA, MI – The Bay College Men's Basketball Team (19-10) was not able to erase a halftime deficit and fell to Dakota County Technical College (19-10) by a final of 82-71 in postseason play.
The early portions of the first half was reminiscent of the two closely contested games the teams played earlier in the year. In the first 12 minutes of play the game saw five ties and three lead changes. The Blue Knights would be clinging to a one-point lead with five minutes to play in the first half, when the Norse offense sputtered. Dakota County finished the half on an 18-2 run, giving them a 47-30 lead at intermission.
The Blue Knight offense was consistent in the second half, making it a tough proposition for the Norse to cut into the deficit. Despite that they managed to make a run. Chris Dobessi (FR, Detroit, MI) finished layups in back-to-back possessions, and then Marcus Harris (FR, Brimley, MI) knocked down a three. Defensive stops allowed Dobessi and Christian Alexander (SO, Dorset, UK) to finish at the rim, and another Harris three capped off a 12-4 run that put the Norse down by just four points with five minutes to play. That would be as close as the Norse would get however, as the Blue Knights followed up a missed basket with a steal and fast break layup and a big three on the next possession to put Bay in a hole. Dakota County made their free throws down the stretch and held off the Norse charge, winning by 11 points on the road.
The Blue Knights shot 53.4% from the field for the night and made 15 of 18 attempts from the free throw line. Bay was strong from the floor as well, hitting on 43.8% of their shots, but were just eight of 28 from behind the three-point arc.
Harlyn Owens (SO, Pittsburgh, PA) led all scorers with 28 points. Lorenzo Smith (SO, St. Paul, MN) added 17 points and five rebounds for the Blue Knights, while Deshawn Walker (SO, Harker Heights, TX) ended with 12 points and ten rebounds. Daevonte Munson (SO, Roseville, MN) added 11 points.
The Norse got a fantastic effort from Alexander who ended his Norse career with 24 points and 19 rebounds in the game. Harris hit five of nine three-point attempts and ended with 17 points, while Dobessi added 16 points on seven of 14 shooting from the floor.
The loss ends the season for the Norse.
Dakota County will travel to United Tribes Technical College for the Region 13 Championship game. That game will take place at 2 pm on Sunday afternoon.