Balance, defense spark Midgets to win over Custer County

• Mark Erickson

Press Photo by Dustin Monke Dickinson High sophomore guard Mark Erickson, middle, dribbes into traffic as Custer County sophomore Brett Keith, left, and senior Drew Senger, right, defend on Monday night during a boys basketball game at the DHS gymnasium.

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Jordan Krieg may be the motor of the Dickinson High boys basketball team, but the whole engine isn’t going to run without quite a few other components.

The Midgets’ engine was working at full capacity Monday night.

Krieg did his thing, leading the way with 18 points and six rebounds while the Midgets got big efforts and balance from just about everyone else en route to a 64-48 victory over Custer County, Mont., at the DHS gymnasium.

“Jordan, everything goes through him. We know that and they know that,” Dickinson head coach John Wilson said. “Those other guys are little blue-chippers who get stuff in there and that’s what’s going to make us tough. That makes us harder to chase and harder to double those guys. We want to prove we’re more than a one-headed monster. We’ve got other guys who can contribute.”

Though no one but Krieg scored in double figures, the Midgets (7-4) had 10 players score and six had assists.

Senior Alex Huschka came off the bench to give Dickinson a boost, scoring six unanswered points midway through the first half to break an early tie and give the Midgets a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

They only trailed once — in the first minute of the game — and had built a 29-14 lead with 2 minutes remaining before halftime following an 11-0 first-half run.

“Dickinson has come a long way,” Custer County head coach Houston Finn said. “We played them the first game of the year and they’ve improved a lot. Their kids are doing some nice things. Obviously Krieg is a great player. But he makes everyone else around him better by being a great player.”

Dickinson went up 32-21 at halftime after senior Jaden Kudrna went the length of the court and sank up a 13-foot jumper as time expired.

Huschka finished with nine, Kudrna had seven, Dylan Skabo, Levi Jordheim and Parker Egli each had six.

Mark Erickson had just two points after racing in for a layup on perhaps the game’s most exciting play, a loose ball scramble that had the feel of a football fumble. The sophomore’s biggest contribution, however, were his six assists.

Defense bred offense for the Midgets, who forced 22 turnovers and had 11 steals – many of which resulted in points.

“The better we are on defense, it makes us better on offense,” Huschka said. “Dylan Skabo’s pick-sixes are huge sparks to our team, offensively and defensively he helps us out. … It’s the defense. Defense is what leads our offense and it’s what leads us against good teams.”

Crashing the boards didn’t hurt either.

Dickinson outrebounded Custer County 38-31, though 13 of the Cowboys’ (4-9) boards were loose-ball rebounds.

The Midgets had three consecutive put-back layups during an 11-2 run early in the second half that stretched their lead to 47-27.

It was a good win for the Midgets, who played three games in four days and came away with two wins, as they prepare for a pair of West Region games. They visit fifth-ranked Bismarck Century on Thursday and host Bismarck St. Mary’s on Friday night.

“One of the things is your mental toughness, your mental preparedness,” Wilson said. “I thought our kids came out and played well.”

CC: Barc Warren 14, Troy Burk 8, Timmy Regan 6, Lane Woosley 4, Brett Keith 4, Beau Peaslee 4, Gavin Gundlach 2, Austin Stadley 2, Kyle Collins 2, Drew Senger 2.

D: Jordan Krieg 18, Alex Huschka 9, Jaden Kudrna 7, Parker Egli 6, Luke Herauf 6, Levi Jordheim 6, Dylan Skabo 6, Mark Erickson 2, Matt Becker 2, Dylan Wallner 2.

Halftime: D 32-21. 3-pointers: CC 2 (Warren 2), D 4 (Hsuchka 2, Krieg 1, Kudrna 1). Free throws: CC 12-18, CC 6-12. Total fouls: CC 17, D 18. Rebounds: CC 31 (Warren 6), D 38 (Jordheim 7). Assists: CC 8 (Senger 2, Stadley 2), D 17 (Erickson 6). Steals: CC 13 (Stadley 4), D 11 (four with 2). Blocks: CC 0, D 2 (Jordheim, Krieg). Turnovers: CC 22, D 18. Records: CC 4-9, D 7-4.

Tags: dickinson midgets, high school basketball, custer county cowboys, sports, midgets, preps