North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Offense
Brayden Pankonen – Dakota State (S.D.) – 5’9″ – Sophomore – guard – Dell Rapids, S.D. – Pankonen averaged 17.0 points and 2.0 assists per game as Dakota State (S.D.) went 2-0 record on the road in the North Star Athletic Association action. He scored 19 points on his 6-of-11 from the 3-point line and added a free throw in Trojans’ 70-67 victory at Mayville State (N.D.). He also dished out three assists in the game. He followed up with 15 points in DaSU’s 66-61 victory at Valley City State (N.D.). For the week, Pankonen totaled 34 points on his 12-of-25 field goals (48 percent) and made nine 3-pointers. He also averaged 4.0 rebounds per game.
North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Defense
Caden Grinde – Valley City State (N.D.) – 6’4″ – Junior – guard – Spring Grove, Minn. – Grinde averaged 6.0 defensive rebounds, 3.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game as Valley City State (N.D.) went 1-1 record. He had six defensive rebounds, stole the ball four times, and added a block in VCSU’s 66-65 victory over Bellevue (Neb.). He followed up with six defensive rebounds, three steals, and a block in Vikings’ 66-61 setback to Dakota State (S.D.). For the week, Grinde totaled 12 defensive rebounds, seven steals, and two blocks.
Recap from last week’s games
Dickinson State (N.D.) maintained their conference lead in the North Star Athletic Association men’s basketball standings after holding off Jamestown (N.D.) 77-69 on Jan. 31 in Jamestown, N.D. The Blue Hawks lifted their overall record to 14-8 and 9-1 NSAA conference record. The Jimmies fell to 12-11 overall record and 7-3 NSAA conference record. It was the lone North Star contest for the week for both teams.
Dakota State (S.D.) went 2-0 record for the weekend in North Dakota. The Trojans edged Mayville State (N.D.) 70-67 on Jan. 31 and defeated Valley City State (N.D.) 66-61 on Feb. 1. DaSU improved their overall record to 10-12 and 3-7 record in the North Star contests.
The Vikings held off the Bruins by the score of 67-66 on Jan. 31. The Comets also defeated BU 81-71 on Feb. 1. Mayville State is 14-9 overall record and 5-5 NSAA conference record. Bellevue is 12-11 overall record and 4-6 record in the conference, while Valley City State is 11-11 overall record and 2-8 NSAA conference record.
Looking Ahead This Week
The third-round robin of North Star Athletic Association action kicks off Friday evening as Dakota State (S.D.) visits Bellevue (Neb.) in their lone conference contest for the week.
Jamestown (N.D.) travels to Valley City State (N.D.), while Dickinson State (N.D.) heads to Mayville State (N.D.) on Friday night. UJ and DiSU swap places on Saturday with UJ at MSU and DiSU at VCSU.
Friday’s Games
Dakota State (S.D.) @ Bellevue (Neb.) – 7:30 p.m.
Jamestown (N.D.) @ Valley City State (N.D.) – 7:30 p.m.
Dickinson State (N.D.) @ Mayville State (N.D.) – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
Jamestown (N.D.) @ Mayville State (N.D.) – 5 p.m.
Dickinson State (N.D.) @ Valley City State (N.D.) – 5 p.m.
NSAA Men’s Basketball Conference Standings
| School | Overall Record |
NSAA Record |
Games Behind |
Streak |
| Dickinson State (N.D.) | 14-8 | 9-1 | —- | Won 2 |
| Jamestown (N.D.) | 12-11 | 7-3 | 2.0 | Lost 1 |
| Mayville State (N.D.) | 14-9 | 5-5 | 4.0 | Won 1 |
| Bellevue (Neb.) | 12-11 | 4-6 | 5.0 | Lost 3 |
| Dakota State (S.D.) | 10-12 | 3-7 | 6.0 | Won 2 |
| Valley City State (N.D.) | 11-11 | 2-8 | 7.0 | Lost 1 |
North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Offense
Kate Cordes – Jamestown (N.D.) – 5’8” – Junior – guard – Shakopee, Minn. – Cordes poured in 32 points in 36 minutes in fueling (RV) Jamestown (N.D.) to a 78-67 home victory over Dickinson State (N.D.). She was 12-of-21 from the field, including 6-of-14 from the 3-point line, and hit a pair of free throws in the game. Cordes also contributed four assists and five rebounds in the game.
North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Defense
Jessika Lofstrom – Jamestown (N.D.) – 6’0” – Freshman – forward – Grand Rapids, Minn. – Lofstrom grabbed five defensive rebounds (seven total rebounds), registered three steals, and recorded two blocks in helping (RV) Jamestown (N.D.) to a 78-67 home victory over Dickinson State (N.D.).
Recap from last week’s games
Dakota State (S.D.), No. 6 in the latest NAIA Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, extended their winning streak after defeating (RV) Mayville State (N.D.) 83-60 on Jan. 31. The Trojans’ 15-game winning streak came to an end on Feb. 1 as Valley City State (N.D.) handed DaSU their first conference setback of the season by the score of 75-61. Dakota State is 17-4 overall record and 9-1 record in the league.
Bellevue (Neb.) defeated VCSU 60-50 on Jan. 31. The Comets defeated the Bruins 84-73 on Feb. 1. Mayville State is 15-7 overall record and 5-5 NSAA conference record. Bellevue and Valley City State are 12-10 overall record and 4-6 record in the league each, with the Bruins holding the tiebreaker over the Vikings by going 2-0 record.
(RV) Jamestown (N.D.) earned a 78-67 home victory over Dickinson State (N.D.) on Jan. 31 in both teams’ lone NSAA contest of the week. The Jimmies are 16-5 overall record and 6-4 NSAA conference record. The Blue Hawks fell to 7-14 overall record and 2-8 record in the North Star contests.
Looking Ahead This Week
The third-round robin of the North Star Athletic Association begins Friday with traveling partners No. 6 Dakota State (S.D.) visiting at Bellevue (Neb.).
Dickinson State (N.D.) heads to (RV) Mayville State (N.D.) on Friday evening, while (RV) Jamestown (N.D.) travels to Valley City State (N.D.) on the same night.
DiSU and UJ swap places on Saturday, with UJ at MSU and DiSU at VCSU.
Friday’s Games
(6) Dakota State (S.D.) @ Bellevue (Neb.) – 5:30 p.m.
(RV) Jamestown (N.D.) @ Valley City State (N.D.) – 5:30 p.m.
Dickinson State (N.D.) @ (RV) Mayville State (N.D.) – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
Dickinson State (N.D.) @ Valley City State (N.D.) – 3 p.m.
(RV) Jamestown (N.D.) @ (RV) Mayville State (N.D.) – 3 p.m.
NSAA Women’s Basketball Conference Standings
| School | Overall Record |
NSAA Record |
Games Behind |
Streak |
| (6) Dakota State (S.D.) | 17-4 | 9-1 | —- | Lost 1 |
| (RV) Jamestown (N.D.) | 16-5 | 6-4 | 3.0 | Won 2 |
| (RV) Mayville State (N.D.) | 15-7 | 5-5 | 4.0 | Won 1 |
| Bellevue (Neb.) | 12-10 | 4-6 | 5.0 | Lost 1 |
| Valley City State (N.D.) | 12-10 | 4-6 | 5.0 | Won 1 |
| Dickinson State (N.D.) | 7-14 | 2-8 | 7.0 | Lost 4 |