The Bismarck State College’s Men’s and Women’s basketball teams finished their season after 30 games from Oct 28 to Feb 27, with a total win-loss ratio of 23-6 games for the women’s and 14-16 games for the men’s.
During the season, both teams competed in multiple ranks of competition. At the beginning of the season, the teams played in preseason games, which do not count for their conferences. These games are a way that the team can learn to work together and figure out each player’s strengths and weaknesses in order to prepare themselves for the regular season. During these games, the Mystics played teams from multiple areas that are not part of the main conferences, such as teams from Montana, Minnesota and Arizona.
Thai Haggin, Athletic director and women’s basketball coach said that while these games do not affect their scores, they are still important to the team as it helps prepare them for the main conferences.
“ They’re pieces and games [that] are put in place to kind of get to know your team, understand the team to see what combinations work best on the floor, just so it's a growing process as a team,” Haggin said.
In January, the conferences begin. Conferences are played between teams from across North Dakota and Montana.Schools include North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, Miles Community College in Miles City, Montana, Dakota College at Bottineau, Williston State College, United Tribes in Bismarck, Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana and Lake Region State college in Devils Lake.
`Through these conferences, they advance further into a bracket that leads to quarterfinals, semifinals and then the finals.
While the Mystics did not win their bracket and placed second in their league, they were still able to continue playing into the quarterfinals.
“Yeah, we won some games.We lost some games we shouldn't have lost, and we just straight up lost some games. But other than that, it's good.” Seth Nelson, men’s basketball player said.
Because of COVID-19, many of the Mystics are sophomores, but they were offered another year to play for the team. Sophomore athletes include Jerrick Baines, Garrick Baines, Seth Nelson, Jaden Hamilton, Jaden Mitzel, Kaity Hove, Reile Payne, MacKenzie Boone, Astacia Conica, Kayleen Kihle, Sam Oech and Jenna Rust.
Sophomore athletes will be able to play next year if they meet the requirement by enrolling in at least 12 credit hours.
Nelson said he is debating on the decision to continue because he was offered a full-time job with his Agronomy degree back in his hometown of Carrington.
Reile Payne of the women’s team said that she will play for another year with the BSC Mystics and might play for another school, but she will not go professional.
“I think we played really well together and I think we all understand how each other plays,” Payne said. “I think, overall, we all got along on and off the floor, which also helps us play better together.”
While the team was supposed to keep playing in the semifinals, their last game was on Feb 27 with both teams losing their respective games. The men’s team lost to the North Dakota State College of Science with a score of 87-77 and the women’s team lost to Williston State College with a score of 69-61.
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