Orlando Anderson and the Vikings hope to soar past the competition when they enter full-blown conference play on Friday. The Vikings are currenlty 1-0 in the DAC. (VCTR file photo/Mark Potts)

By Mark Potts
Valley City Times-Record

The Valley City State men’s basketball team enters Dakota Athletic Conference play as an early-season disappointment. After a 22-8 season last year, the Vikings were expected to make some noise on the national scene. But entering the second-half schedule the Vikings are 7-8, 1-0 in the conference, albeit against some very tough competition.
They’ve put themselves into a position where they’ll almost certainly have to win the conference tournament to get into the national tournament, but the early win against Jamestown gives them a solid start and they’ll look to continue that start this weekend when they travel to Dakota State on Friday and Mayville State on Saturday.
“We’re excited,” head coach Jeff Kaminsky said. “We put ourselves in a good position in the conference, winning the first game.
“It was good to get a win on Tuesday (against Minnesota-Morris) and get a little momentum going into the weekend.”
Part of the Vikings early-season struggles can be attributed to injuries. VCSU really hasn’t played with its full roster all season, and may not anytime soon. Starting guard Ray King has been out since November with a knee injury that doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Kaminsky said there’s no timetable for King’s return, and his return at all this season is questionable.
Helping to offset the loss of King is the addition of transfer Dareon Spencer to the team at semester break. Spencer has been the Vikings leading scorer in his three games with the team and dished out eight assists last Tuesday.
“He’s been with us all year (practicing) so the transition to playing wasn’t so big,” said Kaminsky. “And he’s such a team-oriented individual it certainly adds a lot to our chemistry.”
Two teams are already off to a 2-0 start in the DAC: Black Hills State, and the surprise team of the year so far, South Dakota School of Mines.
Black Hills, picked third in the preseason poll, currently sits at 13-2 overall. The Yellow Jackets are ranked No. 8 in the latest NAIA Division II coaches poll. Sitting atop the DAC with Black Hills is the South Dakota School of Mines. The Hardrockers, picked sixth in the preseason, have moved up to No. 21 in the latest national poll after putting together a 13-3 record through the first half of the season.

For full story see Friday's edition of the Valley City Times-Record.