Lady Vikings finding rough seas

By Chris Johnson

REPORTER

It was kind of a “bumpy ride” to the start of the season for the North Boone Lady Vikings. The winter-schedule opening nine-point win over Christian Life 26-17, set the stage for what could be a snapshot of how the season could go. North Boone was favored to defeat Christian Life. They accomplished that goal.

On Tuesday, Nov. 14 the Lady Vikings faced Johnsburg. North Boone wasn’t favored to win. They lost 72-32. Into game three of the season and a rematch with Christian Life, the start of the season seemed to be going about as expected.

There are going to be a lot of things the Lady Vikings will have to work through this season. They will get it done. Roster reports feature eight athletes on this year’s team. They will find ways to work together and compete within the conference.

The NUIC-Big Northern crossover series got underway in Dakota prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday. North Boone was expected to face some of the top teams in the state during the one-week crossover event.

On Monday, Nov. 21, North Boone faced River Ridge/Scales Mound. The game was expected to be competitive. It was. The co-op came away with the win, 52-43. The following night Pearl City had too much offense to contend with as the Lady Vikings fell 58-39.

Byron was next up in the Dakota Tournament. The Lady Tigers are favored to go a long way this season and take a lot of steps towards the Big Northern Crown. They were favored to win and accomplished the task by a 68-22 margin.

Over the next two nights of the Dakota Holiday Tournament, North Boone suffered a three-point loss to perennial powerhouse Dakota and dropped a 60-36 decision to former State Champion Freeport Aquin.

North Boone wasn’t expected to run through the early schedule without damage. They hung around and can now begin to turn their well-tested attention to the Big Northern Conference and the important games ahead.

The test begins as December arrives. The 2015 Regional Champion Winnebago Lady Indians stop by for a visit.

North Boone is going to have to string together a few solid starts in order to begin seeing what many Lady Vikings fans already do. Work is being done on building a better program at North Boone and things are getting better overall.

When the Big Northern schedule takes a heavy turn towards head-to-head battles, North Boone will be presented with the opportunities to win big games. They will be confident enough to know they always have a chance.

Statistically, it will be hard to argue that North Boone won’t be a stronger overall team by the time February arrives and the playoffs begin. They will know they have shots to win the close games and have just as much of an opportunity to knock off one of the top programs in the northern part of the state on any given night as anyone else playing high school basketball in northern Illinois.

The members have to believe they are teammates and can accomplish more things together. Many great teams and former regional champions still have to learn to develop that goal themselves.