Ross Thede

So much for an undefeated season.

Monday, December 10, 2001

So much for an undefeated season.

A 4-0 start for the Riverland women’s basketball team was cut in half over the weekend as the Lady Blue Devils were dropped by a pair of cross-conference foes.

Riverland, a member of the Southern Division of the Minnesota Community College Conference, fell by 12 points to a pair of Northern Division teams.

The Devils were dashed by Mesabi Range, 90-78, on Friday, and Vermilion, 76-64, Saturday afternoon in their initial MCCC games. The games do not count towards Riverland’s conference record, but it brings the team down to 4-2 overall.

&uot;We played well, but they’re a really tough team,&uot; Riverland coach Suzy Hebrink said of Mesabi, who features an All-American in Bonnie Kamenski. The sophomore guard led Mesabi with 28 points and 12 steals, most of which came in the second half according to Hebrink.

Mens team drops pair

The Riverland men’s basketball team faced what appeared to be an insurmountable task with this weekend’s road trip to the north, but they gave all they had for a pair of cross-conference games against Mesabi Range and Vermilion.

Unfortunately for the Blue Devils, all they had was not enough to stop the second- and third-rated teams in the league.

Mesabi Range, rated No. 3, outscored the Devils 58-38 in the first half of their 111-88 victory Friday night, while defending state champion Vermilion never let the Devils any closer than the 40-37 halftime score in an 80-66 decision Saturday in Ely.