KERKHOVEN -- Dawson-Boyd and Lakeview battled for the Camden North Conference lead in girls basketball Tuesday with Lakeview coming away with the win. Even though the game was scheduled a long time ago, the implications would not have been that big if it wasn't for Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg.
The Fighting Saints upended Dawson-Boyd 54-42 in Kerkhoven on Jan. 10 to give Lakeview sole possession of first place in the conference. Nine days later Dawson-Boyd was thanking KMS after the Fighting Saints had clipped previously unbeaten Lakeview 54-50 in Cottonwood. Lakeview had beaten KMS by 17 earlier in the season.
"We kind of helped MACCRAY, too," said first-year KMS coach Jeff Holtkamp.
MACCRAY (7-2) has only lost twice -- to Dawson-Boyd (6-2) and Lakeview (6-1) -- in the conference, but has stayed in the race for the title thanks to KMS (4-4). Even though it looks like KMS is out of the hunt, the team still thinks it can win the Camden North.
"Anything can happen the way the year has been going," said Holtkamp. "Any team can win on any given night. We need some help, but we have to win the rest of our games."
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KMS has two home games -- Feb. 2 against Canby and Feb. 7 against Central Minnesota Christian -- and two road games -- Friday at Renville County West and Feb. 10 at Dawson-Boyd -- remaining on its conference schedule. The way the season has been going the Fighting Saints are probably looking forward to the road games; they are 8-1 away from home compared to only 2-3 at home.
"I don't know what it is, but we seem to play better on the road," said Holtkamp. "But it will help for the playoffs."
Sparked by junior post/forward Esther Peterson, averaging 17.9 points-per-game, the Fighting Saints have won eight of their last nine games. Holtkamp said the team turned the corner after they lost to RCW in the opening round of the Old Two Twelve Conference Holiday Tournament on Dec. 15, dropping the team to 2-3 on the season.
"We have cut back on turnovers and the defense is stepping up," said Holtkamp. "We've been getting good senior leadership and everyone is playing their role. Other than Esther, someone else has been stepping up every night."
MACCRAY, which has already swept the season series from KMS, has back-to-back home games in February with Dawson-Boyd and Lakeview. Looks like everyone will have to wait until the end of the season to see who wins the inaugural Camden North Conference title.
