Dakota Claims Round One

The Lena-Winslow Panthers and Dakota Indians got their basketball rivalry off to a strong start Friday night in Dakota as the only NUIC game on the schedule due to the opening of tournament play the next day. And it is a safe bet that there will be more than one meeting between these two area powers this season – another conference battle in Lena, and then the chance of meeting in the Forreston Tournament or even post-season play.

But Friday night belonged to the Indians.

Dakota caught the Panthers flat footed right out of the gate as their press resulted in a quick 4-0 lead. But it was the ou...