Havre, MT – Just as MSU-Northern Football and Volleyball have done, MSU-Northern Lights and Skylights basketball are now adjusting to the reorganized Frontier Conference.
As the team’s head into break from conference play for the holidays, both the Lights and Skylights are seven games into the 22-game conference schedule. The Lights sit at 3-4 while Skylights are 5-2.
Out of those seven games the Lights and Skylights have only competed against one Montana based opponent and it was in the conference opener at the University of Providence back in late November.
Skylights head coach Chris Mouat said they haven’t had huge issues with the new schedule but there are some things that may need to change.
“I didn’t like playing these two teams so close together (Dakota State and Bellevue University’s). Everybody kind of went through the same thing on the schedule and I don’t know that anyone really like that piece of it, but that’s the way the schedule was. We’re happy to be where were at with the only two losses being to number four in the country. I thought both games against Dakota State we played fairly well. They’re just a really good basketball team and we have to play better than that to beat them. I like where we are at but it’s only going to get tougher.”
A positive coming out of the new scheduling in the Frontier is the number of tough opponent’s head coach of the Lights Shawn Huse knows that every game for his team will be a battle.
“If you look at the scores, certainty you can see some things about the league and how tough the league is and how our side of the conference seems to be doing pretty well right now. It’s hard to say to Mutch specifically other than every game is going to be a battle and we’re going to have to prep real well week by week and develop our strategy and our game plan and what the keys are.” Coach Huse Said.
MSU-Northern Lights and Skylights basketball will resume conference play with four straight road games starting on Friday January 2, at Valley City State. Then the teams will head to Mayville State on Saturday January 3. After Mayville, Lights and Skylights basketball will have their first in state double header road trip to Montana Western Friday January 9, and Saturday January 10, at Montana Tech.
