Mertens earns Mon-Dak women’s Coach of the Year, Royals get four on All-Conference teams
Lake Region State College head coach Danny Mertens was awarded the Mon-Dak Conference women’s Coach of the Year Award.
Article by Sam Herder, Devils Lake Journal Sports, published Feb. 24, 2016.
Lake Region State College head coach Danny Mertens was awarded the Mon-Dak Conference women's Coach of the Year Award.
Kennedy Henningsgard and Kristal Flowers were named to the conference women's first team. AJ Nywesh of the LRSC men was named to the first team while Ryan Clark made the second team.
"It is a great honor, but my girls deserve this award," Mertens said. "If I didn't surround myself with good players, I don't get this award. All 11 of the players on this team helped with getting this award. There are lots of countless hours and commitment that this team has put in to be successful and with out that, I don't get this award."
The Lady Royals went 24-6 in the regular season and 11-1 in conference play. LRSC is the No. 1 seed in the Region 13 playoffs beginning today at 7 p.m. in Devils Lake.
Henningsgard, a sophomore guard, is averaging 16.9 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists per game this season. She has scored 20 or more points 12 times this season.
Flowers, a sophomore center, is averaging 11.7 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game this season. She has had seven games with 15 or more rebounds and has scored in double digits 18 times.
Nywesh is a sophomore guard for the LRSC men. He scored 659 points this season for 21.3 points per game average. Nywesh shot 42.7 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from behind the arc and 84.1 percent from the free throw line.
Clark, a sophomore forward, averaged a double-double this season with 15.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. He also set the LRSC career rebounding record with 636.