WEST PLAINS, Mo. – A lack of focus on defense cost the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team their second loss of the season in Region 16 and Midwest Community College Athletic Conference (MCCAC) play.
The Grizzlies, now 13-6 overall, 1-2 in MCCAC and 0-2 in Region 16, fell to the Mineral Area College Cardinals from Park Hills 88-74 Saturday, Jan. 9, in Joe Paul Evans Arena at the West Plains Civic Center.
“We didn’t come out with enough focus on our assignments defensively,” Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Yancey Walker said. “They came out, executed and hit the shots they’ve been successful taking.”
Because of that lack of focus, the Cardinals were able to go up 43-31 in the first half. The Grizzlies tried to battle back in the second, but fell even further behind as the Cardinals once again out-scored them 45-43 in that period.
“Our on-ball defense wasn’t what it needed to be, and that led to their threes being the difference,” Walker said. “When we had opportunities and just needed one stop to close the gap, we didn’t defend the ball, which led to someone needing help, which in turn led to an open three for their shooters.”
The Cardinals posted the better shooting percentages from the field and 3-point line, hitting 28 of 57 shots from the field for 49.1 percent and 14 of 24 from 3-point range for 58.3 percent, but the Grizzlies were more efficient from the free throw line, connecting on 22 of 29 attempts for 75.9 percent. The Cardinals hit 18 or 27 free throw attempts for 66.7 percent, and the Grizzlies were 23 of 50 from the field for 46 percent and six of 24 from 3-point range for 25 percent.
The Grizzlies out-rebounded the Cardinals 36-22, but the Cardinals had better control of the ball, only committing nine turnovers. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, coughed up the ball 19 times. The Cardinals also recorded more assists – 20 to the Grizzlies’ 15.
“We have to be more focused at the start of the game,” Walker stressed. “When we are, we have been a very good team. When we haven’t, we’ve struggled.”
Leading scorers for the Grizzlies were sophomore forward Ngor Barnaba with 18 points, freshman guard Eddie Reese with 16 and freshman forward Devonte Campbell with 11 points. MAC was led by Montell Goodwin with 24 points, followed by Yashua Trent, Elliot Sentence and Daniel Norl, each with 13 points, and Darius Thompson with 10.
The Grizzlies will try to regroup Tuesday evening, Jan. 12, during a road trip to Chicago, Illinois, where they will play Richard J. Daley College in a 7 p.m. contest at Olive-Harvey College, 100001 S. Woodlawn Ave., in Chicago. The game was moved to a new location due to a problem with the gym at Richard J. Daley College, Walker explained.
“Our team has responded in the past, now is the time to respond properly and learn from our mistakes,” Walker said. “We have to win at Richard J. Daley, then we have to prepare and find a way to win Saturday.”
Saturday’s game is the annual Grizzly Homecoming game against Region 16/MCCAC rival Three Rivers College from Poplar Bluff. The Raiders handed the Grizzlies their first Region 16/MCCAC loss of the season Dec. 5, so the Grizzlies will be looking to return the favor. The game will be sponsored by Ozark Horse Trader.
For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit the team’s website or call the Grizzly Basketball office at 417-255-7993. Complete game statistics can be found here.