Little Greater Egyptian Conference Tournament play kicked off Thursday evening, Jan. 10, when the top seed NCOE Junior Cardinals played host to the Pope County Pirates. This contest had a lot riding on it for in order to advance into the semifinal round of tournament play, one had to claim a first round victory.
With a lopsided victory already recorded against the Pirates earlier in the season on the road, most expected this game to be not much of a challenge for the Junior Cardinals but as all know when tournament play begins anything can happen. Following three minutes of scoreless play, it was obvious anything could happen but finally the offense would arrive for NCOE and they would close out the first quarter on an 11-2 run to take the early lead. Second quarter action was much better for the Junior Cardinals on the offensive end as they added 18 points to their total while their defense limited the Pirates to just three points. This found NCOE stretching their lead to 29-5 at the halftime break.
The second half found the offense slowing down for NCOE while it picked up for Pope County but the Junior Cardinals would once again manage to top their opponent 15-8 do extend their lead to 31 points heading into the final frame of action. This final quarter once again would witness the Junior Cardinals outscoring Pope County, 7-4, as they secured the 51-17 win to advance to the semifinal round of conference tournament play.
Erik Healy was the leading scorer for the Junior Cardinals (20-1) with 16 points followed by Preston Long with 10 points, Joel Hortin nine points, Cord Tucker seven points, Jaden Simmons five points, and Colby Prather four points. Healy also dished out a team high four assists followed by Tucker with three, Long three, C.Prather two, Hortin two, Nolan Prather one, and Austin Surratt one.
The rebounding category was also topped by Erik Healy as he was credited with seven boards followed by Preston Long with four, Joel Hortin three, Colby Prather two, Zeke Baumgart two, Hayden Mathis two, and Cord Tucker one. Tucker and Long led the way with five steals a piece in the contest while Spencer Shipp added two, Healy one, Surratt one, and Tate Riggs one.
The Junior Varsity contest started out very slow on the offensive end but as the first quarter came to a close, the Jr. Cards would manage to cling to a 5-2 advantage over the Pirates. This three point lead stretched out in the second quarter when Tate Riggs knocked down a three pointer and drew the foul. A successful free throw gave NCOE the four point play and a little cushion as they went on to outscore the Pirates 8-3 to claim the 13-5 halftime lead.
Second half action found the Pirates picking up the pace on the offensive end to go on their own 10-7 run in the third quarter to cut the Junior Cardinal lead to just five points with one quarter of play left. This final stanza would be very balanced but the Jr. Cards would manage to hold off the Pope County rally to go on and claim the 25-19 victory and avenge an earlier loss.
The Jayvee squad (4-9) was led in scoring by Tate Riggs with with 13 points followed by Spencer Shipp and Hayden Mathis with four points a piece, and two points each for Bryer Sauls and Nolan Prather two points each. Assists were dished out by Shipp (2), Riggs (1), Prather (1), and Zeke Baumgart (1).
Hayden Mathis and Spencer Shipp held their own down low as each ripped down a team high nine rebounds. Others with rebounds were Brockton Washburn (2), Nolan Prather (2), and Tate Riggs (1). Shipp topped the team with three steals followed by Riggs with two, Baumgart one, Mathis one, and Dayton Tharp one.
NCOE will be back in action Tuesday when they travel to Thompsonville to play in the semifinal round of the Little Greater Egyptian Conference Tournament against the Carrier Mills/Hardin County winner.
