The Norris City-Omaha-Enfield Junior High Basketball team found themselves playing the Crab Orchard Trojans in the semi-final round of the Little Greater Egyptian Conference Tournament Tuesday evening.
Just like the first time these two teams met, the Jr. Cards wasted little time in jumping to the early, lop-sided advantage. NCOE applied their usual intense defensive pressure which resulted in several Trojan turnovers thus allowing the Jr.Cards to go on an 18-4 first quarter run. Second quarter action would find NCOE struggling just a bit to convert on the offensive end, along with being a little too aggressive defensively as they allowed their opponent to go to the charity stripe six times. However, Crab Orchard would only knock down two free throws which enabled NCOE to carry a 21-point lead into the locker room at halftime (29-8).
Following intermission, the Junior Cardinal offense did not pick up any more than the way it left off but their defense did hold the Trojans to just eight points which was enough to stretch their lead out to 24 points with just one final frame remaining. This fourth and final quarter was the lowest for each team as far as scoring went but in the end NCOE would once again top their opponent en route to the 47-19 victory as well as earning a berth into the championship game Thursday night against the Carrier Mills Wildcats (Carrier Mills defeated Gallatin County in the other semi-final game).
Jack Riggs would lead the NCOE offense with 21 points followed by Joe Melton with seven, CJ Richardson six, Nathaniel Wilson four, Jacob Richerson four, Bryce Rider three, and Ty Money two. Money would top the assist column with five followed by Richerson with three, Melton two, Richardson two, Riggs one, Wilson one, and Lucas Browning one.
Joe Melton was the rebounding leader with six while Jacob Richerson collected four, Ty Money three, Lucas Browning three, Bryce Rider two, and one each for Braden Mitchell, CJ Richardson, Nathaniel Wilson, and Gabe Largent. Jacob Richerson led the team with five steals followed by three from Ty Money, two by Jack Riggs, and one by Nathaniel Wilson.
This victory raised the Junior Cardinal record to 19-3.
