BUC MEN’S HOOP SEASON ENDS

Blinn puts up a fight but falls to No. 1 Trinity Valley, 86-73

Buccaneers got within two in second half but Trinity Valley too much in final minutes

LUFKIN, Texas – At times, Blinn College men’s basketball played well enough to get a win but it was Trinity Valley Community College coming away with an 86-73 victory in the Region XIV quarterfinals Thursday afternoon in Lufkin.

The quarterfinal loss ends the season for the Buccaneers with a 22-10 overall record and 1-1 in the postseason.

“Our guys played hard the whole time and fought for the entire 40 minutes,” said Blinn coach Scott Schumacher.

Morris Dunnigan had a solid game for Blinn with 25 points to lead the way. Corey Henderson, James Harrison and John Dewey each had 13 points in the loss.

After grabbing a quick 5-2 lead early on, things went south for Blinn as Trinity Valley used a 14-2 run to take a 16-7 lead. The Buccaneers did fight back as Dunnigan hit a 3-pointer and Henderson hit a layup to get Blinn within 25-21 with 7:29 left in the first.

Trinity Valley followed that with 12 consecutive points to take a 37-21 lead but Blinn would cut into that before the half. Henderson hit a pair of 3-pointers and Dunnigan capped the first half with a successful layup in the paint to get the Buccaneers within 44-37 at the break.

Trinity Valley extended its lead in the first four minutes in the second half to 56-43 but Blinn would counter with 11 straight points capped by two free throws from Victor Dukes to get within 56-54 with 13:35 remaining.

That would be as close as Blinn would get as Trinity Valley countered with a 13-2 run to open up a 69-56 lead. Dunnigan scored 12 points in the second half and Harrison added eight but Trinity Valley was able to advance to the semifinals with the 13-point victory.

“I am just disappointed that I don’t get to coach my team anymore because I love coaching these guys,” Schumacher said.

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.

(Story courtesy, Jake Gordon, Blinn Information)