BUCCANEER MEN GET A PAYBACK WIN OVER PANOLA
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
A game-altering rally in the second half propelled the Blinn College men's basketball team to an 87-82 Region 14 road win over Panola College on Saturday in Carthage, Texas.
The victory – the Buccaneers' fifth region road win of the season – improved Blinn to 13-7 overall and 7-5 in region play.
The Bucs also avenged an 87-72 Jan. 2 home loss to Panola.
"Today wasn't necessarily about what we did in terms of X's and O's as much as it was the makeup of our players," Blinn head coach Scott Schumacher said. "These guys are tough and they are competitive, and they really are just a joy to coach. These are the type of young men and players that coaches feel blessed to have on their team."
The Bucs' competitive toughness shone through in the second half after the Ponies erased Blinn's 37-29 halftime advantage and forced a 50-all deadlock with 14:02 remaining.
The Bucs were undeterred following a timeout as freshman guard Connor Sprattley broke up the tie with a 3-pointer with two defenders in his face.
The make from downtown was followed by a pair of free throws from freshman guard Brandon Hatcher and a floater from sophomore forward Kenaz Ochogwu, and the Bucs were on their way.
Sophomore guard Dashawn Ceaser added a jumper, freshman guard/forward Ian Sedah was fouled as he buried a layup and made the subsequent free throw, and freshman guard Desmeon Jones followed suit with a layup as he drew a foul.
Jones knocked down the ensuing charity bucket to complete a 15-2 run which gave Blinn a 65-52 lead with 10:20 left.
The Bucs led by no less than four points the rest of the way.
"I thought we did a good job offensively controlling the clock and the game, and that was thanks to some really good play from our guards," Schumacher said. "We also settled – not to use a baseball term – for singles as opposed to swinging for the fences, and those good looks and good shots helped us pull away."
With 21 points for both Ceaser and Sprattley, as well as 20 for Jones, the Bucs had three players score 20 or more points in a game for the first time this season.
Ochogwu added 10 and Sedah had seven. Sprattley and Jones dished out six assists apiece.
The Bucs also had another outstanding shooting night, going 30 of 55 from the floor (55%) and 20 of 23 from the free throw line (87%).
Up next for Blinn is a makeup date with region foe Bossier Parish Community College set for 7 p.m. tonight (Monday) at the Kruse Center in Brenham.