On the Net (video):
Coach Brian Alexander & Antionette Riddle talk the need for improvement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgU98zL0swk
Booneville, Miss. – Cord Wright's Northeast Mississippi Community College men's basketball team accomplished something on Tuesday night that no other squad has done so far in the 2013-14 season.
The Tigers held No. 15 Jones County Junior College below 80 total points for the first time this year, but the Bobcats held off the upset bid with a 58-48 win inside Bonner Arnold Coliseum.
"I told our guys that they gave a phenomenal effort on both ends of the floor," said Wright, Northeast's headman. "We did a great job rebounding the ball and those guys just competed. If you play hard, you can build off of that."
Jones County has crossed the century mark on five occasions during this campaign and entered the matchup averaging 93.4 points per game, which is the highest mark among members of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC).
The Bobcats were the 14th-best team in the nation and tops in the league with a field goal percentage of 52.1, but Northeast held its guests to a season-low 37.9 percent from the floor.
The previous low final score for Jones County (10-1) was 83 in a victory over Delgado (La.) Community College in November.
"I think every guy who stepped on that floor and played minutes did extremely well," said Wright. "I tell you what, I can't pinpoint one guy over any other. It was a complete team effort."
Point guard Dimario Jackson ran Wright's offensive plan to perfection and also led all scorers on the evening. The Brusly, La., product hit 8 of 16 field goal attempts for 18 points, his top effort since dropping 23 in a triumph at Gadsden State (Ala.) Community College on November 4.
"If I don't manage (the offense), then all my guys will be out of spot," said Jackson. "We knew that they wanted to play a fast paced game so we knew we had to slow it down in order for us to have a chance."
Northeast (3-9) trailed 31-23 at the break, but put together two furious second half rallies to come within one possession of the lead.
A three-point basket from the corner by Cannon Edwards capped a 9-2 run out of halftime by the Tigers to cut Jones County's advantage to 33-32 with 16:28 on the clock.
Johnny Zuppardo knocked down seven quick points and the Bobcats scored 13 of the next 15 to take a seemingly comfortable 46-34 lead.
The Tigers caught a second wind and again fought back into the contest. A fast six-point spurt with makes by Al Azulphar, Ladarius Waits and Jackson cut Northeast's deficit to 49-46 in the waning minutes.
However, the Bobcats were able to withstand the late comeback from the Tigers with late baskets from Leo Garrett and Bryce Jones.
Jones County has four athletes that average double figures, but only two reached that feat on this night. Zuppardo topped the Bobcats with 17 while Thaddeus Hall added 11, down from his team-best mark of 16.4 per outing.
Azulphar saw just 15 minutes for the Tigers in their opening contest of the spring semester, but still recorded a double-double, the first of his career, with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
"Al's continuing to get better," said Wright. "He's starting to turn the corner and get more aggressive. I see good things coming his way."
Northeast outrebounded their adversary 38-31, led by Azulphar's effort and Dexter Stafford's eight boards.
(W) Jones County 78, Northeast 69
The Lady Bobcats constantly gave Antionette Riddle an open path to the basket and the Tupelo native took advantage. She continued her impressive sophomore campaign by tying a career-high with 22 points in a close loss to Jones County.
"When I drive into the lane of course I'm looking to score, but I'm also looking to bring in the defense," she said. "I'm just looking to make my team better and look for options for them."
Northeast trailed by as many as 15 in the opening half after two free throws by Crystal Clay, but edged to within seven at the intermission thanks to makes from behind the arc by Jasmine Allen, Kiki Gwyn and Lexy Lindsey.
Jones County (7-4) reestablished a double-digit advantage just over four minutes into the second after a Latisha McCullum trey and held it for the majority of the half.
The Lady Tigers did score 13 of the game's final 18 points, with Teresa Mays and Riddle combining for nine in that stretch, but time ran out on the Northeast (4-7) come from behind push.
Forwards Starla Daggans and Kaylan Hughes each scored 17 as Jones County tallied 46 points in the paint. Crystal Clay barely missed a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds.
The Lady Bobcats shot only 28.6 percent shooting from three-point land. It is the seventh time in 11 outings by Northeast that its opponent has been held below 30 percent in that category.
Teresa Mays joined Riddle as one of the Lady Tigers' top scorers with 10. A Wooddale High School product, it is Mays' fifth straight contest to reach double figures.
Aushiana Ivy and Daisha Williams both flirted with double-doubles. Ivy, from Tupelo, scored nine points and had 10 rebounds while Williams, a Columbus native, also had nine points with a career-best eight boards.
Northeast's defense forced 24 turnovers and also brought in 10 steals, including three apiece from Ivy and Riddle.
"I'm pleased with us getting better, but it's time to put it together," said Lady Tigers head coach Brian Alexander. "Our team knows that. Even though some of those stats are good, we've got to look each other in the eyes and say they're not quite good enough and we've got to figure out a way to get it done."
Both Northeast hoops squads face a short turnaround with Wallace State (Ala.) Community College at Hanceville invading Bonner Arnold Coliseum tomorrow (Thursday, January 9). The Lady Tigers are set to take the floor at 5:30 p.m. with men's action to follow.