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Feb. 5, 2008
By Brian Trent, Citizen Tribune
MADISONVILLE — Veteran Walters State women’s basketball coach Dave Kragel preaches defense to each and every one of his teams. This year’s group takes it to hear, allowing just 52.8 points a game, 10th best in the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Wednesday night, the 18th-ranked Lady Senators put on a defensive clinch, holding homestanding Hiwassee to 23.9 percent shooting from the field and forcing a staggering 28 turnovers in posting a 61-37 triumph.
With the victory, Walters State pushed its record to 21-4 overall and 9-2 in the TJCCAA Eastern Division while the Lady Tigers fell to 10-9, 5-6.
In the men’s game, freshman Rande Sibley sparked a late rally that allowed the Senators to come back and defeat Hiwassee, 74-64.
In a game where his team shot just 39 percent and made 22 turnovers, Kragel knew what made the difference between a win and a loss for the Lady Senators – defense.
“If we don’t play defense like we did, we were coming back to Morristown with a loss,” Kragel said. “The effort on the defensive end was solid and we had girls working hard to make plays.”
The Lady Senators, one of the top rebounding teams in the TJCCAA, won the battle on the board, 43-21, as sophomore Nakisha Strickland raked down 11 stray shots.
“One of Hiwassee’s plans was to try and keep us from dominating on the boards by playing zone,” Kragel said. “After we got off to a quick start, they had to abandon that scheme.”
The Lady Senators took their first double-digit lead at 16-6 on a free throw by freshman Chantel Johnson with 10:25 left in the opening half. The Lady Tigers never cut the lead back to single digits the remainder of the way.
Strickland, one of several Walters State players that played despite being affected by illness, tossed in 14 points.
“Nakisha had to come out of the game several times due to queasiness, but battled through it,” Kragel said. “I hope that this bug that’s hit our team is gone before Saturday’s home game with Chattanooga State.”
Freshman guard Rhon’Neisha Taylor led the Lady Senators in scoring for the third consecutive game with 16 points.
Samantha Avery paced Hiwassee in scoring with 11 points.
With his team down 60-54 with six minutes left in the contest and looking for someone to ignite a spark, Walters State men’s coach Bill Carlyle inserted Sibley into the game. It was the move that changed the complexion of the game.
The former Knox Bearden knocked down three consecutive 3-pointers over a two-minute span to give the Senators (23-1, 10-1) the lead at 63-60.
“We were just dead on the offensive end and I was hoping Rande could hit a shot or two to get us going,” Carlyle said. “Boy, did he ever.”
Sibley also added an assist after Hiwassee had sliced the lead down to one at 63-62.
Despite the win, Carlyle thought his team’s mindset was still on the big home win over Motlow State last Saturday.
“I think the guys were still thinking about beating Motlow rather than beating Hiwassee,” Carlyle said. “You have to credit Hiwassee for being ready to play. We just found a way to win.”
Freshman forward Laquantis Stewart gunned in a game-high 25 points and yanked down nine rebounds for the Senators. Fellow freshman Michael Jenkins added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, freshman
A.J. Thomas tallied 13 points while sophomore Sirlester Martin pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.
In the contest, Walters State was 25-of-76 from the floor (7-of-23 on 3-point tries) for 32.0 percent while sinking 17-of-19 charity tosses.
“It’s not very often that you shoot 33 percent on the road and win,” Carlyle said. “We’ll take it, though, and go get ready to battle Chattanooga State at home Saturday.
For Hiwassee, Josh Noffiett scored 19 points, Carl Taylor hit five 3-pointers and had 15 points while Alex Goldston had 12. |
