By JASON VIOX\Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Sunday, November 13, 2005
Updated: Sunday, November 13, 2005 7:03 AM CST

PARK HILLS - The Mineral Area Cardinals basketball team came out strong in their home-opening contest against the Lindenwood J.V. Lions. Mineral Area relied on an aggressive offense and defense, and the Cardinals doubled Lindenwood's score 104-52.

The Lions held an early 3-2 lead on a free throw by Patrick Lee. This was their only lead of the afternoon as Willie Hassell drained a three and Curtis Muse added a basket for a 9-3 advantage in favor of Mineral Area. Hassell chipped in a jump shot and another three-pointer, and Darryl Butterfield jammed the ball to hand the Cardinals a comfortable 24-7 lead.

Michael Rodgers knocked down a couple of free throws for the Lions, but the Cardinals scored 12 straight points, which included a three by Dontavis Jones, for a 36-9 advantage. A dunk and a jump shot by De'Alan Hicks boosted Mineral Area to a 40-11 lead. Steven Schauf added a three-pointer for the Cardinals, and Dan Wollery made a lay-up for Lindenwood before the end of the first half. Mineral Area was way out in front by the score of 51-22.

A basket by Lee and Freddie Jones slightly narrowed the deficit, but the Cardinals countered with a bucket by Tremaine Wilkerson and a three-pointer by Schauf. Mineral Area's Rickey Claitt easily drained two three-point shots for a monstrous 65-29 lead. The Cardinals scored nine straight points which included a lay-up and a powerful dunk by Muse.

Wollery added a three, but two baskets by Schauf and a three by Claitt helped Mineral Area to a 83-34 advantage. Another three-pointer by Claitt sparked a 13-0 scoring run for a massive 99-36 lead. The run was capped off by Jones' second triple of the contest.

Freddie Jones scored the Tigers' six out of their next eight points, but the fans were fired up by another dunk from Muse. Wollery and Schauf traded a three-pointer before Wollery added another basket for the last points of the game.

Schauf led both teams in scoring with 17, and Claitt closely followed with 16. Seven players from Mineral Area finished with double-digit scoring. Claitt finished with four three-pointers. Freddie Jones recorded a team-high 14 points for the Lions, and Wollery contributed 13.

The Cardinals are now 3-0 and will host 11th-ranked Southwestern Illinois on Tuesday.

Mineral Area - 51 53 - 104

Lindenwood JV - 22 30 - 52

SCORING:

Mineral Area - S Schauf 17, R Claitt 16, T Britton 12, C Muse 12, D Hicks 10, W Hassell 10, D Butterfield 10, C Henderson 6, D Jones 6, T Wilkerson 4.

3-Pointers - R Claitt 4, S Schauf 3, D Jones 2, W Hassell 2.

Lindenwood JV - F Jones 14, Wollery 13, P Lee 6, D Thomas 6, M Rodgers 5, T Mueth 4, J Coffee 2.

3-Pointers - D Wollery 3.