Cardinals leave Lincoln Trail in the dust

By MATT KING/Daily Journal Sports Writer

PARK HILLS - The Mineral Area College Cardinals battled through their most sluggish offensive start of the season on Friday, but their reliable defense again put them in position to win.

The hard-nosed Cardinals forced 21 turnovers and held visiting Lincoln Trail to just 16 points in the second half at home to pull away for a 64-47 victory during opening-night action in the Rosener's Classic.

Mineral Area (5-0) spent the entire first half trying to find its rhythm against the stingy zone defense of the Statesman, which had all but eliminated the Cardinals' ability to run in transition.

Lincoln Trail (2-3) held a 31-30 advantage after limiting MAC to just 3-16 shooting from three-point range during the opening stanza, but the Cardinals created a series of turnovers which sparked a decisive 10-0 scoring run.

Willie Hassell gave the Cardinals an early 7-2 lead on the first of his three triples on the night, but foul trouble against the home team took away its ability to establish an inside attack. Center Curtis Muse and forward Darryl Butterfield each had three fouls with four minutes remaining in the half.

Desmond Addison muscled his way inside for a basket that started a modest run for the Statesman, and Jeremey Moss capped it with a mid-court steal and slam, giving Lincoln Trail its first lead since the opening basket of the game at 16-15.

A pull-up jumper by DeAlan Hicks trimmed what had been a six-point deficit down to two. A tumbling putback by Brad Lachenmayr stretched the margin to 31-26, but a three-pointer from Hassell drew MAC closer at the break. Hassell finished the night with a game-high 15 points.

Both teams were cold from the field at the second half began, but Mineral Area finally rallied behind its active defense. T.J. Britton ignited the crowd with a big dunk created on a loose-ball scramble, and Tony Webb buried two consecutive three-pointers in transition for a 51-43 lead with 7:33 left.

Webb followed his own missed shot and drained a mid-range jumper moments later to extend the margin to double-digits. Webb collected 13 points including a trio of three-pointers for the Cardinals.

Muse put the game out of reach by finishing an exciting fast break with an emphatic slam after a behind-the-back pass from Hassell set up a Ralph Mata assist.

Lincoln Trail failed to take advantage of their many trips to the free-throw line, converting just 12-24 attempts. Jermaine Thomas paced the Statesmen with 10 points, and Patrick Gregg added nine.

Hicks chipped in 10 points and Britton scored nine for MAC.

The Cardinals will host Southeastern Iowa tonight at 7 p.m. in a battle of nationally-ranked teams. The Blackhawks fell to Three Rivers in double overtime in the first game played at the Bob Sechrest Fieldhouse on Friday.

Lincoln Trail 31 16 - 47

Mineral Area 30 34 - 64

SCORING:

Lincoln Trail - Thomas 10, Gregg 9, Finley 8, Addison 7, Lachenmayr 6, Moss 4, Brown 3.

3-pointers - Thomas.

Mineral Area - Hassell 15, Webb 13, Hicks 10, Britton 9, Muse 6, Butterfield 4, Claitt 3, Schauf 2, Wilkerson 2.

3-pointers - Webb 3, Hassell 3, Claitt.