By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Saturday, November 07, 2009
Updated: Saturday, November 7, 2009 4:10 AM CST

POPLAR BLUFF — The Mineral Area Cardinals started their official season this week, and on Friday they picked up their first ‘W’ with a 79-59 win over the Southeastern Illinois Falcons in the first round of the Three Rivers’ “Tournament of Champions”.

Mineral Area (1-1) will take on Arkansas Baptist tonight at 5 p.m. for their final game of the event.

The start of the game saw two totally different programs as Mineral Area was able to pack it in and penetrate the key for their scoring, and Southeastern took more of the pot-shot approach from just inside the perimeter.

The Falcons’ style of offense played well into the hands of the Cardinals in the first half as they cleaned the boards quite easily, and Southeastern was only able to claim two offensive boards in the first half.

MAC’s full court press gave the Falcons fits as they committed several turnovers in the backcourt and coupled with their off-the-mark shooting it could have been a quick runaway game. Mineral Area, however had its own troubles handling the ball on their end of the court, which allowed the Falcons to stick close on the scoreboard.

The lead changed six times in the first 10 minutes, but with the score 12-11 in favor of the Falcons, the Cardinals put on an eight point run that gave them the lead for good, and causing Southeastern’s  coach to call time. Kaleb Wright made waste of the break as he hit a three for MAC to give the Cardinals a double-digit lead at 22-12.

The Falcons could not buy a basket as they shot 10-28 in the first half. The Cardinals, utilizing a quicker inside game, were able to make good of the closer range.

A putback jam by Josh Minner came on a rebound of a foul shot right in front of a Southeastern defender on the opposite side of the key who must have fallen asleep on the shot.

MAC’s trapping defense gave the Falcons’ ballhandlers severe problems, not allowing them to penetrate or to see the open players on the court. With 4:11 on the clock, the Falcons dribbled into a trap on the right side, and had to call time to get out of it.

Masrtell Anderson hit a three for MAC with 2:30 left to make the score 33-20 and Southeastern score the last two baskets to close the gap to nine points at 33-24.

Issac McClure took over the game to start the second half scoring the first six points and making a rebound in the first 90 seconds while Mineral Area could only watch.

Coach Corey Tate did not like what he saw and quickly called time to readjust his team’s focus. It worked as the Cardinals reestablished their first half lead and the score would not shrink below seven for the rest of the game.

Daquan Brown the Falcons’ first three-pointer with 14:10 left in the game, but it was canceled out Wright with his second of the night. Wright led Mineral Area in scoring with 16 points. Demetrius Harris was next with 11. Thirteen Cardinals scored in the game

Three Rivers’ gymnasium was only a tenth full of basketball fans at the start of the game, but in the second half the seats began to fill with the Three Rivers’ game to follow after MAC’s game. The fans were able to see the best of MAC’s game.

The lead stayed at seven for most of the middle of the half, but with 6:30 left, the Falcons could not find the inside of the rim, either from the field (0-6) or from the line (0-6) as MAC’s defense stiffened. Mineral Area owned the scoreboard as they methodically built a 25 point lead.

Everything was falling  for the Cardinals. On one offensive play, C.J. Crittendon was able to slip by his defender, but upon being knocked to the floor, he flipped the ball underhanded into the hoop before hitting the hardwood.

Mineral Area shot 30-58 from the floor, making 4-8 on three-pointers, and 15-24 on free throws. The Cardinals outrebounded the Falcons 35-23 with 11 offensive boards to seven for their opponent.

Mineral Area  33  46 - 79

SE Illinois  24  35 - 59

Scoring:

Mineral Area - Wright 16, Harris 11, Minner 9, Guyton 9, Raulston 7, Thomas 6, Crittendon 6, Peebles 4, Rapier 4, Anderson 3, Ferguson 2, Shorter 1, Campbell 1. 3-ptr. - Wright 2, Raulston, Anderson.

SE Illinois - Kirksey 20, McClure 8, Seck 7, Brown 6, Long 5, Ashford 3, Bosier 2. 3-ptr. - Brown, Long.