Weatherford takes 2 from Lon Morris

By Jay Neal

sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com

It’s not often that Lon Morris College loses two basketball games in one night in the friendly confines of the Vivian and Bob Smith Event Center, but it happened Wednesday evening.

In the first game of the twin bill between LMC and Weatherford College, the Lady Coyotes went on 16-0 run that spanned 5:29 of the second half and then repelled a late charge by the Lady Bearcats as WC came away with a 70-63 decision. The win was the second of the year for WC over LMC — the Lady ‘Cats did defeat the Lady Coyotes in the season opener, however.

In men’s action, the Coyotes canned 13-of-16 (81.2-percent) free throw attempts in the second half while the ‘Cats suffered an off night from the charity line, hitting just 8-of-14 (57.1-percent) from the line over the final 20 minutes of play as WC avenged a season-opening loss to LMC by prevailing over the Green and White 85-81.

Both LMC units will return to the hardwood Saturday as the women play in the Baton Rouge (La.) Community College Classic while the Bearcats open Region XIV play by traveling to Lamar State-Port Arthur for a 4 p.m. tipoff.

Lady Coyotes 70 Lady Bearcats 63

After playing through a first half that went in see-saw fashion — the Lady Bearcats led 31-29 at the break — the Lady ‘Cats appeared to being on their way to a victory as the LMC ladies used an early 8-0 run to move ahead of WC 39-29 at the 17:42 point.

But the Lady Coyotes were not ready to give up as about four minutes later WC managed to tie the game at 42 all.

From that point WC kicked it into overdrive and peeled off a 16-0 run, holding LMC scoreless for just over five minutes.

When the dust had settled, the Lady Bearcats found themselves down 58-42 with 8:32 showing on the clock.

LMC battled to the wire and pulled to within five, 68-63, when Whitley Kizzee swished a trey off the left wing at the 1:34 mark.

But the Lady Bearcats were forced into fouling from that point on with Brittani Williams going 2-of-4 from the line in the closing moments to account for the final WC points.

Kasandra Foreman of WC led all scorers with 25 points followed by Wilkins who added 18 for the Lady Coyotes.

LMC had three players finish in double digits, sparked by Christy Willis and Crystal Harrison with 13 a piece.

Harrison and Sherena Abercumbia had a dozen points a piece for the Green and White.

1 2 Tot.

WC 29 41 70

LMC 31 32 63

WC — Brittani Wilkins 18, Tiffany Hattiway 3, Andrea Davis 4, Kasandra Foreman 25, Shameka Lunford 9, Kaneisha Benjamin 7, Monica McGill 4.

LMC — Kizzee Whitley 7, Christy Willis 13, Jessica Jackson 5, Diamond Austin 5, Jasmine Reeves 6, Sherena Abercrumbia 10, Brenda Adhiambo 4, Chrystal Harrison 13.

Three-point shots — WC-Hattiway, Davis, Foreman, Lunford. LMC-Whitley, Willis (2), Abercrumbia.

Records — WC (3-2); LMC (2-5)

Coyotes 85

Bearcats 81

LMC held a slim 42-40 lead at intermission after going up by as many as eight points, 37-29, on a three-foot bank shot by Travis Jones that came with 3:17 to play in the opening half.

The Coyotes took their first lead of the night when Darious Jones drained a pair of free throws that gave WC a 44-43 lead at the 18:49 point.

WC expanded the margin to as many as eight points, 71-63, with just under five minutes to go in the game, by staying hot from the stripe and getting clutch triples along the way.

At the same time the Bearcats, who usually have success from beyond the arc, could hardly buy a basket from long distance, going 5-for-23 (21.7-percent) from downtown — only 1-of-12 in the decisive second half however.

It looked as though LMC could possibly pull a victory out as the Bearcat press forced WC to commit five turnovers in the final five minutes of the game with LMC taking advantage, pulling to within three points on three different occasions, but the ‘Cats get any closer until Jorge Redmon sank a jumper near the right elbow that made the score 82-81 in favor of the visitors with 34 ticks remaining.

Seven seconds later WC’s Aron Walker made the first of two free throws, putting WC in front 83-81.

On the ensuing LMC possession Greg Chaisson, who was 2-of-2 from long distance at the time, launched a rocket from the right corner that would have moved LMC into the lead if it had been successful. Chaisson’s shot bounced off the iron and into the hands of a Coyote however, foiling LMC’s chance at victory.

Sammy Yeager’s two free throws with 6.3 ticks remaining accounted for the final points of the contest.

Kendall Durant of WC was the game’s high point man with 23 and Yeager was close behind, with 21

Redmon spurred the ‘Cats’ attack with 16 points followed by Joel Gierbolini with 14 and Antonio Brown and Chaisson, who each netted 12 points, respectively.

Gierbolini was the game’s leading rebounder with 12.

The game was delayed for about 15 minutes in the second half when a LMC cheerleader was injured during a stunt performed during a timeout. The young lady was taken off the court on a stretcher by Jacksonville Fire Department medics and transported to a local hospital as a precautionary measure.

1 2 Tot.

WC 40 45 85

LMC 42 39 81

WC — Darious Jones 11, Kendall Durant 23, Sammy Yeager 21, Aron Walker 13, Kenneth Stewart 17.

LMC — Jorge Redmon 16, Antonio Brown 12, Greg Chiasson 12, Nayquen Mitchell 2, Alonzo Edwards 11, Darren Lawrence 3, Byron Graham 2, Travis Jones 9, Joel Gierbolini 14.

Three-point goals — WC-Durant (3), Yeager, Stewart (2); LMC-Redmon, Chiasson (2), Lawrence, Jones.

Records — WC (4-3); LMC (5-2).