By DONN ADAMSON/Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Sunday, February 12, 2006
Updated: Saturday, February 11, 2006 11:59 PM CST

MOBERLY - The Mineral Area Cardinals went into Moberly needing only a win to claim a share of the JUCO Division 1, Region 16 Championship. They had to work for it, but finally came away with a 71-60 win over the Greyhounds, to clinch the regular season crown. The Cardinals are now 20-4 overall and 6-0 in the region, three games ahead of second-place West Plains and Three Rivers with only two games to play.

Mineral Area jumped out to the early lead with Tony Webb scoring the first basket, but the Greyhounds gave chase and soon had the lead themselves. A steal and coast-to-coast jam by Chad Henderson tied the game up at 28-28, and a basket by Tony Webb tied it up again to make the half-time score 32-32.

B.J. Benning lit things up in the second half with 15 of his game-high 21 points, and Moberly grabbed the early second-half lead going up by seven points before MAC refocused and came flying back to take the lead at 45-44 on a three-pointer by Tremaine Wilkerson. The Cardinals kept the lead growing until it reached double-digits, but Moberly would not go away.

Two straight baskets shrunk the lead to six, and Coach Corey Tate called time to try and stop the comeback. Moberly scored the next basket to make the lead only four, but the Cardinals said no more.

Darryl Butterfield sank two free throws to make the lead six points again, but with Moberly going empty on their trip down the floor, Willie Hassell made them pay for it with a three-pointer that basically sealed the game with only 54 seconds left. Butterfield would score two more baskets for Mineral Area to close out the scoring and become the Cardinals top scorer with 12 points.

Three Rivers defeated West Plains on Saturday for Coach Gene Bess's 999th win. Three Rivers plays Mineral Area in their next game on Saturday. MAC's next game is Wednesday when they will host Florissant Valley in a doubleheader with the Lady Cardinals.

Mineral Area 32 39 - 71

Moberly 32 28 - 60

Mineral Area - Butterfield 12, Britton 10, Webb 10, Claitt 7, Wilkerson 7, Henderson 6, Hassell 5, Muse 5, Stuckey 4, Mata 3, Hicks 2.

Moberly - Benning 21, White 13, Jackson 10, Judge 7, Nelson 4, Murphy 4, DeWalt 2.

Moberly 93, MAC Lady Cardinals 38

It wasn't much of a game, at least not for the Mineral Area Lady Cardinals who were outclassed by the Moberly Lady Greyhounds, 93-38. The Lady Cardinals scored the first two points, but there were no more opportunities for Mineral Area to lead the game again as the Lady Greyhounds lived up to their name and raced away to a 45-14 first half.

The Lady Cardinals had their troubles in more than one way. They not only couldn't shoot well, but they also turned the ball over consistently, giving the Lady Cardinals several extra chances to score, which they did, because Mineral Area also could not defend against the quicker offense.

Mesha Williams spearheaded Moberly's attack with 10 points in the first four minutes of the game. Williams led all scorers with 25 points, and Moberly had four other players in double figures. Dionn Jackson led the Lady Cardinals with nine points.

Mineral Area found their three-point range in the second half with Whitney Washington, Britany Sublett, and Neicole Whitiker all connecting, but only for one three-pointer each.

Moberly shot 75 percent from the line (21-28) with Ashley Baker connecting on 9-10.

Mineral Area 14 24 - 38

Moberly 45 48 - 93

Mineral Area - Jackson 9, Golphin 8, Washington 5, E Anderson 4, Henderson 4, Whitiker 3, Rios 3, Sublett 2.

Moberly - Williams 25, Bush 15, Baker 13, Lewellen 10, Pittman 10, Lovelady 8, Gravitt 3, Reinkemeyer 1.

3-Pointers: Lewellen 2, Pittman 2, Whitiker, Washington, Sublett, Gravitt.