Rough ending to superb season for Cardinals
By MATT KING\Daily Journal Sports Writer
Mar 15, 2006 - 10:40:10 CST
BELLEVILLE, IL - A tremendous season for the Region XVI champion men's basketball team from Mineral Area College ended in a disappointing and somewhat uneventful fashion Tuesday night.
The Cardinals needed one more victory in the District 12 playoff game to earn their first trip to the NJCAA national tournament since 1977, but a lackluster defensive performance spelled their demise in an 83-65 loss at Southwestern Illinois.
Mineral Area (28-5) controlled the boards with a 48-29 differential in rebounds, but its normally ferocious defense was rendered ineffective against the Blue Storm, which committed just seven turnovers while seemingly working the basketball inside at will.
SW Illinois (32-2) qualified for the national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas for the first time in school history, increasing its current winning streak to 30 games while halting the Cardinals' impressive run at 17 in a row.
Sophomore Lance Stemler was an offensive powerhouse with a game-high 24 points to lead four double-digit scorers for the Blue Storm. Lawrence Blackledge had several electrifying dunks on his way to 14 points, while Jacob Motteler added 13 and Aram Adams chipped in 10.
The Cardinals grabbed an early 8-4 advantage on a basket by Eric Stuckey after Tremaine Wilkerson knocked down a floating jumper. However, MAC spent the remainder of the night trying to catch up following a 7-0 run by the Blue Storm, sparked by a Motteler steal and subsequent three-point play.
After Stemler buried an open triple from the right corner, SW Illinois broke the Mineral Area trap for an easy layup by David Squires and a 28-16 lead. Chad Henderson hit a three for the Cardinals after Darryl Butterfield battled for two offensive rebounds, but Stemler answered with an athletic tip-in high above the rim.
MAC used a driving floater by Rickey Claitt and another three by Henderson to cut its deficit to eight, but Motteler drilled a crucial triple as the shot clock ran down late in the first half to give SW Illinois a 43-32 margin at the break.
Stemler continued his domination with a hard-fought putback to start the second half, then knocked down his second triple of the night to maintain the momentum. DeAlan Hicks battled for a follow-up score to make it a 10-point game, but the Cardinals could not stop SWIC from attacking the basket.
Blackledge exploded down the baseline to answer with an emphatic slam, and the Blue Storm capitalized on a series of MAC turnovers to pull away for good.
After Adams sliced to the goal for a layup, SW Illinois stole the ensuing inbounds pass, resulting in an easy finish for Blackledge as the margin swelled to 73-48 with 8:15 remaining. Blackledge capped his night moments later with an incredible follow dunk while reaching back to control a high carom off the rim.
Hicks scored seven of his team-high 11 points for the Cardinals late in the contest, including a strong one-handed finish on an alley-oop play, but the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Wilkerson posted nine points and 10 rebounds in his final game for MAC. Muse also scored nine points and Claitt contributed eight, while Butterfield ripped away eight boards. The Cardinals committed 16 turnovers and converted only 11-21 free throws.
SW Illinois, which made all 10 of its attempts from the line in the second half, will play its tournament opener on Tuesday against Southern Idaho.
Mineral Area 32 33 - 65
SW Illinois 43 40 - 83
SCORING:
Mineral Area - Hicks 11, Wilkerson 9, Muse 9, Claitt 8, Henderson 7, Butterfield 6, Mata 6, Hassell 4, Webb 3, Stuckey 2.
SW Illinois - Stemler 24, Blackledge 14, Motteler 13, Adams 10, Fayne 9, Squires 5, McPeak 5, Jackson 3.
3-point FG - Motteler 2, Stemler 2, Henderson 2, Mata 2, Hassell, Webb, Adams.
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The Cardinals needed one more victory in the District 12 playoff game to earn their first trip to the NJCAA national tournament since 1977, but a lackluster defensive performance spelled their demise in an 83-65 loss at Southwestern Illinois.
Mineral Area (28-5) controlled the boards with a 48-29 differential in rebounds, but its normally ferocious defense was rendered ineffective against the Blue Storm, which committed just seven turnovers while seemingly working the basketball inside at will.
SW Illinois (32-2) qualified for the national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas for the first time in school history, increasing its current winning streak to 30 games while halting the Cardinals' impressive run at 17 in a row.
Sophomore Lance Stemler was an offensive powerhouse with a game-high 24 points to lead four double-digit scorers for the Blue Storm. Lawrence Blackledge had several electrifying dunks on his way to 14 points, while Jacob Motteler added 13 and Aram Adams chipped in 10.
The Cardinals grabbed an early 8-4 advantage on a basket by Eric Stuckey after Tremaine Wilkerson knocked down a floating jumper. However, MAC spent the remainder of the night trying to catch up following a 7-0 run by the Blue Storm, sparked by a Motteler steal and subsequent three-point play.
After Stemler buried an open triple from the right corner, SW Illinois broke the Mineral Area trap for an easy layup by David Squires and a 28-16 lead. Chad Henderson hit a three for the Cardinals after Darryl Butterfield battled for two offensive rebounds, but Stemler answered with an athletic tip-in high above the rim.
MAC used a driving floater by Rickey Claitt and another three by Henderson to cut its deficit to eight, but Motteler drilled a crucial triple as the shot clock ran down late in the first half to give SW Illinois a 43-32 margin at the break.
Stemler continued his domination with a hard-fought putback to start the second half, then knocked down his second triple of the night to maintain the momentum. DeAlan Hicks battled for a follow-up score to make it a 10-point game, but the Cardinals could not stop SWIC from attacking the basket.
Blackledge exploded down the baseline to answer with an emphatic slam, and the Blue Storm capitalized on a series of MAC turnovers to pull away for good.
After Adams sliced to the goal for a layup, SW Illinois stole the ensuing inbounds pass, resulting in an easy finish for Blackledge as the margin swelled to 73-48 with 8:15 remaining. Blackledge capped his night moments later with an incredible follow dunk while reaching back to control a high carom off the rim.
Hicks scored seven of his team-high 11 points for the Cardinals late in the contest, including a strong one-handed finish on an alley-oop play, but the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Wilkerson posted nine points and 10 rebounds in his final game for MAC. Muse also scored nine points and Claitt contributed eight, while Butterfield ripped away eight boards. The Cardinals committed 16 turnovers and converted only 11-21 free throws.
SW Illinois, which made all 10 of its attempts from the line in the second half, will play its tournament opener on Tuesday against Southern Idaho.
Mineral Area 32 33 - 65
SW Illinois 43 40 - 83
SCORING:
Mineral Area - Hicks 11, Wilkerson 9, Muse 9, Claitt 8, Henderson 7, Butterfield 6, Mata 6, Hassell 4, Webb 3, Stuckey 2.
SW Illinois - Stemler 24, Blackledge 14, Motteler 13, Adams 10, Fayne 9, Squires 5, McPeak 5, Jackson 3.
3-point FG - Motteler 2, Stemler 2, Henderson 2, Mata 2, Hassell, Webb, Adams.