By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Monday, January 25, 2010
Updated: Monday, January 25, 2010 8:51 AM CST

PARK HILLS — With the last seconds ticking off the clock, the Mineral Area College Cardinals took two last shots at wresting the lead away from the visiting Moberly Greyhounds in Saturday’s regional game, but both rushed tries were off the mark and the Greyhounds were able to return home with a 70-69 victory.

The game in its entirety was as evenly played as the final score implicated. The two teams were deadlocked at the half 37-37. Three lead changes occurred in the first minutes of the second half, but a three for three run of three-pointers by the 17-3 Greyhounds gave them the largest lead of the game at 57-47 with 10:31 left to play.

Mineral Area utilized its perimeter game in the first half to keep up with the consistent scoring of Karon Johnson. The Greyhounds went to Johnson habitually and the 6’8 freshman responded with 21 points in the first half.

The Cardinals scored five three-pointers in the first half. Riley Raulston scored two, but it was Martell Anderson who came up with the big shot as he nailed a three late in the half to give the Cardinals the lead at 37-35. Two Greyhound free throws made it a new ball game for the last 20 minutes of play.

The Cardinals took the lead to start the second half, but it was short-lived as Jerret Towns hit a three to put Moberly up by one. A reverse lay-up by Al Rapier to give Mineral Area a 45-42 lead got the home-crowd into the game, even though another Moberly three tied the game.

Both teams traded baskets for the second and last tie of the half, which kicked off a 10-point run by the Greyhounds. The lead stayed around 10 points the final minutes.

Mineral Area (15-6) cut the lead to six, and after a turnover by the Greyhounds, the Cardinals coach Core Tate called time to set up their strategy for the final 45 seconds of the game. Moberly guessed a pair of long balls, but MAC went inside instead for an uncontested lay-up by Martell Anderson. 

A desperate Cardinals defense forced three turnovers by the Greyhounds in the final minute of play, and hey were able to pull to within one, 70-69, on a putback by Demetrius Harris. Having to foul to get the ball back, the Cardinals were rewarded with a missed front end of a one-and-one by the Greyhounds.

The Cardinals missed their first shot, but the rebound went out of bounds off the hand of a Greyhound player with six seconds left. Mineral Area’s last-chance shot went off the front rim.

MAC had five players score in double figures with Drew Thomas leading the way with 15 points. Johnson led all scorers with 28 points for Moberly.

The Cardinals will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to play Southwestern Illinois.

Moberly  37  33 - 70

Mineral Area  37  32 - 69

Scoring:

Moberly - Karron Johnson 28, Eric Saunders 10, Jahmon Smith 8, Jerret Towns 7, Brandon Williams 6, Dezmond Hickman 5, Antwaun Boyd 4, Darius Glover 2.  3 pt FG - Johnson 2, Saunders 2, Hickman, Towns.

Mineral Area - Drew Thomas 15, Carlton Guyton 11, Riley Raulston 10, Al Rapier 10, Martell Anderson 10, Demetrius Harris 8, Kaleb Wright 2, Josh Minner 2, C.J. Crittendon 1.  3 pt FG - Thomas 2, Raulston 2, Guyton, Anderson.