Ada —
The East Central University men's basketball team had trouble getting out of the blocks during a home contest versus Arkansas-Monticello last Thursday inside the Kerr Activities Center.
The Tigers battled back and got within five by halftime. But a similar start to the second half proved to be too much to overcome as the Boll Weevils turned back ECU 69-59.
The Tigers slipped to 4-7 overall and 1-4 in the Great American Conference, while Monticello improved to 7-4 and 2-3.
ECU was 2-of-9 from the field and had five turnovers in falling behind 20-7 to start the game after Monticello big man Dayton Mickens powered home a dunk at the 11:32 mark of the first half.
After getting to 34-29 at halftime, the Boll Weevils took advantage of another ugly ECU stretch to start the second half. The Tiger hit just one field goal in the first four and a half minutes as Monticello stretched its lead to 47-32 with a 13-3 run.
During the two bad starts, the Tigers were outscored 33-10.
"I'm definitely disappointed. We're just rusty. The break really hurt us," said ECU men's coach Mac McConnell. "We have to get better. We're going to stay positive."
The Tigers were dominated in the paint. ECU post players Jason Williams and Henry Pwono combined for 12 points (six points each), while Monticello's Mickens and A.J. Calhoun had 21 and 14 points, respectively, for 35.
"Our bigs didn't come to play tonight … and their bigs had career nights, both of them. (Calhoun) hadn't scored eight points in his whole career there," McConnell said.
The Tigers had trouble solving Arkansas-Monticello's zone defense — mostly a 1-3-1 setup.
"It's going to be our Achilles' heel. When people play us man-to-man, we have a great chance to get out and run and be physical. When they play us zone, for whatever reasons and as much as we work on it, we're stagnant," McConnell explained. "We looked like we're stuck in quicksand. You jack up 21 threes, and you only make five. When we beat the No. 3 team in the country at their place (an 80-67 win over Newman), we only shot 10 threes. You wonder why we're shooting so many right now."
McConnell had to be pleased with the offensive performance of junior Colby Carr, who sank 7-of-9 field goals and finished with a team-high 17 points. He registered a triple double, but it wasn't a sexy triple double. Carr also had team-highs of 13 rebounds and 10 turnovers. Carr arrived late on campus after the Christmas break and missed four of ECU's practices.
"He was rusty. He had a triple double, but that's not the kind of triple double you want," McConnell said.
Freshman Braxton Reeves hit four 3-pointerd off the bench and finished with 12 points for the Tigers.
East Central trailed by as many as 18 — the latest at 66-44 with 9:13 to play after a basket by Monticello's Brandon Sims — but got within seven at 66-59 with 2:01 left on a Carr layup. But the Tigers wouldn't score again.
Monticello guard Kori Forge, who entered the game averaging 22.3 points per game and had hit 34 3-pointers, was limited to 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting.
The Tigers are back in action Thursday, traveling to Northwestern in Alva.
Local Sports
Tigers get off to rough start in loss to Weevils
- Local Sports
-
-
OU's Gray slams door on Baylor
Jonathan Gray was just as nasty for the Oklahoma Sooners during the first game of the weather-delayed Big 12 Conference Tournament as he was back in the day as the ace of the Ada Braves American Legion baseball squad.
-
Tim Green All-Sports Golf Classic set
The East Central University athletic department and Patriot Ford are sponsoring the 7th Annual Tim Green All-Sports Golf Classic July 1 at the Brent Bruehl Memorial Golf Course in Purcell featuring Dr. Gil Morgan, ECU alumnus and PGA Champions Tour professional.
-
Phillips 66 Big 12 baseball championship to play today
Big 12 Conference athletic directors decided Tuesday morning to play the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship. The format has been altered, and play will start today instead of Wednesday.
-
Ada scrimmage held indoors
The lore for The Dunham, the Ada Cougars’ huge indoor practice facility opened in 2008, has it that the first unofficial athletic event came near the finishing touches on the building.
-
Owens takes Harold Leep Jr. Memorial Race
There is something about “special events” at the Oklahoma Sports Park that suits Gary Owens just fine when the Oil Capital Racing Series comes to town.
-
Ada Cougars prepare for challenges
Just about the only thing left to prepare for the intrasquad scrimmage that will end the Ada Cougars’ spring ball is the where.
-
Kilby again slams the All-Star Classic competition
The preliminary competitions for the 2013 Ada News All-Star Classic 3-point Shoot Out and Slam Dunk contests were literally seconds from coming to an end when Ada High sophomore Cory Kilby rushed to the scorer’s table inside Stonewall’s Murphy-Roberts Gymnasium and asked if it was too late for him to enter the fray.
-
Stonewall pair leads East girls to victory on own home court
Two Stonewall girls basketball players — Breann Gipson and Haley Snell — made the most of their final game on the home floor Wednesday night.
-
Drumgo helps West to boys win
Vanoss’ Chris Drumgo drilled four 3-pointers, finished with 14 points and garnered Most Valuable Player honors in leading the West to a 66-62 victory over the East Wednesday night in the 40th annual Ada News All-Star Classic at Stonewall High School’s Murphy-Roberts Gymnasium.
-
Robson spotted at spring practice
Upon entering ‘The Dunham’ — the Ada Cougars’ indoor practice facility — one wondered who the quarterback in the white T-shirt running plays on the far end may be. His moves are familiar. Perhaps a big No. 6 on his back would help.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Raw: Train Derails After Overpass Collapse
Raw: Rescues From San Antonio Flooding
Raw: French Soldier Stabbed in Throat Near Paris
Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
