12-09-08
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARMI - When head coach Doug Miller looks back at the 2008-09 season next spring – he will be able to count Tuesday night’s 54-48 loss to Carmi-White County as one game that could have been in the win column.

NCOE had the opportunities to grab a non-conference win over its county rival but couldn’t overcome poor shooting and multiple fourth quarter turnovers to get a lead or victory.

Trailing just 40-36 heading into the final eight minutes – the Fighting Cardinals missed nine shots and committed eight costly turnovers in that final period – which put an exclamation point on Carmi’s victory.

The Bulldogs – after allowing the door to be slightly ajar by missing 4-of-6 free throws early in the final quarter and by committing five turnovers in those last eight minutes – slammed the gate shut by connecting on 11-of-12 free throws in the final 2:38 to seal the win.

Head coach Jarred Newell watched as his club improved to 2-3 overall on the season while NCOE – champions of the Grayville Thanksgiving Tournament – tasted defeat for the first time after a 6-0 start.

Five-foot-eight senior Travis Williams came up big when it counted for Carmi with 19-points – including 12-of-13 from the foul line – to lead all scorers.

Teammate Clay Matheny – a 5-foot-10 junior guard – added 15 to the Bulldogs totals while senior forward Jake Duvall tossed in 10.

“We knew coming in that NCOE was a great team and that they were well coached and would play hard. We knew that we would have a battle,” said Coach Newell. “And that was what it was for 32 minutes here tonight.”

Norris City-Omaha-Enfield (6-1) was led in scoring by Cody Etienne and Jordan Weiss with 12 points each while Nicholas Mitchell and Zach Halfacre added seven apiece.

NCOE was ever so close to a big run to win the contest in the final quarter.

Mitchell converted a three-point play while being fouled by Matheny to cut the lead to 44-41.

Hart then followed that up by taking a pass from Weiss for a fast break score with 1:53 remaining.

However NCOE would get no closer after a series of mistakes plagued the squad in the final moments.

Hart made a steal near mid-court but turned the ball over trying to score with 1:34 remaining.

The Cardinals nearly got a ten-second count in pressing the Bulldogs on the next inbounds play – but Carmi called a timeout as the count reached nine (the scoreboard clock read 1:25).

NCOE had yet another chance following a CWC turnover after that timeout.

But again NCOE missed a shot and Carmi’s Lawson Warren gathered the rebound and got the ball to Williams who was subsequently fouled by Hart.

NCOE missed its next field goal attempts – all ending up as CWC rebounds and free throw opportunities.

The Bulldogs hit eight consecutive charity tosses to throw a win into the good column.

“The kids played extremely hard in the fourth quarter but we had too many trips down the floor where we came up empty,” Miller added. “Every time we would come back we would miss a “bunny” (lay up) and if you don’t miss those “bunnies” then nothing else matters. If we make those shots then we have a shot at coming back.”

NCOE looked every bit the part of an undefeated team looking to pick up a road win with a solid first quarter effort.

A 7-2 run midway through the opening frame catapulted the Cards to an 11-4 lead.

Mitchell hit Weiss with a pass to the left corner to set up a 3-point bomb and later Mitchell hit the offensive glass for a score to finish the run.

Williams rebounded his own missed shot for a lay in for CWC to close the frame at 13-8 NCOE.

The Cardinals got its biggest lead of the contest (20-13) after Etienne made a steal and converted a conventional three-point play while being fouled by Warren with 6:07 before intermission.

But at this point – CWC woke up with a big run to get a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

An 11-0 sprint – started and ended by Williams’ points – gave the Bulldogs a 24-20 lead with 4:40 left.

The senior leader Williams calmly hit three free throws after being fouled in the act of shooting from behind the arc.

He closed the run with a steal and fast break score.

“We have dug ourselves a hole every game this year but tonight the kids buckled down and made a run in the second quarter to put us in a position for the rest of the game,” said Newell – referring to their second quarter run.

After a good start offensively – NCOE struggled from the field going just 5-of-19 in the second quarter.

Despite its troubles – NCOE trailed just 30-27 at the break.

CWC hit just two 3-pointers on the night but one by Matheny opened the second half scoring.

NCOE got to within a point twice in the quarter on scores by Weiss but didn’t get enough defensive stands to get back the advantage.

Six-foot-five sophomore Lawson Warren scored just four points for CWC but both of his baskets turned out to be big shots in the third quarter.

He scored on an offensive rebound on one trip down the floor and later took a nice pass from Williams for a shot near the basket with 3:34 left to push the lead to 39-34.

NCOE was ever so close to a big run to win the contest in the final quarter.

But the Cards were just 18-of-50 overall from the floor after starting the game 5-of-7 in the first quarter.

They committed a total of 13 turnovers compared to nine for CWC.

The Bulldogs ended up with a 15-of-38 shooting night and out-rebounded NCOE 24-23.

Part of the difference in the game was that CWC got to the foul line more times than the Cardinals and capitalized by hitting 22-of-31 charities.

“We have some seniors and they have shown that they don’t get their heads down when we get behind,” added Newell. “We know that we have to play a full 32 minutes. We need to try and improve 32 minutes a game and each game. We have “Bulldogs” on the front of our jerseys and we are going to play like that until the buzzer sounds.”

Carmi-White County will get into Black Diamond Conference play this Friday when they host Johnston City while NCOE steps back into Greater Egyptian league play with a trip to improved Gallatin County on the same evening.

“They (CWC) gave us the opportunity to get back in the game we just couldn’t do it tonight,” said a disappointed Miller. “We missed a lot of lay ups and we didn’t get the defensive “stops” that we should’ve had.”

Norris City-Omaha-Enfield (48) – Hart 2 0 0-0 4, Weiss 3 2 0-0 12, Etienne 3 0 6-8 12, Mitchell 3 0 1-1 7, Halfacre 3 0 1-2 7, Short 1 0 0-0 2, Kerns 1 0 2-2 4. 2FG-16, 3FG-2, FT-10-13, PF-21.
Carmi-White County (54) – Williams 2 1 12-13 19, Watts 0 0 4-6 4, Matheny 5 1 2-4 15, Warren 2 0 0-0 4, Duvall 3 0 4-8 10, Krummel 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-13, 3FG-2, FT-22-31, PF-14.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.