In a battle of two halves the Nevada Tigers would own the first half but the Tigers of Carthage would come out of the locker room and take control from the first bucket through the final buzzer.
Carthage would come up scoreless in their opening possession and Nevada would use some time off the clock moving the ball around before Brice Budd would find a cutting Jack Cheaney for the lay-up and Nevada’s first lead. Budd would get a steal on the next trip down the court, but Nevada couldn’t convert it into a bucket. Carthage would get the next two buckets for a 4-2 lead. Riddick Shook would get an offensive rebound and assist to Gabe Smith for the lay-in and second tie of the game. Jack Cheaney would grab one of his many defensive rebounds of the quarter which would lead to Gabe Smith getting fouled in the act of shooting and he would knock down 1 of 2 free throws. Nevada would hit the next 3 of 4 free throws and Carthage would complete an old-fashioned 3-point play and the score was back within 1 with Nevada up 8-7. Nevada’s Jack Cheaney would then go on a 5-0 run of his own with a spin move off an inbound play for 2, followed by a corner 3 and a put Nevada up 13-9. Nevada would get the ball back with 7 seconds remaining in the quarter and Jack Cheaney would find Kellen Braden who was well beyond the 3-point line, but would knock it down as the buzzer rang out and after 8 minutes of play Nevada was up 16-9.
Carthage would set up to throw the ball in to start the quarter, but Mason Majors read the pass and got the steal and an assist to a running Uche Mba to keep the Nevada momentum rolling. Carthage would use extra effort on the boards as well as a Nevada turnover to get the next two buckets. Each team would trade empty possessions before Riddick Shook found an open Kellen Braden for a 3-point from the top of the key about halfway through the quarter but Carthage would answer a 3 of their own. Carthage would hit two more buckets with a Brice Budd drive and jumper in between and Nevada’s lead was cut to 3 at 23-20. A Nevada turnover would give Carthage a shot that wouldn’t fall. Mason Majors would grab the defensive rebound giving Nevada the opportunity to set up their offense and Brice Budd would find Uche Mba for 2 more. Carthage would get an offensive rebound and put-back giving Nevada one more opportunity to score, but the 3 at the buzzer wouldn’t fall this time and Nevada would go into the locker room still holding on to a 3-point lead at 25-22.
Carthage would go on a 7-0 run to start the 3rd quarter, taking advantage of empty Nevada possessions, and just like that there was a new set of Tigers with the lead. Riddick Shook would find a cutting Brice Budd in a gap in the Carthage defense for a bucket with 5:06 remaining in the quarter. Carthage quickly answered with back-to-back buckets. Nevada would work hard on the offensive boards and get the ball to Brice Budd who would drill the 3-pointer and cut the Carthage lead down to 3 at 33-30. Carthage would get another bucket before both teams would trade turnovers before Uche Mba would get fouled on the shot and knock down 1 of 2 free throws. Carthage would put points up on the board on their next 3 possessions, taking advantage of Nevada's turnovers and outworking Nevada on the boards giving them multiple opportunities for the ball to to fall in the bucket. Nevada would get the ball with just under 10 seconds to go in the quarter before Brice Budd would find Kellen Braden for another long-range 3 at the buzzer to get Nevada back within 8 at 42-34.
Carthage would get the first bucket of the 4th and get their first double-digit lead. Jack Cheaney would hit two free throws and Carthage would answer with a right-wing 3. Both sets of Tigers would trade empty possessions before Carthage would get past Nevada on the baseline and drive in for 2 more. Jack Cheaney found Mason Majors for a 3 to get Nevada back within 10 at 49-39 but Carthage would quickly answer with a 6-0 run before Uche Mba would get fouled on a shot and hit both free throws. Carthage would break Nevada’s press and get back-to-back layups and a 3 before Brice Budd would drive to get a lay-up and 2 more for Nevada. A Nevada steal would give Budd another opportunity to drive to the bucket where he would get fouled and knock down both free throws. Both teams would then begin emptying their benches as the regular season came to a close and they could see the postseason on the horizon. Jett Synder would hit 2 free throws to finish off the scoring for Nevada while Carthage would hit a 3-pointer and the final score on the board was Carthage 66 and Nevada 47.
Brice Budd led Nevada with 11 points, Jack Cheaney added 10, Uche Mba and Kellen Braden each had 9 apiece, Gabe Smith and Mason Majors each had 3, and Jett Snyder hit 2 free throws.
After the game head Coach Shaun Gray said he was “really proud of the way our games came out and executed the defensive game plan. We were able to limit their start player to only 5 first-half points while holding their best shooters scoreless in the opening half. Unfortunately, when Carthage went to a different line-up in the 2nd half with 4 or 5 shooters on the floor we really struggled to guard consistently. We also struggled to rebound after the 1st quarter. Carthage had 12 second-chance points in quarters 2 through 4. They are too good a team to give that many second chances to.”
On what he felt they could learn from this game, Coach Gray added “We have to continue improving on scoring around the basket when the game is physical as well as not turning the ball over against pressure. The 15 turnovers on Thursday night will usually get you beat against good teams. This was a great tune-up game for us for the postseason. The physicality and athleticism as well as the skilled guard play should prepare us for potential matchups with Harrisonville and hopefully even more opponents beyond that.”
The Tigers will begin postseason play on Thursday, 2/29/24 in Pleasant Hill against either Harrisonville or Pleasant Hill.
Comments