Inconsistency, Defensive Fallout Costs Pirates Against T-Birds
January 26, 2019
CONCORDIA, Kan. - After a less than stellar showing earlier in the week, the Independence Pirates looked to get one more in the win column traveling to take on the Cloud County Thunderbirds. During the first few minutes, it looked very well for the Pirates but that quickly changed as the Independence had a defensive fallout and despite battling back dropped the contest, 91-80.
The Pirates had three players in double figures led by Anquaevious Pollard with 16 points, Tyler Williams with 15 points and Tyreece Berry with 11 points. Pollard also posted a double-double with 10 rebounds.
"The other team shot very well and spread us out," coach Tony Turner said. "We just didn't shoot the ball very well, but to get back in the race we have to buckle down and get tough, because life on the road in the KJCCC is always a tough test."
"On Wednesday, we go to Allen County and they'll spread us out with their speed and great precision shooting."
In the first half, the Pirates struck first with a jumper from Djikine followed by a basket from Anquaevious Pollard for a four-point lead. Another basket for Pollard pushed the lead to six, but a three by Adetomi Aylari cut it in half before a bucket by Djikine at the 16:15 mark.
A three from Braden Day made it a two-point lead for the Pirates before a bucket from Djikine, but buckets from Alvin Tompson and Jacob Shields tied the game at 10-10. Cloud got their first lead after two free throws from Nysir Scott, but Pollard tied it at 12-12 at the 13:20 mark.
A three-pointer from Jerome Kidd put the T-Birds up by three, but a put back by Pollard cut the lead down to one before a three by DJ Sims. A basket by Tonje Durham cut the lead to two and a three-pointer from Ricky Edwards followed by a free throw gave Independence a 20-18 advantage at the 9:45 mark.
A three by Edoardo Del Cadia and a basket from Scott gave Cloud a three-point advantage and a three-point play by Scott pushed the lead to six. A bucket from Gabe Pieschl made it an eight-point lead for the T-Birds, but a bucket by Djikine cut the score to 28-22 at the 8:13 mark.
A three-point play by Iyen Enaruna pushed the lead to nine for Cloud County, but a put back from Pollard brought it down to seven before one shot from the line by Enaruna. A free throw by Day made it a nine-point lead and Ayilara pushed the score to 36-24 after a deep three-pointer at the 4:49 mark.
A basket by Pollard got the lead back down to ten before two free throws from Day, but a jumper from Kofi Maze kept the Pirates within ten points. One shot for Day put the lead to eleven before a bucket by Pollard, but free throws by Shields made the score 41-30 T-Birds at the 3:24 mark.
A free throw from Jibril Harris made it a 10-point game, but Thompson pushed it to twelve with a short floater before a free throw from Edwards. A bucket from Sean Pollack cut the lead to nine before a pair of free throws for Day put Cloud County ahead 45-34 at the nine-second mark. Cloud County added two more free throws from Scott and led the Pirates 47-34 at the half.
The second half began with a basket by Durham to bring the Pirates within eleven, but a basket from Day with a free throw added pushed it to fourteen before a free throw from Durham. A put back by Pollard had the lead at eleven again before a bucket from Thompson who also added two free throws to make the score 54-39 Cloud County with 17:45 remaining.
Another bucket by Thompson pushed the lead out to seventeen and then twenty after a three from Del Cadia. A speedy layup by Scott put Cloud County ahead by 22 points and a layup by Shields made it a 63-39 T-Birds lead with 15:38 remaining.
A basket from Tyler Williams followed by a free throw cut the lead down to twenty-one before a jumper from Tyreece Berry and a three from Williams had Independence within sixteen points before a bucket from Pollack. A three from Kidd pushed the lead back to seventeen before a free throw from Pollack and a layup after a steal by Darell Purdie with a free throw to follow made the score 66-53 with 11:25 remaining.
A three by Kidd and layup from Thompson made it an eighteen-point Cloud County advantage before free throws by Pollack and a tip-in by Del Cadia had it back at eighteen. A trip to the line for Williams resulted in two free throws for Independence, but the T-Birds would get one back with a trip to the line for Scott that made the score 74-57 with 8:00 remaining.
Free throws from Berry cut the lead down to fifteen before a jumper from the sophomore and a basket from Durham had the Pirates back within eleven before a jumper by Enaruma. Another trip to the line for Enaruma pushed the lead back to fifteen before a basket by Harris who made a put back to make it 78-67 before a free throw by Durham with 4:15 remaining.
Free throws from Day put the lead back to twelve points and a trip to the line for Thompson resulted in two free throws before a basket from Williams who followed with a free throw of his own. Another basket for Williams brought the Pirates within nine points, but a three from Thompson gave Cloud County a 85-73 lead with 1:23 remaining.
A three by Berry cut the lead to nine but a quick basket for Thompson along with a free throw pushed it back to twelve before a trip to the line for Ayilara that resulted in two free throws. Free throws for Williams cut the lead to twelve before a free throw for Kidd that was matched by two shots from Berry making it an 11-point setback for the Pirates.
Independence (12-9, 7-5) returns to action January 30 traveling to Iola to face off against the Allen County Red Devils with tip off set for 8 pm.