Moberly Finally Has Its Way With #10 Mineral Area
(Feb 5, 2022) Moberly, MO – Ending a losing streak to a rival tastes pretty good. Just ask the Moberly Area CC Greyhounds, who cast aside the Cardinals, ending their recent stronghold, 68-65 in Fitzsimmon-John Arena. The past two seasons Moberly had been dealt losing hands from the Cardinals for six straight games, including an unlikely four times last season.
Moberly, receiving votes in the polls all season long, has been close during that losing string, but never could complete the task. Granted, four of the six were played in the friendly confines of The Bob (Bob Sechrest Field House named after legendary and former head coach and AD of the Cards), but does that really matter?
Last season MAC beat everybody until a quarterfinal loss in the national tournament, finishing with the schools best ever record at 24-1. The combined record of last year through last night was 44-5. Wrong time, wrong place for all of Mineral Area’s opponents, not just Moberly.
But last night was a little different. Instead of finding a way to lose, the Hounds closed out the game with better play, and better decision making nearing the end to pull off the upset.
MACC got a big game from Sincere Parker, who netted 25, fueled by six threes. Michael Thomas ended with 13, eleven in the second half. Makalani Kafele & Tyren Moore dropped in ten each. The win improves Moberly to 19-6 overall and 6-3 in the region.
The loss puts Mineral Area at 20-5, leading the region with a 7-2 mark. Kenan Sarvan tied Parker with game high 25, on 7-13 shooting, 7 of 10 from long range. Brett Thompson put in 15 with Jamir Price adding 12.
Moberly had a lead for most of the first half, their largest was 8. Mineral Area took a four point lead late in the second, 57-53. But the Hounds scored eight straight to regain the lead they never lost. Parker hit two FTs in the waning seconds proiding the final three point margin.
“I think Sincere Parker has come along ways this season, as a player, and his maturity level,” remarked HC Patrick Smith on his leading scorer. “We noticed several times this year, in the early game against Mineral and loss to (John A.) and again (the last two losses) against Three Rivers and Mineral Area, we’ve got to become a better grind it out team, to win these tough games. I felt like we really did a good job of grinding this out tonight and Sincere was an example of a guy grinding the game out. ” Smith added.
Smith had this to say about guard Michael Thomas, “He’s playing so well right now, he’s playing with a tremendous air of confidence. He is playing so much better right now, he’s really improved, his defense has gotten so much better, his understanding of the game. He got covid at the start of the semester, and that stuff really takes it out of you. But he’s had three really good game in a row for us now.”
With 5.5 seconds left, the Cardinals had a chance to tie after Parker’s free tosses. With a foul to give, and up three, Moberly found Thompson moving up the sideline before reaching half court. It was still the Cards ball, now 60 away from the goal, and only 3.7 ticks remaining.
This time MAC struggled getting the ball inbounds, then maneuvering into position for a shot. Brett Thompson received the pass on the left sideline hash mark, nearly stepping out of bounds in the process.
Closely guarded by both Thomas and Parker, Thompson tried to inch closer dribbling with his back to the rim, but the much taller Thomas held steady. Thompson had to settle for a step back 28 footer that hit off the back iron as time expired.
Round three in 2021-22 goes to Moberly. Stay tuned, there might be another chapter before this season’s over.
