The Settler

Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Kristen Salter Coach Rusty Melvin discusses a strategy with the Pioneers.

Media Credit: Kristen Salter

The Volunteer State Community College men's basketball team took on their conference rival, the St. Catharine Patriots, last Wednesday night in the Richard Moore Gymnasium.

The game tipped off at 7:30 p.m. and for the next two hours it was pure excitement.

The Pioneers scored 6 points right out of the gate and appeared as if they would pull away, but the Patriots rallied and made it clear that they were there to play ball.

Turnovers were a problem for the Pioneers both early and late in the game. In the first half, the Pioneers turned the ball over nine times.

"I think we had at least 10 points off of turnovers," said St. Catharine guard, Jeremy Jones.

Although the game was competitive, there were not a lot of points being put on the scoreboard. The Patriots were ahead by a score of just 24-21 at the end of the first half.

The second half was much different. Both teams traded baskets and the score was tied up midway through the second half. The excitement continued to build into the final minutes of regulation.

Vol State was able to stay in it largely impart to the performance of sophomore Brandon McGill. He was the leading scorer for both teams and finished with 30 points.

The game was close through its entirety and with 30 seconds left in regulation, the score was tied up yet again.

Vol State had control of the ball and the shot clock was turned off.

They could hold for the final shot.

Coach Rusty Melvin called for a time out to get a play set up, but it failed and sent the game into overtime.

"We had a play designed but they double-teamed us like they had been all night and we didn't get the shot we wanted," said McGill.

The five minutes of overtime was even more exciting. The Pioneers matched the Patriots point for point. McGill hit a big three-point shot with just over one minute left and tied the game. But the Patriots managed to steal the lead again.

Then Vol State's DeAndre Reeves answered with a clutch three of his own with 7.2 seconds left on the clock. This gave the Pioneers a one point lead.

Despite the great effort showed by the Pioneers it wasn't enough in the end. The Patriots made a three-pointer as the clock expired. The final score was 78-76.

McGill was "obviously disappointed but we gave a 100 percent effort throughout the whole game," he said.

"I feel for our guys because they played so hard," said Bobby Hudson, athletic director.

They can bounce back this Saturday against struggling Dyersburg State Community College. The game will be at home and start after the conclusion of the women's game.

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