Tigers lose close game against Red Devils

Nick Ianniello

Mineral Independent

The St. Regis Tigers lost a close game at home against the Noxon Red Devils Saturday evening after an impressive third quarter comeback.

“I’m very proud of the kids, all of them. All nine kids that I had available played a heck of a game tonight,” said Tigers Head Coach Dan Park Saturday evening.

The Tigers started out the game in a six point hole after falling behind 11 – 5 in the first quarter.

Despite having trouble taking the ball to the basket the Tigers stayed in the game with two foul shots from Willy Roper and a well aimed three-pointer from Zane Worrall, whose long game would prove to be essential for the tigers throughout the rest of the evening.

The Tigers stepped up their offense in the second quarter, only allowing the Red Devils to outscore them eight to seven and keeping their lead to 19 – 12.

One foul shot from Roper along with another from Shad Hotchkiss and two from Tim Cranley kept the Tigers going in the second quarter while Worrall sunk another three-point shot to keep the Tigers playing tough.

In the third quarter the Tigers turned the game around, outscoring the Red Devils 16 – 8 to take a 28 – 27 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Two more three-point shots and a two-point basket along with points from Roper, Josh Slavin and Steven Mellin gave the Tigers their late lead and sent them into the fourth quarter looking strong.

Unfortunately the Tigers let their guard down in the fourth quarter, allowing the Red Devils to outscore them 18 – 10 to take home a 45 – 38 win over the Tigers.

“We got lazy for one minute and that’s really all it took to turn this into a six to eight point game. That’s just how fast basketball happens,” Park said.

Pat Quinlivan, James Jennings, Cranley and Worrall each scored in the fourth quarter, but could not keep the Tigers head above water in the close match.

“You’ve got to play for the full 32 minutes. You can’t take a few minutes off here and there and still win the basketball game,” Park said.

The Tigers inability to pick up the rebounds they had earlier in the game hurt them greatly in the fourth quarter.

“We gave up a few easy rebounds that cost us,” Park said. “They got easy points that we hadn’t given up earlier in the game. When we gave up those shots we didn’t come back and answer them on the other end. In a close game when you start losing the spread you’re in trouble.”

Roper, who has led the Tigers in scoring for most of the season, fouled out early in the third quarter, taking away the Tigers’ go-to shooter in the crucial fourth quarter.

Worrall led the team in scoring with four three-pointers and a 16 points overall in the game. Roper came in second with seven points at the end of the game. Quinlivan played an impressive defensive game with nine rebounds and five assists throughout Saturday night’s performance.

To add to their troubles the Tigers went in to Saturday night’s game short three players, a handicap that brought freshmen Cranley and Mellen out onto the varsity court.

“Tim Cranley and Steven Mellen, they stepped in and played an excellent game and I don’t use them in that role that much,” Park said.