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NMCC routs East Prairie thanks to five NMCC Eagles' reaching double-figures in scoring
EAST PRAIRIE, Mo – A strong defense led to a dominant showing for New Madrid County Central Monday night against host East Prairie.
Pressuring East Prairie from the onset, NMCC rode a wave of turnovers to an 18-point lead by the end of the first quarter before rolling to a 69-34 final.
“I was telling the guys that it doesn’t matter who you play,” NMCC head coach Lennies McFerren said. “Do what you’re supposed to do defensively, and you’ll have that type of game. Hopefully, we’ll build on this and continue to get better defensively.”
Ansel Underwood and Christen Phillips combined for 17 points in the first quarter to help guide NMCC to a 27-point first-quarter lead that included a 19-4 run to end the frame.
East Prairie adjusted in the second quarter and outscored NMCC by two points to cut their deficit to 41-25 entering the break.
“Their pressure is something you can’t simulate, and we hadn’t seen a lot of,” East Prairie head coach Casey Knight said. “The first quarter we were antsy and they sped us up. That’s credit to their athleticism.
“We did a better job settling down in the second quarter and got offensively the shots we should have got at the rim taking advantage of their pressure.”
If there was any doubt about the outcome of the game entering halftime, NMCC put it to rest in the third quarter.
Holding East Prairie to only a pair of baskets in the frame, NMCC out-paced their opponent 24-2 in the quarter.
NMCC scored the final 11 points of the frame as part of a 24-2 run to go up 36-points entering what would be a turbo-clocked fourth.
“We talked about at halftime not being satisfied with the lead,” McFerren said. “We have a lot of things to work on, but their attitudes are a lot better now then it was earlier in the year.
“We’re going to try and keep getting better and not worry about anything else.”
Underwood and Phillips finished with 13 points each to lead NMCC.
Donnie Brown added 11 points to the cause while Shamar Williamson and Ke’von Williams scored 10 points each to leave NMCC with five players in double figures.
For East Prairie, Jase Aycock finished with a game-high 15 points, included three 3-pointers.
“We’re a young and inexperienced team,” Knight said. “I told them at halftime New Madrid is going to up the pressure and try to punch you in the mouth again, and they did in the third quarter. “
| NMCC | 27 | 14 | 24 | 4 | — | 69 |
| East Prairie | 9 | 16 | 4 | 5 | — | 34 |
NMCC (69) – Shamar Williamson 10, Christen Phillips 13, Caden Howell 2, Bryshawn Williamson 8, Ansel Underwood 13, Ke’von Williams 10, Donnie Brown 11. FG 31, FT 10-12, F 11. (3-pointers: Underwood 1, Brown 1. Fouled out: none.)
EAST PRAIRIE (34) – Jase Aycock 15, Jack Scruggs 5, Evan Howell 2, Harrison Moore 5, Luke Triplett 2, Garrison Scott 2, Cooper Towe 2, Zack Triplett 1. FG 14, FT 3-10, F 9. (3-pointers: Aycock 3. Fouled out: none.)