Greyhounds Split Weekend Series; Women Fall to NorthArk

Trevail Lee scored 27 points, and T.J. Handley and Tyrone Willis added 17 each to lead Mid-South Community College’s Greyhounds to an 81-74 win over Champion Baptist College on Friday.

In Saturday’s action, MSCC’s men dropped a 77-72 decision to North Arkansas College, and the women lost 67-53 to the visiting Lady Pioneers.

With Friday night’s win, the Greyhounds’ notched their 12th triumph of the year and earned the praise of their coach.

“I am proud of our effort and intensity and believe we are beginning to come together and figure out what it takes to really compete,” said Greyhounds’ head coach Chris Parker. “T.J. Handley played perhaps his best all-around game of the year, and we played very hard the entire game.”

It was a back and forth game Friday. The Greyhounds headed to the locker room with a narrow 32-28 lead at halftime. The home team outscored the Tigers 49-46 in the second half to seal the win.

Pioneers 77, Greyhounds 72 The Greyhounds looked to carry momentum from Friday night’s win into the game with NorthArk, but MSCC came up just short.

It was a game that started off the wrong way for the Greyhounds. The Pioneers jumped out to a quick 11-2 run to start the contest. The Greyhounds rebounded to make the first half more competitive and trailed 26-18 with 6:14 left to play before intermission. The Pioneers, however, added to their lead and went into the locker room on top 41-29.

Mid-South gave North Arkansas fits in the second half and came back within five points with less than two minutes left. But the Pioneers managed to hold on for the win despite the Greyhounds outscoring them 43-36 in the second half.

“I did not feel like we came with the energy we needed to in the first half,” Parker said. “We did not really see that energy until the last part of the game when we made a really good run. I was proud of us continuing to battle and try to make that comeback, but it was a little too late.”

If it had been a 3-point contest, the teams would have finished in a tie. The Greyhounds and Pioneers each connected on nine long-range shots in Saturday’s game.

MSCC only hit three treys in the first half but connected on six in the second half to get back in the game. Parker said he will continue to give his team the green light to shoot going forward.

“In the middle of the season, we doubted our shooting ability,” Parker said. “But here in the last few games we have stepped up and really shot the ball with a lot more confidence. I think moving forward that is a real good sign.”

Shaquille Culbreath paced Saturday’s scoring effort for the Greyhounds with 16 points, including three long-balls. Eugene Palmer and Handley each pitched in 14 points in the loss.

The weekend split puts the Greyhounds at 12-15 overall on the season. MSCC has just two games left before the regional playoffs at Harrison.

The Greyhounds will be back in action Wednesday as they host the University of the Ozarks junior varsity. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Patriot Arena.

Lady Pioneers 67, Lady Greyhounds 53 The Lady Greyhounds weathered an 8-0 NorthArk run to start the game and led at halftime before faltering down the stretch.

“Our girls worked hard and fought really hard,” said Lady Greyhounds’ head coach Kim Turner.

“North Arkansas is a well-established team. They are very good. We kind of fell into trying to hit the threes, and we were not boxing out (in the second half) and gave them second chance shots. But I am glad we stuck with it and fought till the end.”

After falling behind to start the game, the Lady Greyhounds stormed back, and two free throws by Jasmine Greer gave MSCC its first lead of the game, 14-13, with 9:30 remaining in the first half.
MSCC’s women then matched North Arkansas point for point to take a 28-27 advantage into the locker room.

The second half was a different story. The Lady Pioneers went on a 23-9 run to lead 50-37 with 10:45 left to play. While the Lady Greyhounds continued to battle, they never regained the lead.

Whitney Ball led the scoring effort Saturday for the Lady Greyhounds with 16 points, including two 3-pointers. Laquaris Harris chipped in 12 points in the loss.

The loss drops the Lady Greyhounds to 6-18 on the season. MSCC’s ladies have two games left before their regional playoffs in Harrison.

“We definitely have to continue to work,” Turner said. “I do not feel like we are completely off track. It is about progressing, and we are progressing.”

The Lady Greyhounds will be back in action Tuesday night as they hit the road to take on Jackson State. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.