Rattlers dump MCC Men 83-71 in region play

Rattlers dump MCC Men 83-71 in region play

LA JUNTA, Colo. The McCook Community College men's basketball team dropped a Region IX South division game Friday losing to Otero Junior College 83-71

The Indians started solid, with a strong first-half showing from the 3-point line and raced to a 14-point lead, but were out-scored at three free-throw line by 20 points.

"I thought we played and battled our tails off," said MCC Coach Jacob Brandl. "We were up 14 and up by double digits multiple times in the first half and shot ourselves in the foot with some quick shots and bad turnovers."

MCC finished with just 12 turnovers but the Rattlers converted those into 17 points.

"The second half was a lot of the same, we got up and just couldn't answer their run," said Brandl said.

MCC shot 51.7 percent from the field in the first half, 38.2 percent in the second half and 44.4 percent for the game. The Indians made seven of 14 shots from the 3-point line in the first half but fell to just one of 13 in the second half (eight of 27 for the game, 29.6 percent). MCC made just seven of 16 free throws (43.8 percent).

"The free throw battle was big for us I thought that killed us," Brandl said. "On a night where you are guarding the heck out of the other team you can't put them at the line and vice versa when your shots aren't going you have to be able to get some easy ones and get to the line and convert and we just didn't do that."

The Rattlers shot 36.1 percent in the first half, 44 percent in the second half and 39.3 percent for the game. From the 3-point line they made three of 13 shots in the first half, five of 10 in the second half to finish at 34.8 percent. Otero went to the free-throw line 32 times in the game and made 27 (84.4 percent) and out-rebounded MCC 41-32.

OJC improves to 6-1 and 2-0 in Region IX south play,

Cortland Blake (sophomore transfer, Fort Worth, Texas) led MCC with 16 points.

Freshman Julian Lual (Calgary, Alberta) and sophomore Rahkiem Petterson (Midland, Texas) both scored 14 points and both had seven rebounds. William Lee (redshirt freshman, Queens, N.Y. / Blue Ridge School (St. George, Va.) scored 10 points.

"I'm proud of our group. We battled and played hard," Brandl said. "Effort was an issue here and we will continue to get better and grow and it starts tomorrow."

The Indians fall to 7-4, 2-2 in Region IX south standings. MCC will play Trinidad State Saturday in a game moved up to 2 p.m. (MT).

MCC will be home Tuesday for another Region IX matchup a 7 p.m. game with North Platte. It will be the annual Blue Out game to help raise money and awareness for children with disabilities. Both MCC basketball teams will sign team posters following their games as part of the Blue Out activities.