12-16-14
BY JACK BULLOCK
METROPOLIS - Coming off of a lackluster performance on Friday night at home where they got drilled by conference rival Murphysboro (56-37) head coach Joe Hosman and his Massac County Patriots were looking for a better effort in their next battle.

Unfortunately for the visitors from Goreville, the Pats were anxious for some redemption and took control early against the Blackcats.

Forcing 10-first quarter turnovers, which jump-started an offensive wave of success, Massac County rolled to an easy 81-43 triumph to improve their stock to 5-2 overall in 2014-15.

Eleven players got on the floor for the Patriots on Tuesday night and all produced points for the scorebook in the final non-conference prep for MC before the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference slate of games begins in earnest.

Three of the Patriots hit for double-digits in scoring for Coach Hosman, led by 6-foot senior guard Marky Marlatt with 16.

Teammates Jalen Roundtree, a 6-foot-1 senior, and 6-foot-2 sophomore Noah Farmer, seeded the book with 15-points each in the romp.

Freshman Isaiah Thompson nearly had a double-double with eight points to go along with 10-rebounds, leading a glass attack that ended up being a 38-14 supremacy.

“This team hadn't produced a good effort since we won the Vienna Tournament but tonight I thought we came out and really shared the ball. Everyone on the team contributed. Our top seven kids, and we still have a couple of kids out with injuries, really played hard defensively in the first half. It was a real good win for us tonight,” said Coach Hosman. “They (Goreville) are a young team but I had seen them play other teams real close. Coach Tripp always does a great job in getting his kids to play hard.”

Coach Todd Tripp's young club, who are still learning the varsity game, fell to the pressure as their record slipped to 2-5 overall which has came against a brutal schedule of games against mostly larger opposition.

The Blackcats got nine-points from 6-foot-3 sophomore Brant Glidewell as no one in Black and Gold delivered double-figures in points in the low scoring night.

In a nightmarish opening frame, Goreville held the lead for exactly :09 and were within two points at 5-3 in the opening moments before Massac County went on its first run.

A 12-0 sprint, finished by two buckets by Roundtree (including a fast break dunk) pushed the Pats to a 17-3 lead at the 2:25 mark.

Massac County kept the pressure up and capitalized on the on its opportunities in the early going.

Marlatt got his first points on a lay in while being fouled by junior Kyle Kinder.

When Marlatt converted the three-point play with a made free throw, Massac was in complete control at 22-9 at the end of one.

“We are young and they (Massac County) needed a game where they could come out and get after somebody. I know they haven't played well their last couple of games. They played well and they got after us,” said Coach Tripp. “They forced a lot of turnovers and got a lot of easy stuff (points). We are still learning the game. At the varsity level it is a different game and the kids are learning.”

Goreville got a pair of scores in succession in the second quarter to briefly close the gap.

When Glidewell and 6-foot-2 freshman Tanner Dunn scored on back-to-back trips down the floor, Coach Tripp saw his club down just 24-13.

However in the following 6:18 of the first half, Goreville was outscored by the Patriots 28-8.

Included in this run was nine points from Farmer, three of which came on a conventional three-point play.

Marlatt and Roundtree also added points in the run and when Thompson added a dunk on a fast break followed by transition basket by reserved Blake Lawson, the Patriots led 52-21 at intermission.

With four additional turnovers in the second quarter, the Blackcats were in a bad way heading to the break.

The third quarter turned out to be more of the same for Massac County with Coach Hosman's club not letting up much on the guests even with most of the starters spending time resting on the bench.

JT Webber, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, and 6-foot-5 senior Kaleb Travis got in on the fun, each added a basket in the third quarter.

When Weber scored on a shot in the paint with :45 left, Massac led 68-31.

Even the Patriots reserve militia got in on the onslaught.

Darian Roundtree, a 6-foot sophomore, added a couple of scores and junior Brady Austin and Thompson each added baskets.

Massac County finished the contest 30-of-64 overall, with five made 3-pointers in the victory.

Nine of the missed shots overall came in the final minutes with reserves holding court.

The Patriots not only controlled the boards but they took pretty good care of the ball, committing just 12-turnovers.

Again with four of the miscues coming when the outcome was already finalized the numbers were outstanding overall.

The Blackcats weren't so fortunate offensively, hitting just 12-of-31 shots overall (38.7 percent) when they weren't committing errors.

Goreville, who has played a tough schedule so far outside of their conference (Black Diamond West) head back into action at home on Friday with a game against Cobden.

The contest will mark just the second game against 1A teams (Egyptian in their own tournament) while facing five other clubs (Anna-Jonesboro, Benton, Carterville, Harrisburg and Johnston City) who were 2A.

The 3A Patriots completed this “murderer's row” of contests that hopefully, according to Coach Tripp, will get his young kids ready for the conference season and the upcoming Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament.

“The kids played hard. We scrapped out there but we have to get better at a lot of things and we will,” added Coach Tripp. “Going into this season, after this game on the schedule, we told the kids that we need to keep our heads up. We are going to keep practicing and get better.”

Massac County will head to Harrisburg on Friday night for a league battle with Harrisburg and then will host a much improved Anna-Jonesboro club at home in a SIRR crossover game.

The Patriots will then head to the Eldorado Holiday Tournament where they are seeded second in the 16-team bracketed event.

“We are seeded way too high. But it is always a good tournament and I have always loved the atmosphere there,” said Coach Hosman. “We have two tough games coming up at Harrisburg and Anna-Jonesboro at home. Both of those teams are playing well.”