MCC men drop finale in Idaho Boot tourney

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – The McCook Community College men’s basketball team finished up the Battle for the Boot Tournament Saturday with an 89-58 loss to Clarendon College (Texas) in the consolation bracket finals. MCC finishes in sixth place among the eight teams.

The Bulldogs took control of the game midway through the first half and led 47-25 at intermission.

“The first half just killed us,” said MCC Coach Taylor Shaffer. “We didn’t do a very good job in our defensive rotations and because of that they lit it up from 3.”

Clarendon made 57.6 percent of their first half shots, including nine-for-17 from the 3-point line (52.9 percent). The Indians made just 12 of 30 shots from the field (40 percent) in the first half.

For the game, Clarendon shot 53 percent on 66 shots, made 13 of 34 shots from distance (38.2 percent) and went six-for-seven from the line (85.7 percent). The Bulldogs gathered 34 rebounds, three more than the Indians. Clarendon turned the ball over eight times.

MCC shot 43.9 percent from the field on 57 shots, made five of 18 shots from the 3-point line, and went three of nine from the free-throw line 33.3 percent. The Indians had 20 turnovers.

“As Clarendon started to hit shots we started to force against the zone instead of making the easy play and that led to turnovers,” said Shaffer.

Clarendon goes to 3-4 on the season.

Sophomore Isayah Pankey (Dallas, Texas) was the only MCC player in double-figures with 24 points, which included a four-for-seven game from beyond the 3-point arc.

Tymere Singleton, sophomore (Dallas, Texas) came off the bench to score eight points and sophomore Shane Threadgill (Idabel, Okla.) scored seven bench points with five boards. Freshman Daniel Christou (Perth, Australia) collected a team-high six rebounds.

“At the end of the day, we have to execute better and make shots against teams who run zone because anyone who watches that tape is going to zone us,” said Shaffer.

MCC falls to 2-6. After four road games in five days, the Indians travel home for a home game Tuesday against Central Community College. That game will start at about 7:30 p.m., following the MCC women’s game.

BATTLE FOR THE BOOT
College of Southern Idaho

Twin Falls, Idaho

Thursday Results

   Game 1 – No. 4 College of Southern Idaho 89, Western Nebraska 56

   Game 2 – Casper College 106, Clarendon College 93

   Game 3 – No. 22 North Idaho 96, McCook CC  49

   Game 4 – Eastern Florida State 77, Western Wyoming 73

Friday Results

   Game 5 – Clarendon College 76, Western Nebraska 71

   Game 6 – McCook CC 55, Western Wyoming 54

   Game 7 – No. 4 College of Southern Idaho 85, Casper College 63

   Game 8 – No. 22 North Idaho (2-0) vs. Eastern Florida State (4-2), 8 p.m.

Saturday Results

   Game 9 (Seventh Place) – Western Nebraska 83, Western Wyoming 79

   Game 10 (Consolation Champs) – Clarendon College 89, McCook 58

   Game 11 (Third Place) – Casper College (2-3) vs. Eastern Florida State (4-3), 6 p.m.

   Game 12 (Championship Game) – No. 22 North Idaho (3-0) vs. No. 4 College of Southern Idaho (4-0), 8 p.m.

Up-to-date information about MCC basketball including up-to-date schedule and changes, livestream links for home games, rosters, photos, statistics and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com