Tribe drops tough one late against Poplar Bluff

Staff photo by Aaron Lynn Poplar Bluff's Greg Colbe tries to switch directions on Kennett's Fred Garmon (10) in Monday night's game. [Click to enlarge]

"They're the #1 seed in the Class 5, District 1 Tournament so, we don't have anything to hang our heads about," said Kennett coach Jim Vaughan. "We competed our tails off, but there are some things we could have done a lot better. A little better thought process at times, I thought there were some effort plays that we gave up on every now and again. With our size against a team like that and the teams we have to play in districts, we better be geared up to make every single effort play."

After the Mules opened up another nine-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Indians had their best chance to get back in the game when they tightened up on defense. Andy Lack hit a three-pointer with 6:35 left in the third to bring Kennett within six-points (59-53). After a time-out and a Poplar Bluff score, the Indians came up with four steals in the span of two minutes.

Staff photo by Aaron Lynn Kennett's Randrick Caruthers (15) drives to the basket against Poplar Bluff's Eljie Johnson (44). [Click to enlarge]

"We knew that we needed steals real quick, we had to scramble a little bit and make them cough it up," said Kennett's Fred Garmon.

Kennett missed some opportunities though, as they could only convert the four turnovers into two-points.

"We were 5 for 18 from two-point range in the fourth quarter alone," said Vaughan. "I really think that when we went after it, we saw them a little bit with their length and couldn't see enough rim."

One reason the Mules were able to open the game up in the second half is that they did a good job of slowing down Kennett's up-tempo style of play. The Indians cut the lead in the first half by using their run-and-gun style but, after the break Poplar Bluff tried to halt that.

"We absolutely did not want to slow the pace up," Vaughan said. "We didn't do a good job of outlet and running and attack right now. Therefore, they did a good job of being in their spots and then spreading that zone out. We didn't attack it. For too long a period of time, we didn't attack it. It really allowed them to dictate tempo and save their legs. I think the tempo was going in our favor in the first half with how up-and-down it was."

Staff photo by Aaron Lynn Poplar Bluff's Eljie Johnson (44) tries to block Jimmy Gooden's (32) put-back on an offensive rebound. [Click to enlarge]

The Indians also had a real good rebounding game to help them hang with the Mules. Poplar Bluff has only two players that are under six feet tall and a star forward in Jay Raulston that is 6'6", while the Indians are a smaller team with six players under six feet tall. Both teams finished with fairly even totals on the boards.

"We had 38 rebounds and that's awfully good against a team that out-sizes us like that," Vaughan said.

"Jack Walls had nine, Garmon had eight and Randrick Caruthers and Jimmy Gooden both had six a piece. I was real pleased with that effort total there."

Garmon also stepped up to put the Indians on his back tonight, especially in the first half. Garmon is one of Kennett's leading scorers but, in the last three games has only totaled 13-points. He surpassed that mark in the first half alone with 16-points and 25 on the night. Garmon did it from all over the floor in the first half with tip-ins on offensive rebounds, two 3's, mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket.

Staff photo by Aaron Lynn Poplar Bluff's Jay Raulston (24) puts up a shot in the paint [Click to enlarge]

"He was geared up and ready to go tonight," Vaughan said.

"He knows the kids on the other team and plays with them some in the summertime. He certainly was ready to compete tonight. He also had eight rebounds to go along with his 25-points. He was a competitor tonight plain and simple."

The Tribe hit four 3's in the first half run that cut into the Mules lead but, some of the shots they took may have been ill-advised.

"As hard as we played in the first half, we shot 4 of 18 behind the arc," Vaughan said.

"That's just way too many 3's when you have a tempo going like that. I know they were open looks but, we really need to probably pass a couple of those up every now and again. Attack the basket and get the same shot maybe five passes later, two ball reversals later, make them guard a little bit longer."

Even though Kennett came up short in this one, the game was a statement about how the Indians can play. There is no doubt that the Indians played Poplar Bluff close in this one and that is a good sign for them at this point in the season. After a game with Doniphan on Wednesday night, Kennett will close out the season against district opponents New Madrid County Central and Charleston.

Then, they well head into the Class 3, District 1 Tournament where they are the #1 seed.

Kennett had three players reach double digits in scoring with Garmon leading the way at 25-points. Gooden put in eleven and Caruthers finished with 10-points.

Poplar Bluff also had three players reach double figures with Raulston leading at 22-points. Eljie Johnson put in 15 and Greg Colbe finished with 10-points.