Big, early deficit too much for determined Raiders to climb

After a busy weekend of big wins and double overtime disappointments it appears that the Three Rivers Community College men's basketball team couldn't get back off the deck quick enough for Tuesday night's trip to Lincoln Trail College.

At least not in time.

The Raiders (2-2) fell behind by as much as 21 points in the first half and would ultimately succumb to the host Statesman 66-61 despite an admirable late effort to steal a victory.

Three Rivers returns home 7 p.m. Friday night to take on No.5 ranked Indian Hills Community College and then 8 p.m. Saturday when they battle Southeastern (Community College, who is receiving votes in the NJCAA poll, as part of the Missouri/Iowa Challenge.

The Raiders were able to pull within 64-56 at one point with just four minutes left the second half with two B.J. Francis free throws, but the Statesman were able to defend well enough to keep Three Rivers from any sustained runs.

Hosane Kitenge started things off with a leaner in the lane to get Three Rivers off the mark, but then the host Statesman got rolling immediately after.

Lincoln Trail scored the next 12 points to go up 12-2 and force Three Rivers head coach Brian Bess into an early timeout at the 16:02 mark.

Kitenge ultimately ended the early misery with his second basket coming only seconds out of the time out.

The teams struggled to find any offensive flow in either direction and the Raiders trailed 18-10 with less than eight minutes left before the intermission as Lincoln Trail were able to get up into the Three Rivers players' faces and make movement less fluid than they had experienced the previous weekend at home in the 1st Midwest Bank JUCO Tournament of Champions Classic, that saw them score a combined 189 points in two games.

The offensive woes for the Raiders continued and they trailed 28-13 as the clock chipped away below the 4-minute mark.

The chasm ended up being a difference of 37-18 between Three Rivers and their hosts as the teams headed to the halftime break.

Alan Dale - Daily American Republic