Needing a win to solidify its hold on second place in the Region XVI standings, the Three Rivers College men's basketball team took care of business — and then some — against the Missouri State-West Plains Grizzlies.
The Raiders led from wire to wire and turned a 24-point halftime lead into an 87-47 domination of West Plains on Monday at the Libla Family Sports Complex.
With the win, Three Rivers improves to 17-11 on the season and 6-4 in Region XVI competition, while Grizzlies fall to 12-16 and 3-7 in region play. TRC can clinch the No. 2 seed in the region tournament by winning one of final two region games, either at home on Wednesday against State Fair or Saturday at Mineral Area.
"Our guys came out focused tonight," Three Rivers coach Robert Kirby said. "They were really locked in and understood each one of their roles and they executed their roles to perfection the first half. In the second half, we got a little loose at the start of it — came out settling for jump shots instead of just playing the same way we played to finish the (first) half, but they regrouped and got it back right.
"The guys did a great job of playing hard. They're still trying to learn how to get a lead and maintain a lead. And tonight was a big step moving forward."
Marial Malek's dunk with 10:29 left in the first half gave the Raiders their first double-digit lead of the game at 19-9, and Ethan Johnson's 3-pointer from the corner with 2:43 remaining before the intermission put the Raiders ahead by 22 points (39-17).
Three Rivers led 44-20 at the intermission, then took its first 30-point lead of the game when Johnson converted a three-point play with 12:17 remaining to make it 56-25.
Matt Hampton led the Raiders with 20 points, while Meechie White added 19, Johnson had 17, Sikou Diagouraga contributed eight and Malek finished with seven. Hampton and Malek had six rebounds apiece as TRC outrebounded the Grizzlies 39-18 for the game.
"That was a point of emphasis with our game plan was to be really, really diligent about getting to the glass — and I thought we did a great job," Kirby said. "Malek came in and did an outstanding job of rebounding, playing with great effort, and making plays for us — and we've been lacking that at one of the spots on the floor.
"He came in and gave us that energy. He was an Energizer Bunny for the rest of the team, and he did an outstanding job — he sparked that run. And the guys did. Other guys stepped up and did their job. And the other guys stepped up and did their jobs."
Malek also had four steals, while Hampton and Ali Oralkan had two apiece and Diagouraga blocked a pair of shots.
The Raiders are back in action Wednesday when they host State Fair in another Region XVI contest. Tipoff time is set for 7 p.m. at the Libla Family Sports Complex.
"You're only good as your last game, so we've got to refocus, retool and get ready for a good State Fair team that's coming in here ready to knock us off," Kirby said. "And we've got to be ready to play."
Mike Buhler - Daily American Republic