MCC routs Mercyhurst for Region III championship
MVP Draughon scores 20 in the win.
ROCHESTER - The last meeting with Mercyhurst North East left a bad taste in the mouths of the MCC coaches and players, as the Saints pulled away late for an 88-85 victory on Feb. 14. It was the only loss in an otherwise perfect Western New York Athletic Conference season, and the Tribunes were hungry to get a shot at redemption.
Monroe achieved just that Sunday afternoon, defeating Mercyhurst 98-78 in the Region III-Division II men's basketball championship game before a boisterous crowd in the MCC gym.
"The loss to Mercyhurst was not at all on thier minds, it was the thought of winning a regional championship for the second time that had them focused," said MCC head coach Jerry Burns. "Our kids played extremely hard and unselfish."
6-7 forward Joe Mbang led the way with 25 points and 13 rebounds and tournament MVP Kevin Draughon, a 6-5 forward, added 20 points and four assists to lead the Tribunes. 6-8 center Brian Addison also hit double figures with 10 points and hauled down seven rebounds as the MCC interior players dominated in the paint.
The teams went back and forth in the opening minutes of the first half. The Tribunes went ahead early, but the Saints played well and stayed with the home team. The game remained close until MCC pulled away with a 27-12 run that spanned the last 8:27 of the first half. The spurt helped the Tribunes take a 51-30 lead into the break.
MCC kept the momentum in the second half, scoring the first nine points to increase the advantage to 30. Sparked by some big slams from Mbang and Draughon, the Tribunes kept up the pace and cruised to the victory.
Monroe (26-4) shot 58 percent on the day, with the post players getting easy looks at the basket off great passes from their backcourt mates. The Tribunes finished with 28 assists on 38 made baskets, including 10 from freshman point guard Joe Lindsey. Sherod Harris added four assist and four steals to go with his six points and Alex Owumi had a fine all-around game with nine points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Mbang and Harris joined Draughon on the all-tournament team.
Mario McGee paced the Saints with 22 points and Antoine Ruelas added 19 points and 12 rebounds. Both players represented Mercyhurst on the all-tourney team. Jamestown CC's Darian David also was named to the squad.
MCC reached the finals by defeating rival Genesee CC Saturday afternoon to sweep the season series. The Cougars came ready to play, and when Antonio Mullins banked in a 40-footer at the halftime buzzer, GCC led 37-31.
The two teams battled in the second half, with the lead going back and forth. But after Ray Blackburn drained two free throws to put MCC up 58-57 with 8:21 left, the Tribunes turned it on. Monroe proceeded to outscore the Cougars 21-4 the rest of the way to clinch the 79-61 win.
Owumi had 19 points and nine rebounds, Harris added 18 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, and Draughon had 16 points and eight rebounds. Lindsey also hit double figures with 13.
Tournament results
Friday
First round
Genesee CC 75,
Erie CC 67
Jamestown CC 80,
Alfred State 79
Saturday
Semifinals
Monroe CC 79,
Genesee CC 61
Mercyhurst NE 78,
Jamestown CC 64
Sunday
Championship
Monroe CC 98,
Mercyhurst NE 78
All-Tournament team
Kevin Draughon, Monroe - MVP
Sherod Harris, Monroe
Joe Mbang, Monroe
Antoine Ruelas, Mercyhurst
Mario McGee, Mercyhurst
Darian David, Jamestown
Tom Garigen
Athletics
03/07/2006 |