Sun, Jul 05 2009
|
|
Published March 09, 2008 12:42 am - Four Southern seniors lay winning foundation With 17 victories, Lions post best mark in 5 years By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com At 17-11, Missouri Southern’s men’s basketball team posted its first winning record in five seasons. The Lions had their most victories since going 19-10 in 2002-03, and with an 11-7 MIAA record, it’s the most conference wins since the Lions were 12-6 in 2002. Picked dead last in the coaches’ preseason poll, the Lions spent most of the conference season in first or second place. But they lost four of their last five league games and wound up in a third-place tie with Central Missouri, the Lions’ best league finish since they tied Washburn for third in 2002. The Lions’ season ended Friday afternoon with a 68-59 loss to Fort Hays State in the first round of the MIAA Basketball Championships at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The Lions rallied within two points in the closing minutes, but a 14-point halftime deficit proved too much to overcome. “To come here and not play your best, it’s disappointing,” head coach Robert Corn said. “But by the same token, there is a lot to be proud of and a lot to look back on. Our kids accomplished a lot. “It’s been a good year. Obviously you want to continue playing. When you put yourself in a position to do some really special things, you want to take advantage of it. That’s the disappointing thing because we put ourselves in position, tied (for the conference lead) with three weeks to go.” Corn praised the four seniors — Tyler Ryerson, T.J. Britton, Octavius Hawkins and Joey Savage — for their leadership in what he hopes was a foundation season. “I told the four seniors we’ve made a big step forward with this program this year,” Corn said. “If we have any success in the next two or three years, it’s a direct result of what they’ve accomplished this year. The work ethic and just the base of the toughness that they have helped establish this year, if we’re fortunate to win any type of conference championship, they are going to share in it.” Upset Friday The fourth-seeded Lions weren’t the only upset victims in Friday’s quarterfinal sessions. Emporia State knocked off regular-season champion Southwest Baptist 83-79, and Washburn gunned down third-seeded Central Missouri 79-68. This is the first year that only one seeded team — No. 2 Northwest Missouri State — reached the semifinals since the conference postseason tournament went to eight teams in 1991. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Sports section
Wall takes Bulldogs’ athletic director post Local volunteers provide expert aid for youngsters learning game Eagle’s nest survives fierce Ozark winter storms Pool-play favorites treated rudely in Premier Incoming Frosh meet |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
    : Special Offer For New Subscribers :   
|
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
