NMMI Sports Press
The Colt Basketball squad ran away from visiting Tatum High School 53-16 Thursday night at Cahoon Armory, shutting down the Coyote offense from the second quarter on and activating the mercy clock halfway through the final quarter.
NMMI opened the game with an 11-2 run and didn’t allow a field goal until the midway point of the first quarter, but the Coyotes would find some rhythm and close the frame with 7-3 run.
For the final three quarters, Tatum only mustered seven points while the Colts continued to widen the gap, despite a below-average shooting performance.
The Colts made 33 percent of their shots from the field, a quarter of their 3-pointers and just 4-of-12 from the free-throw line. NMMI had 63 total shot attempts compared to just 19 for Tatum.
Senior center Ian Thompson led all scorers with 13 points and was the top rebounder with nine. The newcomer from Colorado Springs was the most efficient Colt, going 5-for-7 from the field and 3-for-5 from behind the arc.
Senior center Matt McCargish and junior guard Lorenzo Peral each chipped in eight points. McCargish had seven rebounds, five on the offensive side, while Peral went 4-for-10 from the field.
With the additions of Thompson and long, athletic junior forward Cole Seidenberger, the Colts have a 14-man squad of juniors and seniors with a good combination of size and quickness.
“We have some good pieces,” said NMMI head coach Connor Williamson. “We’re still just trying to get better every game and there’s still a lot of room to grow for this team.”
The NMMI guards struggled to score, but adjusted well to the multiple defenses thrown at them by the Coyotes.
“They challenged us by switching defenses so much, but the guards did a good job of getting us set up,” said Williamson. “It was good practice for us as far as getting into our (plays) as quick as we can.”
Senior wing Jordan White scored eight of the Coyotes’ 16 points and led his team with seven rebounds.
The Colts are back in action next Thursday at the Dexter Tournament for a 1 p.m. tipoff against the Eunice Cardinals.