Jan. 28 Metropolitan Community College at Kansas City, Missouri

The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Roadrunners beat the Metropolitan Community College Wolves in Kansas City 113-108 in double overtime on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The win broke a four-game losing streak for SFCC.

Although the game was tied at 31 at halftime, the Wolves turned up the defensive intensity to take a 74-69 lead with about 10 minutes remaining. The game was tied again at 86 with eight seconds remaining. MCC knocked down a three-point shot to take the lead with less than four seconds remaining. Sophomore guard Kailleb Walton-Blanden of Rapid City, South Dakota drilled a three-point shot to send the game into overtime.

"Kailleb made a good shot on the move going toward the basket," said Roadrunners Basketball Head Coach Matt Brown. "He hit a big time pull up jump shot. It was a really good play, but then Metropolitan Community College did the same thing to us at the end of the first overtime. I thought we did a much better job in the second overtime; we made our free throws (freshman forward) Kohen Thompson (of Memphis, Tennessee) made four of five. We also had four guys in double-figure scoring, if you do that it is usually a pretty good outcome."

Sophomore guard Damaria Franklin of Chicago, Illinois led SFCC in scoring with 37 points. Walton-Blanden contributed 26 points. Sophomore guard Malcolm Townsel of Chicago, Illinois pitched in with 21 points. He was also tied for the team lead in assists with Thompson and redshirt freshman forward Sarion McGee of Milwaukee, Wisconsin with four. McGee registered a double-double with 13 points and team-high 12 rebounds.

Feb. 1 Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri

SFCC (13-10, 1-4 in Region 16, 3-4 in the MCCAC) picked up a big 73-66 victory over the Three Rivers Community College Raiders on Saturday, Feb. 1 in Poplar Bluff. The game was part of the Region 16 and Missouri Community College Athletic Conference schedule for both teams. The back-and-forth contest featured 14 lead changes and eight ties.

The Raiders started the game well leading 19-9 in the first half. The 10 point advantage was largest lead for either team in the contest.

Franklin knocked down a huge three-point shot as time expired in the first half to give his team a 34-31 lead going into the locker room. In the second half, SFCC controlled the tempo of the game, running the shot clock down on several occasions. SFCC closed the game on a 15-8 run to seal the victory.

"The first time we played Three Rivers we had a substantial lead and ended up losing it," said Brown. "We were able to get good looks at the basket, even when they didn't go down. We were able to get to the foul line. I felt like we were in control most the game."

Franklin led the team in scoring with 33 points. He also registered a team-high four steals. Redshirt freshman guard Trent Lyles of Sedalia, Missouri contributed 13 points. Townsel added 10 points. McGee pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and blocked a team-leading three shots. Walton-Blanden dished out a team-high four assists.

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics