Roadrunners win two of three to open the season

Nov. 3 Missouri Baptist University Junior Varsity at Sedalia

The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Roadrunners got the 2021-2022 campaign off to a good start with a 110-51 victory over Missouri Baptist University Junior Varsity inside the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center on Wednesday, Nov. 3.

SFCC got off to a quick 20-5 lead with 14 minutes and 32 seconds remaining in the opening half. The Roadrunners used their defense to pick up the tempo of the game and never looked back.

Freshman forward Malik Madison led six Roadrunners in double figures with 18 points and tied for the team lead in rebounds with nine. Madison also registered a team-leading three blocked shots. Freshman guard/forward Will Wilson pitched in with 15 points. Freshman guard/forward Cam Tweedy contributed 14 points and tied for the team lead in rebounds with nine. Freshman forward Uros Gatic added 13 points. Freshman forward Clance Crosby and freshman forward Kingsley Ijeoma scored 10 points each. Freshman guard Caleb Mims recorded a team-high six assists and led the team in steals with five.

"I thought our assist to turnover ratio was pretty good," said Roadrunners Head Coach Matt Brown. "One area that we have got to improve is our free throw shooting. We are an athletic and long team. I like Malik Madison as a shot blocker. He gives us a presence that we haven't had so far. It is always good to get your first game under your belt and get a win."

Nov. 5 Missouri Valley College Junior Varsity at Sedalia

The Roadrunners opened their portion of the McDonald's Classic with a 93-75 victory over the Missouri Valley College Junior Varsity inside the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center on Friday night, Nov. 5.

SFCC got out to 17-7 lead with less than 14 minutes remaining in the opening half. Missouri Valley trimmed the lead to six points with under seven minutes remaining until halftime. SFCC led 45-31 at halftime. The Roadrunners outscored Missouri Valley by four points in second half to come away with the victory.

"We shot the ball better from the free-throw line tonight," said Brown. "We should be a better rebounding team this year. We were able to out rebound Missouri Valley by 17. Cam Tweedy is going to be a good rebounder for us. This is only game two and we're still trying to figure out who we are. This was good for us. We had some good stretches, and we had some bad stretches in this game, but overall, we learned from it and move forward."

Tweedy registered a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds leading SFCC in both categories. Mims added 13 points and a team-high seven assists. Gatic and Wilson added 11 points each. Gatic led the team in steals with three. Freshman guard Chad Kratzer Jr. and freshman guard Yame Butler added 10 points each. Butler and Ijeoma led the team lead with two blocked shots each.

Nov. 6 John Wood Community College at Sedalia

SFCC (2-1) closed out the McDonald's Classic with a heartbreaking 61-60 loss to John Wood Community College on Saturday, Nov. 6 inside the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center. The back-and-forth contest featured six lead changes and nine ties.

SFCC took a 14-point lead early in the second half. John Wood trimmed the deficit to three points with about 13 minutes remaining in the contest. The Roadrunners maintain a one-point advantage with 55.5 seconds remaining in the game.

John Wood took a one-point lead at 61-60 when SFCC was called for goaltending with 32 seconds remaining in the game. John Wood made the plays in the final seconds to hang on for the victory.

Mims, Kratzer, and Butler all led the team in scoring with 10 points each. Tweedy and Ijeoma led the teamin rebounds with 11 each. Tweedy, Butler, and Wilson all dished out three assists each. Ijeoma led the team in blocked shots with four. Tweedy registered a team-high three steals.

"We got a 14-point lead in the second half and let off the gas," said Brown. "We knew John Wood was a good team, which is why we scheduled them. At the end of the day, we were up four points with a minute to go and we committed a charging foul, and then we settled for a three-point shot when we should've gone right to the basket. We need get guys to understand their roles."

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics