After succumbing to Odessa at home on January 6th to drop the team below .500 for already the third time this season, with a crucial road win at Smith-Cotton this past Wednesday, the Cardinals once again pulled back to .500, handing the Tigers their tenth loss and fifth consecutive, while improving their own tally to 7-7 on the year.
To get the win, the Clinton first had to overcome a slow start out of gate, as Smith Cotton largely controlled the pace in the first quarter, holding the Cardinals to just 8-points, none beyond the arc. For his part, Cardinals guard Dom Jackson contributed four points to his team’s first period tally, while sophomore Richard Brown and senior Braydon Ethridge combined for four, with each sinking in a score. Meanwhile, Smith-Cotton was able to rack up 12 points of their own to take a four-point lead heading into the second quarter.
Unfazed by the slow start, the Cardinals picked up the pace in the second period, matching Smith-Cotton tally for tally as the team nearly doubled their first quarter output with thirteen points scored, seven of which came from Jackson, who ended his first half with eleven total to lead the team in scoring. Richard Brown also added another basket along with a free throw, while senior Emrie Neal got on the board with a clutch score of his own. Despite the Cardinals offensive improvements however, it was Smith-Cotton that would carry the edge into the half, matching the Cardinals with thirteen points of their own to preserve their narrow four-point lead heading into the break.
Coming out of halftime, both teams hit the court running. Clinton, still seeking the edge in the matchup after sputtering on offense to start the night, found success pushing the ball early in the third, operating effectively in the fast break as the Cardinals notched a total of fourteen points in the quarter, with Jackson adding seven more of his own, Neal adding two, and Braydon Ethridge, who was 1-for-2 at the line, adding three more for the Cards. Still, while the team continued to improve, Smith-Cotton continued to cling to its four-point advantage, as they matched the Cards score-for-score for the second consecutive period, adding fourteen points of their own.
With the threat of dropping two-under .500 looming, the pressure was all on the Cardinals entering the fourth period as they looked to eclipse the home team for the much-needed win. That pressure didn’t last long. The Cardinals, seemingly putting everything together in what would be their most complete quarter of the night, put the pieces together both defensively and offensively as they stifled the Tigers, allowing just eight points to the home team while overwhelming them with twenty-four points of their own, thirteen of which came from the stripe. Both Richard Brown and Dom Jackson were infallible from the line in the effort, as Richard Brown went 4-4, while Dom Jackson sank an impressive six-of-six. Braydon Ethridge was also steady from the stripe, knocking through 3-of-4. For Clinton, this was the ultimate difference, as they were able to capitalize on foul opportunities to put the game away, tying up the Tigers 59-47 in what was a much closer game than what the score might indicate.
Commenting on his team’s impressive free throw shooting in the fourth quarter, Cardinals Coach Jackson praised his players’ performance at the stripe, noting “We went 13-14 in the fourth quarter on free-throws. We almost made more than they attempted, which is a goal we look to achieve every game.”
The Cardinals head back home to the Bird’s Nest for their next action where they face off against familiar foe in Butler (9-5). The Cardinals were able to top Butler by 10 in their first meeting.
