Web posted
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Tigers stunned in region final
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Photo by David Wolman
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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
sports@arkcity.net
WICHITA - Cowley College coach Steve Eck stormed out of the team's locker room in the hallway underneath Koch Arena during the postgame. He was stunned, still trying to piece together what had happened.
Just a few minutes before, Cowley fans and players stood and clapped their hands after Jack Crowder made a pair of free throws to tie the game with 1:28 remaining.
But turnovers on the last four possessions cost the Tigers dearly. With each turnover that occurred, the Tigers saw their dreams of appearing in their first national tournament since the 1956-57 season increasingly fizzle away - and also the end to their record-breaking season.
Seward County made its last eight free throws and finished the game on a 10-0 run to stun the top-seeded Tigers 71-61 on Tuesday night at Koch Arena.
The Saints advanced to the NJCAA national tournament, starting next week in Hutchinson. Cowley finished this season a staggering 31-3 under first-year coach Steve Eck, who guided the program back to prominence after the Tigers went 16-15 last season. A quick turnaround by Eck translated into a national ranking as high as ninth. Cowley also broke the school record for wins, but no national tournament appearance to show for it.
Four players transferred to Cowley from Redlands (Okla.) shortly after Eck was hired last year, with the main goal of competing for a national championship. Unfortunately, they won't get that opportunity.
"They're hurting," Eck said. "They put a lot into it. They invested a lot of heart and time into it. Somebody's got to win and somebody's got to lose. Unfortunately, we came out on the short end."
Then came the defining moment.
If there was any time that the Tigers needed a defensive stand it right was after Crowder hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 61 with 1:28 remaining.
But like most the night, whenever Cowley needed a defensive stop, Seward County converted at the offensive end. Bruno Mendes recorded his only points of the night on a right-hand layup with 55.6 seconds remaining.
"We hadn't got a stop all night long," Eck said. "We had to get a stop right there."
Cowley didn't, and the rest is history.
Seward County's match-up zone defense forced turnovers on Cowley's last four possessions. Mendes intercepted a bad pass by Cook down low with 19.4 seconds remaining, and Nick Burns essentially iced the game with a pair of free throws for an eight-point Seward County lead.
"We didn't panic, we just weren't patient enough," Eck said of his team's execution on offense late in the game.
Darko Cohardarevic, who fouled out with 1:28 remaining, also gave the Tigers fits.
Whenever Cowley started to put together a run in the second half, Cohardarevic recorded a basket to keep Seward County's lead intact.
Moments before fouling out, he attacked the baseline and hit a right-handed layup for a 61-59 Seward County lead. He finished with a game-high 25 points on 11 of 17 shooting.
Reggie Chamberlain scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half.
"We didn't take away their strengths at all," Eck said.
Struggles at the foul line hurt Cowley's cause all night. The Tigers finished only 14 of 28 at the free-throw line, compared to 14 of 20 for Seward County.
Three-pointers by Nick Burns and Ervin Williams gave Seward County a 12-4 lead less than eight minutes in. After trailing by 14 points late in the first half, the Tigers cut Seward County's lead to 36-28 at intermission. Montrell McDonald came in for an emphatic two-hand dunk off a Brown miss. Cook then hit a three-pointer to close out the half.
Above: Cowley College players react after falling to Seward County 71-61 in the Region VI Tournament championship game on Tuesday night at Koch Arena.
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