Menu
Tigers bulldogged in home opener
By Joe Warren
Nevada Daily Mail
NEVADA, Mo. -- Joseph Fauvergue couldn't miss and the Nevada Tigers couldn't guard him.
That turned out to be a lethal combination during the NHS home opener Tuesday at Wynn Gymnasium.
Fauvergue made his first seven shots from beyond the arc and scored a game high 23 points as the Carl Junction Bulldogs pulled away from the Tigers, 64-54.
"Defensively, we weren't at a level we needed to be at to win the ballgame," Nevada head coach John McNeley said.
Nevada, employing a 2-3 zone to try and minimize the Bulldogs' superior athleticism, was a half step slow getting out to the perimeter on Fauvergue and the 6-2 junior made them pay.
Fauvergue single-handedly kept Carl Junction in front of the Tigers in the first half. After Nevada took a 21-18 lead with about four minutes to play in the second period, Fauvergue scored nine of his team's next 11 points on three 3-pointers, allowing the Bulldogs to take a 29-28 lead into halftime.
In the second half Carl Junction (2-1) pulled away as Fauvergue hit two more from downtown to give the Bulldogs a 37-31 lead. Nevada couldn't get any closer than two points the rest of the way.
Fauvergue teamed with junior forward Steven Tackett to score 70 percent of Carl Junction's points. Tackett scored 22.
Meanwhile Nevada was dealt a potential major blow as senior Bryan Campbell went down during the game with an ankle injury.
Campbell came out of the game in the third period, attempted to loosen up and actually went back into the contest for a few minutes but was not effective, noticeably limping.
Not coincidentally, Nevada was unable to keep the Bulldogs close with Campbell out. Playing with four new starters in their second game of the season (Campbell being the only returner), the Tigers started turning the ball over and the Bulldogs forged a double-digit lead to secure the victory.
"In the second half we turned it over too many times and didn't give ourselves a chance," McNeley said. "When Bryan isn't in the ballgame our go-to guy isn't there. Even when he's not scoring, he sets up everyone else.
"Another thing Bryan does when he's in the ballgame is he gets us organized, and people are where they need to be."
James Tumm led Nevada with 13 points, while Drew Weatherly scored 12. Jordan Kerbs added nine and Campbell was limited to only six.
The Tigers (1-1) visit El Dorado Springs Friday.
Notes: The extent of Campbell's injury and how long he could be out were unknown Tuesday night. ... Junior Brandon Davis received a lot of playing time in Campbell's absence. ... The Tigers started strong, getting five quick points from Spencer Thompson out of the gate and building a 5-0 lead. But Carl Junction answered with a 14-2 run. ... The Tigers turned the ball over only 15 times, but the timing is what hurt them.