Tigers club Carthage, coast to 55-42 non-conference victory

In Friday night prep hoops action the Nevada Tigers rolled to a 55-42 non-conference road victory over Carthage.

The victory improves Nevada to 15-3 overall.

The Tigers flexed their muscle defensively, holding Carthage to just 12 points in the first half. Nevada forward Clay Gayman led all scorers at the break with 10 points, including four first quarter buckets.

““We came out and defended extremely well during the first half,” said Nevada head coach, Shaun Gray.

Gray noted that his club’s guards and forwards were extremely effective switching screens, while Gayman clamped down on Alex Martin, limiting Carthage’s 6-foot-7 center to just one field goal in the first half.

“We switched screens and kept Clay on Martini, so we didn’t get caught with a guard matched up on a 6-7 player,” explained Gray. “And we worked hard to run their shooters off the line, allowing only one 3-point attempt in the first half, with no makes.”

The Tiger defense also did a fantastic job guarding 6-1 senior Arkell Smith, an athletic guard who was tabbed as an all-state wide receiver, holding him to four first half points.

Nevada, however, was outscored 13-8 in the third quarter, as Carthage trimmed the deficit to 36-25. The Tigers kicked it back into gear in the final stanza, outscoring Carthage 19-17 for the final 13-point margin, with Gayman and junior forward Matt Thompson accounting for 13 fourth quarter points.

“In the second half we had a bit of a letdown defensively, allowing 30 points,” said Gray. “We might have suffered from some fatigue in the second half. We need to make sure we have the conditioning in the second half of games to continue our defensive intensity, something we will continue to work on going forward.”

Gray said he was pleased with his squad’s effort on the offensive end.

“We dominated the battle in the paint,” said the fourth-year head coach.

Gayman finished with a game-high 24 points, with all of his production coming on close-range buckets or from the charity stripe

Gray also lauded the efforts of Thompson, Dalton Gayman, and Hunter Mason, who each chipped in offensively from the low post.

In addition, senior shooting guard Braden Hinton returned to the lineup after missing the past three contests due to an arm injury. Hinton came off the bench to tally five points, all in the second quarter. Hinton knocked down a 3-pointer, and then scored from close-range on an assist from sophomore forward Dalton Gayman.

In addition to Clay Gayman’s 24, Dalton Gayman pitched in with nine points and four assists, while Thompson and guard Carter Swearingen finished with five points apiece.

“Overall, it was a good team win, and it’s always good to go on the road and get a win against a quality opponent,” said Gray, adding, “I’m really proud of the job we did taking away open 3-point looks and getting the ball inside on offense.”

Thompson’s dunk

Thompson, a 6-foot-4 junior forward, threw down his first career varsity dunk in the fourth quarter Friday night. The play was set in motion after Thompson received a pass from Dalton Gayman at mid-court. Thompson then raced to the rim for the one-handed flush — sending his teammates on the bench into a frenzy.

“It was a great crowd, with a big Tiger faithful making the trip,” said Gray. “The crowd seemed to be 60-40 in favor of Nevada for much of the night, especially after the halftime exit of the Carthage student section.”

Up next

A West Central Conference clash with the visiting Clinton Cardinals, Tuesday evening at Wynn Gym. The Tigers defeated Clinton in a Dec. 5 road matchup, 77-66. Clinton (9-7)comes in red-hot, averaging 99 points a game over its past two contests.