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Conference Clash: Tigers look to extend win streak tonight against Seneca
After winning their past four contests by an average of 15 points per game, the Nevada Tigers will look to keep their momentum full throttle in tonight’s Big 8 Conference West division clash with the visiting Seneca Indians.
After an up-and-down first half of the season, the Tigers returned from Christmas break and received a rude awakening at the Kaminsky Classic, absorbing a 23-point opening-round loss to William Chrisman.
Since that 72-49 debacle the Tigers have rebounded in a major way, with the four-game win streak highlighted by an 18-point road victory over archival, and Big 8 West foe, Lamar.
Both Nevada and Seneca enter tonight’s showdown with identical 8-5 overall records, and perfect 2-0 marks in the Big 8 West division.
Nevada head coach Shaun Gray discussed his team’s game-plan against a quality Seneca squad.
“On offense, we need to pull their big man (6-foot-4) junior Brennon Yust out of the paint, and make him guard on the perimeter,” explained Gray.
Seneca is led in the back-court by 6-foot senior guard Gavin Clause, who doubles as the school’s talented starting varsity quarterback.
Gray said his club will look to exploit its size advantage against Seneca’s four-guard lineup. Two of Nevada’s frontline players — 6-5 senior wing forward Matt Thompson, and 6-6 junior power forward Dalton Gayman, have been on fire of late.
“We will have a size advantage with either Dalton or Matt, and that will be key for us,” said Gray. “When Seneca doubles in the post, we will need to cut and space well to give our post players options to pass out of the swarm inside. Other than that, we need to run the floor, and we need to share the ball with each other.”
Added Gray: “Defensively, we must limit Yust’s touches in the paint. He is a big, thick body inside, and has had multiple 20-plus point games lately. We also need to keep Seneca off the glass, and keep (guard) Preston Armstrong from driving to the basket. If we fly around on defense with energy, and if we communicate on D, we will have success.”
Even with several more games remaining on the Big 8 West slate, Gray believes that tonight’s contest has major conference ramifications.
“(We both) have a chance to win the Big 8 West (division), and I would say the winner of this game controls their own fate and would be in the drivers seat,” summed up Gray.
Tiger notebook
After a three-week absence due to a foot injury, Matt Thompson returned to Nevada’s lineup for the Kaminsky Classic (Jan. 3-5). In three games, Thompson dropped in 47 points on 52 percent shooting from the field — including a varsity career-high 26 points in the consolation finals against Jefferson City.
For his efforts, Thompson was named a Joplin Globe high school Prep Athlete of the Week.
“Matt has been a spark for us,” noted Gray. “He and Dalton have helped give us a great one-two punch of size and athleticism.”
Gayman, meanwhile, erupted for a varsity career-high 24 points against Lamar, and followed up with a 20 point, seven rebound, seven block effort against East Newton (Jan. 11).
“Dalton has done a great job of being strong and physical inside,” said Gray. “We have also done a better job of getting him touches.”
“He has crashed the glass (with authority),” continued Gray. “He has also done a better job of not settling for tough mid-range shots, being patient and making sure we get a great look. Matthew being back in the lineup has also helped. Defenses struggle to guard both of them on the perimeter, and in the paint.”
Another factor that may have helped spark the Tigers’ current win streak was a tweak Gray made to the lineup several games back, inserting 5-11 junior guard Noah Cheaney into the starting five.
Said Gray: “Noah’s defensive (technique) and energy have been big positives for us. He can make an open three if called upon, and also has been able to finish plays around the basket in transition. Most importantly, he understands his role — doesn’t try to do too much, is a very good teammate, and plays very hard. All of those qualities have helped earn him minutes in our varsity rotation this season.”
Gray also noted that he doesn’t like to focus on who’s starting and who isn’t, and is more concerned that everybody in the varsity rotation play their roles within their allotted minutes.
“Everyone has a job to do, and that is to play their role to the best of their ability when called upon, whether that be off the bench or not,” said the fifth-year head coach. “Who is and who isn’t starting isn’t really something we are real concerned with. We are more concerned with how hard we are all playing, and if we are playing together as a unit.”
The game is set to tip at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Kicking off the varsity doubleheader festivities, the Tiger girls are slated to square off with the Lady Indians of Seneca.
Nevada enters the contest 9-2 overall (3-0, Big 8 West), and is coming off a 38-point walloping of East Newton last week.
Seneca, a physical team, should pose a stiff challenge for Nevada, as the Lady Indians have raced out to an 11-3 record, and enter 2-0 in Big 8 West play.
The teams previously matched up Nov. 29, with Nevada prevailing, 54-42, in the championship game of the Carl Junction Classic.
Tip off for the girls’ contest is set for 6 p.m. tonight from Wynn Gymnasium.
See Wednesday’s edition of the Daily Mail for complete coverage of the varsity doubleheader