Tigers throttle Neosho 105-71 to advance to Region VI Semifinals

Facing 10^th-seeded Neosho County for the third time in just over two weeks, the second-seeded Cowley College men's basketball team made it three wins over the Panthers with a 105-71 win in the quarterfinals of the Region VI Tournament Wednesday in Arkansas City.

The Tigers (19-4) advance to face third-seeded Barton County Friday at 8 p.m. in the semifinals of the Region VI Tournament played at Friends University in Wichita, KS. The other semifinal matchup consists of top-seeded Hutchinson against fourth-seeded Coffeyville.

"It will be a blue blood Final Four," Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme said. "This will be good for the league having the top-four seeds in the semifinals."

On Wednesday, Cowley raced out to a 17-5 lead and led by as many as 20 points in the opening half before settling for a 50-36 halftime lead. The Tigers forced Neosho into 15 first half turnovers and out-scored the Panthers 17-3 on points off turnovers.

After Neosho scored the first five points of the second half to pull within 50-41, Cowley responded with an 11-3 run thanks to three technical fouls called on the Panthers. The game began to unravel quickly for Neosho in the second half. With the game getting out of hand, the Panther players and coaches began to lose their cool and were whistled for five technical fouls in the half.

Sophomore Moun'tae Edmundson scored 15 of his game-high 20 points in the second half and scored eight points during a 10-0 run that saw Cowley's lead grow to 88-60 with 8:10 remaining.

Dalen Ridgnal had another double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while freshman Kobe Campbell came off the bench to finish with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Fellow freshman Josiah Harris added seven points and 12 rebounds as Cowley out-rebounded Neosho 65-50.

The 71 points were the fewest the Tigers have allowed in a game this season as Neosho shot only 38 percent from the floor and committed 22 turnovers.

"Our defense continues to get better," DeSalme said. "If our defense and rebounding continue to come on we will be tough to beat."

Cowley has now gone two straight seasons without losing a conference home game.

"That is why we have been able to win two conference championships is being able to take care of our home court," DeSalme said. "This is a credit to our guys, they really love Cowley and playing for the name on the front of the jersey."

Magic Reliford led Neosho with 18 points as the Panthers finish the season with a record of 9-15.

Barton (16-8) survived a scare from No. 11-seed Garden City on Wednesday by winning 81-80. The Cougars, winners of four games in a row, lost at Cowley 102-97 back on February 3.

"It should be a heck of a game," DeSalme said. "Both teams have played well down the stretch and have an opportunity to get into the region final night, which I consider to be one of the best nights of the year."

Box score:

Neosho (71): Cougar Downing 1-2 0-3 3, Magic Reliford 6-17 2-4 18, Daniel Titus 3-10 2-2 9, De'Antray Hughes 6-11 1-6 13, Tremaine Chelsey 5-12 1-3 11, Deondre Buggage 1-3 0-0 2, Davonte Russ 2-3 0-3 4, Trey Myrie 0-1 0-0 0, Quentin Asberry 2-8 6-6 11, Makye Loggins 0-1 0-0 0, Simeon Richardson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 26-68 12-27 71.

Cowley (105): Mike'l Henderson 2-14 7-7 11, Moun'tae Edmundson 7-15 1-4 20, Shemarri Allen 4-7 3-3 11, Cevin Clark 4-18 3-5 15, Dalen Ridgnal 5-12 3-3 14, Kobe Campbell 5-8 2-2 14, Clarence King 1-1 0-1 2, Raishaun Brown 2-3 0-0 4, Cameron Robins 0-1 0-0 0, Titas Mikalopas 0-1 0-0 0, Jayden McCray 0-0 0-0 0, Tarese Morse 0-1 0-0 0, Jacquez Yow 2-5 3-3 7, Josiah Harris 2-4 3-4 7, Biar Garang 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 34-90 25-32 105.

Three-pointers: Neosho 7-22 (Reliford 4-8, Asberry 1-5, Titus 1-4, Downing 1-1, Russ 0-1, Myrie 0-1, Loggins 0-1, Chelsey 0-1), Cowley 12-47 (Edmundson 5-12, Clark 4-17, Campbell 2-4, Ridgnal 1-4, Henderson 0-7, Allen 0-3, Brown 0-1, Mikalopas 0-1, Yow 0-1, Harris 0-1). Rebounds: Neosho 50 (Titus 11), Cowley 65 (Ridgnal, Harris 12). Assists: Neosho 8 (Reliford 3), Cowley 15 (Henderson 4). Turnovbers: Neosho 22, Cowley 13. Total fouls: Neosho 25, Cowley 22. Fouled out: Downing, Titus, Chelsey, Harris. Technicals: Downing, Hughes, Chelsey (2), bench.