Tigers earn first national tournament victory in 64 years; blow out Trinity Valley 134-107

One down, three to go! Playing its first national tournament game since 1957, the No. 8-seeded Cowley College basketball team imposed its will on ninth-seeded Trinity Valley (TX) in a 134-107 trouncing of the Cardinals.

Cowley out-scored the Cardinals by 20 points in the second half after leading by seven at halftime.

"I thought we were a little nervous at the start, but once we got the pace going the way we wanted they got gassed," Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme said. "We kept the pressure up in the second half and put the hammer down."

With the win, Cowley advances to face top-seeded Mineral Area Community College (24-0), which slipped past No. 16-seed Hutchinson Community College 80-77. The teams will do battle in the semifinals of the national tournament Thursday at 12 p.m.

Cowley, winners of 13 games in a row, improves to 22-4 on the season. The Tigers were just shy of the all-time tournament record of 137 points scored by Lawton State back in 1977, while the teams combined to score a new tournament record of 241 points. The 241 points broke a record that had stood for 44 years.

Cowley blistered the nets by going 22-of-48 from three-point range.

"Those threes are big energy boosters for us," DeSalme said.

The teams came out on fire, with the contest featuring eight lead changes in the first four minutes. Cowley would trail 21-16 following a 6-0 Cardinal run. Trinity Valley's lead would grow to 31-24 following a three-pointer by Darry Moore with 13:35 left in the opening half.

The Cardinals would go on to lead by as many as nine points (37-28) before the Tigers' clawed back to within 43-42 following a dunk by sophomore Jaquez Yow and then tied the game at 45-45 on a three-pointer by Moun'tae Edmundson with 6:55 left before halftime.

Cowley would go on to lead for the final six minutes of the half and went into halftime in front by a score of 77-70. The 77 points were one off the Tigers' school-record for points in a half.

Trevon Fuller's 25 first-half points and seven three-pointers helped the Cardinals stay within striking distance. However, Fuller was held scoreless over the game's final 20 minutes of play.

"He banged some big-time shots in the first half, but with our style of play he was tired in the second half," DeSalme said.

Mike'l Henderson led Cowley with 19 points in the opening half as he went 5-of-6 from three-point range. He finished with a game-high 33 points.

"With not being able to compete at the national tournament last year (due to Covid), we have learned to savor the moment," Henderson said.

The teams combined for 22 three-pointers made in the first half. However, Cowley was able to take the halftime lead thanks to forcing the Cardinals into 18 turnovers. Trinity Valley would finish with 29 turnovers on the game.

The Tigers' lead grew to double digits (84-74) following a three-pointer by Dalen Ridgnal only two minutes into the second half and Cowley would lead 97-82 after a three-pointer by Henderson with 14 minutes remaining.

Another three-pointer, this one by Cevin Clark, increased Cowley's lead to 20 (104-84). The Tigers would lead by as many as 27 points as once again its opponent ran out of gas in the second half.

Clark went 6-of-11 from three-point range and finished with 21 points, while Ridgnal finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds.

"It feels good to win at the national tournament because I know it has been along time since Cowley has won here," Ridgnal said. "We have been in the gym since August, so it is nice to see it paying off."

Moun'tae Edmundson (17 points), Shemarri Allen (13 points), and Raishaun Brown (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Tigers.

"Raishaun has really stepped up these past few games and was special for us tonight," DeSalme said.

Prior to Tuesday's game, the Cardinals had lost only twice, by a combined three points against national tournament qualifier Kilgore College. Trinity Valley finishes the season with a record of 23-3.

The Tigers are looking forward to the challenge of playing the top-seeded and undefeated Cardinals of Mineral Area Community College.

"We wanted to win this opening game to feel a part of this tournament," DeSalme said. "Being among the final eight teams is a great opportunity. We will not worry about Mineral Area one bit, its about us and what we do on the court."

Box score:

Trinity Valley (107): Jakevion Buckley 6-8 0-3 12, Deshawn Davis 4-7 9-12 18, Anderson Mirambeaux 0-1 1-2 1, Tuongthach Gathek 8-11 3-4 19, Trevon Fuller 9-20 0-0 25, Sofara Rasas 4-6 3-4 11, Keron Bailey 2-6 1-2 7, Dyriel Empy 0-1 0-0 0, Darry Moore 6-11 2-2 14, Lathaniel Bastian 0-1 0-0 0, Kaleb Parks 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 39-73 19-28 107.

Cowley (134): Mike'l Henderson 10-18 6-6 33, Moun'tae Edmundson 5-10 3-3 17, Shemarri Allen 3-11 7-7 13, Cevin Clark 7-12 1-2 21, Dalen Ridgnal 8-19 5-8 24, Kobe Campbell 0-1 0-0 0, Clarence King 1-1 1-2 3, Raishaun Brown 4-9 0-0 10, Cameron Robins 0-0 0-0 0, Tarese Morse 1-1 0-0 2, Jacquez Yow 3-7 2-2 8, Josiah Harris 1-2 1-3 3. Totals: 43-91 26-33 134.

Three-pointers: Trinity Valley 10-25 (Fuller 7-16, Bailey 2-3, Davis 1-3, Parks 0-1, Empy 0-1, Gathek 0-1), Cowley 22-48 (Henderson 7-12, Clark 6-11, Edmundson 4-7, Ridgnal 3-8, Brown 2-6, Yow 0-2, Allen 0-1, Campbell 0-1). Rebounds: Trinity Valley 41 (Gathek 8), Cowley 50 (Ridgnal 14). Assists: Trinity Valley 23 (Buckley, Davis 5), Cowley 22 (Henderson, Allen, Ridgnal, Brown 4). Turnovers: Trinity Valley 29, Cowley 16. Total fouls: Trinity Valley 23, Cowley 21. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none.