Today's post is written by Assistant Coach Marcus Moeller:
As I sit here typing, we are currently in the midst of a 2 game, 3 and a half day road trip. On Saturday afternoon we played in Omaha, Nebraska. The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) poses some interesting difficulties for us. The biggest thing about UNO is that you know they are going to play the game extremely hard from the opening tip, to the final buzzer. Career highs in points by guards Kelby Fritz (20) and Afton Baldwin (18) really propelled our team after getting off to a slow start in the game. Overall, we played a very complete basketball game as a TEAM and came away with a hard fought 76-66 win. After that result, we currently sit at 9-5 overall and 7-3 in league play.
The second game of the road trip is in Maryville, MO at Northwest Missouri State University tomorrow (Monday) evening at 5:30. At the conclusion of the game we will also have completed the first round of conference. That's right, 11 conference games down...and 11 to go! I've always found the second round of conference games very interesting. It is so different than the games played in the first round. Why? Noone has any secrets anymore.
When the first round of conference play concludes, you have seen each and every team up close and personal. You have experienced every team's newcomers. You have seen them on film what feels like a hundred times and you have now seen in person what they do on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. At this point, there are no secrets. Don't get me wrong, every coach makes adjustments with certain personnel and game strategy, but at this point, you have seen what every team has to offer.
The other thing that makes the second half of conference play so exciting is the race to the MIAA conference tournament. The top 8 teams in the league will converge in downtown Kansas City at Municipal Auditorium on the first weekend in March for the MIAA tournament. The MIAA puts on GREAT event and really makes this event the premier Division 2 conference tournament in the country. EVERY game (first round included) in conference play is so important, but you can feel the pressure rising as the second round proceeds. The standings are hugely impacted by every loose ball, every missed free throw and every win or loss. Simply put...it's game on!
Our players are very excited about the turn of the conference calendar. We have a great test before us with a very tough road contest tomorrow night. We are very grateful for all of the support that we have been shown by the Joplin community and we are looking forward to continuing to see so many fans at our home games!!
Until next time...It's a GREAT day to be a LION!!
Marcus Moeller
Assistant Coach
