In their final game before the holidays, the Central Lakes College Raiders were defeated by the Riverland Blue Devils 77-66 on the second day of the CLC Invite Saturday, Dec. 22.
The Raiders saw a 5-point halftime lead evaporate in the second half, led by Riverland's Deandre Anderson, who finished with a game-high 23 points. The loss snapped CLC's 4-game win streak.
CLC's Chris Buckley returned after a a one-game absence and finished with a team-high 16 points. Teammate AJ Ray totaled 15 points and eight rebounds. They were the only Raiders in double figures as CLC shot 39 percent from the field.
"They are a good ball club and a very athletic team," Russell said of the Blue Devils. "I told the team that if we just take care of business and win the battle on the boards you will put yourself in a good spot. We didn't do that and give them credit. They outplayed us and wanted it a little more than we did."
The Blue Devils outrebounded the Raiders 44-37 and also won the battle of steals by a 6-point margin
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The teams combined for just 58 first-half points with CLC taking the lead at halftime 28-23. Despite that lead, Riverland outscored the Raiders 14-10 in the paint and in second-chance points 7-2.
The Blue Devils carried that momentum into the second half, and took the lead midway through the half. The Raiders cut it to five a few times but Riverland pushed it to 11 with a minute left and came away with the win.
"Overall I thought it was good for us," Russell said of the game. "We just made an overall commitment to playing the game the right way and if all of them decide to come back and do the right thing, we will be fine."
He also said players may have been looking forward to the holiday break.
"I was kind of thinking that finals are done, let's play ball and have fun," Russell said. "That is what I was hoping. But the other side of the story is that they want to get home and that is understandable-they are kids. But when you get on the court and get the chance to play, don't waste that opportunity.
"I am not taking anything away from the Blue Devils, but we didn't take advantage of that opportunity."
Riverland 23 54-77
Central Lakes 28 38-66
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RIVERLAND
Montrell Jacobs 7, Deandre Anderson 23, Kwantez Simmons 15, Deandre Raggs 8, Nyagoa Obany 6, Izzy Holmes Jr. 6, Brian Robinson 4, Jared Landherr 3, Uwana Etukakpan 5 FG 27-60 (45 percent), FT 16-22 (73 percent). 3-point 7-23 (30 percent).
CENTRAL LAKES
Chris Buckley 16, Josh Arnold 3, Malik Kelly 8, Jai'Onn Harlin 2, Kelvin Harris 9, Al-Jureau Ray 15, Avis Gilbert 5, Brandon Burggraff 6, Dylan McLain 2. FG 25-64 (39 percent), FT 10-13 (77 percent). 3-point 6-20 (30 percent). Overall: 7-3. Next: host Minnesota West 8 p.m. Jan 4.
For more photos go to https://bit.ly/2PZbJwD .
