Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

2/19/2008
Story by Tyler Cundith

Cavaliers down Ravens

OVERLAND PARK, KS -- The Johnson County Community College men’s basketball team went toe-toe with one of the elite basketball programs in the country Monday night, and came away with an impressive 77-71 home victory over Coffeyville Community College. The Ravens came into the game on the heels of a big win over conference leader Independence.

Trailing by three points at the break, JCCC took control in the second half with solid execution on the offensive end and pressure defense. The Cavaliers shot 61 percent in the second half, while holding the Ravens to 34 percent from the field.

“We really passed the ball well last night,” said Cavaliers head coach Mike Jeffers. “We created a lot of easy opportunities around the basket which is tough to do against 6-8 athletic players. We just executed well and didn’t get in a free lance mode on the offensive end.”

Jeffers said a key play in the second half came when Fred Patton recovered a loose ball and called time out before Coffeyville could cause a tie up situation. With the shot clock at two seconds, Kyle Speed found Nafis Ricks under the basket. Ricks scored and was fouled, upping the Cavaliers lead from four to seven points.

Speed led JCCC with 23 points, hitting 9-of-14 shots, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Jonathan Jackson followed with 14 points on 5-of-6 from the field and 4-of-6 at the line. Q Totta added 13 points and six rebounds and Patton finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Ricks just missed double figures, finishing with eight points, eight rebounds and five assists.

JCCC’s bench of Melvin Cole, Patrick Nemechek, David Yadrich and Anthony Dobson only accounted for seven points, however, those four did not commit one turnover in 47 combined minutes of action.

The victory improves the Cavaliers to 16-11 overall, with three regular season games remaining. They travel to Fort Scott and Kansas City Kansas Wednesday and Saturday respectively, then close out the season at home Monday night, Feb. 25 against Highland.