When the defending division 1 USCAA National Champions come to your home court you want nothing more than to make them leave with their tails tucked.
Mont Alto hosted defending champs in Washington Adventist on Saturday afternoon, and it proved to be the game it was supposed to. Mont Alto is not taken lightly by teams either this season as they are ranked #1 in the division 2 USCAA rankings, have the toughest strength of schedule, made the PSUAC Championship game last year, as well as the final four in the USCAA National Tournament.
The game stayed close for the full 40 minutes. The teams battled, and in such a close game every possession counted. With a 30-29 halftime lead, Mont Alto played with a new sense of ball control that they had not utilized all season. With only 5 turnovers at the half they seemed to be playing at a higher discipline level.
The second half was no different from either team, and Mont Alto's senior leader, Jeremiah Mitchell kept doing what he has done all season long. Mitchell shot 61% from the field with his game high 23 points, and pulled down 8 rebounds. Teammate Devonte Merritt helped out as well with 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
Mont Alto held Washington Adventist to only 33% from the field, 35% from the 3 point line, and outrebounded them 40-32.
Trading buckets back and forth during the final minutes, the game came down to the last second. Mont Alto's Cody Rydbom was fouled during a 3 point shot by Washington Adventist's Martin Wilson. Rydbom sank all 3 from the charity stripe to put Mont Alto within 1 point. Wilson then got his redemption as he got fouled to stop the clock, and was able to put both of his free throws in.
Mont Alto, down by 3, got the ball back with 8.6 seconds remaining. Mont Alto junior guard, Corey Meyers got the call for the las shot. With a questionable bump on Meyers from Washington Adventist that wasn't called, Meyers let if fly. The ball rimmed out, and Mont Alto lost by 67-64.
The issue was not the toughness of Mont Alto, it wasn't the lack of heart, nor surprisingly was it the turnovers that beat them this game. It was the free throws that hurt Mont Alto this game, as they went 12-23 from the line.
With conference play starting on Tuesday, the Lions need to figure out how to remedy the free throws. Although they are still ranked #1 in the country, and are sitting 2nd in the PSUAC, they know that this is something that they need to fix if they want to contend in the USCAA National Tournament again this year.
below: Siele Johnson (32) puts in 2 of his 6 points for Mont Alto.
