T-Birds knock off Red Ravens, 63-56

COFFEYVILLE — Just two days removed from a gut-wrenching road loss to sixth-ranked Dodge City Community College, the Cloud County Community College Thunderbirds avenged an earlier loss by knocking off the Coffeyville Community College Red Ravens 63-56 on Monday night.
Cloud County had traveled to Dodge City on Saturday and had their upset hopes dashed 73-71 on a basket in the closing seconds.
Back on the road two days later, the T-Birds used an 18-7 run in the second half to grab a 45-35 lead and held off Coffeyville over the final nine minutes to halt a four-game losing streak.
“I think we have really stayed with process. You would think that a close game like that (Dodge City), losing on another buzzer beater essentially, could potentially break your spirit. I feel like it really gave our guys a lot of confidence because they recognized that against Dodge it took two absolute circus shots,” Cloud County coach Devin Kastrup said. “Instead of inhibiting them it kind of gave them that confidence and freedom to go out there and play.”
Coffeyville had posted a ninth consecutive win over Cloud County, 93-89 in triple overtime, back on January 5.
Getting the win in the rematch, the T-Birds are now 12-15 overall and 8-13 in conference play.
Coffeyville, which had won four of five games going in, falls to 13-12 overall and 10-9 in the Jayhawk Conference.
Trailing 4-2 early in a low scoring first half, the T-Birds scored nine straight points to go up 11-4.
Coffeyville closed the gap to three points, 15-12.
Consecutive baskets by Savian Edwards upped Cloud County’s lead to 19-12.
Blaise Keita hit two free throws for Coffeyville, but Edwards answered with a three-point basket, and the T-Birds led 22-14.
It was a 27-19 Cloud County lead when Love Bettis buried a three in the final second of the first half to pull the Red Ravens within five points, 27-22.
Bettis poured in 26 points to lead all scorers.
Coffeyville got a free throw by Keita, a three by AJ McBride and a jumper by Bettis in the first 1:13 of the second half to take its first lead, 28-27, since it was 4-2.
The Red Ravens would then go 6:33 without scoring.
Four straight points by Zion Obanla, a three by Corey Sawyer Jr. and a free throw by Justin Graham put Cloud County up 35-28.
Bettis ended Coffeyville’s scoring drought with a jumper and Nathan Johnson made a three to make it 35-33.
Leading 37-35, the T-Birds had Edwards and Graham connect on consecutive threes and Malang Athian score on a drive to up the lead to 45-35 with 9:28 remaining in the game.
Bettis made two free throws for Coffeyville, but Joe Kearney hit a three for Cloud County.
The T-Birds answered a basket by Deng Mayar with a three by Athian, and had their biggest lead at 51-39.
Coffeyville would not get any closer than the final margin of seven points over the final 6:45 of the game.
“Find a way to get stops and then counter with baskets. It is just as simple as that,” Kastrup said of how the T-Birds were able to sustain their lead. “We just found a way to continue to get great shots, continue to play within ourselves. Stuck to the game plan and made some timely plays.”
Athian led four Cloud County players in double figures with 14 points and also grabbed five rebounds.
Kearney, who was three of five from three-point range, scored 13 points.
Edwards came off the bench to score 12 points and Graham added 10.
The T-Birds were 23 of 49 from the field for 47 percent, 8 of 19 from three-point range for 42 percent and 9 of 11 from the free throw line for 82 percent.
Keita joined Bettis in double figures for Coffeyville with 12 points.
Cloud County hosts Garden City Community College tonight.