C of O Basketball Teams Split on Senior Day

The College of the Ozarks Basketball teams hosted Senior Day Saturday.

It was split results as the Lady Bobcats rolled to a 90-55 win over Haskell Indian Nations while the Bobcats lost to Haskell in double overtime 99-94.

A recap of both games are below from College of the Ozarks Sports Information:

C of O Women
The Lady Cats recognized Senior Kayley Frank prior to the game as she embarks on her final stretch run as a Lady Cat. Kayley is currently doing her student teaching in the Hollister school district and will complete her degree in Elementary Education in May. Kayley has had a major impact on Lady Cat Basketball during her time at C of O and continues to build on her legacy as she closes out her final season. As a member of the 1000-point club, her numbers have continued to climb, and she surpassed the 1500-point mark on December 2 of this season. She is currently averaging 18.2 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, and has piled up 98 assists to go with her 45% shooting from the field. She currently stands at 1,787 points (6th all-time) and 779 rebounds (8th all-time) for her career.

Looking to follow up their 78-74 win on February 1 in Lawrence, KS, the Lady Cats were looking to take the second of two matchups with the Indians.

Taylor Rush opened the game with a deep trey on the first Lady Cat possession and Susie Moran followed a Lady Cat stop with her first two of the game. Blythe Benefield jumped on the board with a free throw and Logan Jones Drilled a pair of threes and another basket to force a Haskell timeout. Leading 16-2 after the first 3:29, The Lady Cats were setting the tone early and were scorching the nets. A Kayley Frank conventional three-point play and another two out of the huddle bumped the Lady Cat lead and Haskell was struggling to find offense. Haskell broke through for a basket at the 3:43 mark and a three on the next possession to get their offense going. Moran ended the small drought with a free throw and Benefield and Frank added a bucket each to build back the lead.  Keara Mattingley scored her first points with time running out in the opening frame and the Lady Cats took a 30-7 lead to the first quarter break.

After a quick four points for the visitors, Benefield answered with a pair of layups to start the second period scoring for the Lady Cats. Haskell had found some life for their offense, and they continued to attack the basket. Another 4-0 stretch cut the gap before a Frank layup provided the response. A Frank assist to Moran added to the lead and with 5:59 showing on the clock, the lead was 38-15. A Haskell three was answered by a Taylor Rush trey and Haskell responded with another on their end. Frank scored inside and Benefield drained a three then a free throw, and the lead grew to 48-23, with 3:21 left in the half. Haskell refused to give in, and the pressure continued on both ends of the floor. Another deep ball by Taylor Rush was combined with a Susie Moran conventional three-point play to help the Lady Cats hold off the Haskell challenges. With time running down in the quarter, both teams had a chance to score, but neither could convert. The game went to the intermission with the Lady Cats holding a 55-27 advantage.

Haskell opened the second half scoring with a three and Susie Moran battled for a rebound and putback to provide the answer. Another Haskell Three was followed by a Frank drive for two and the race was on. Haskell turned up the full court pressure and it was clear the second half would be a tug of war. Logan Jones splashed home a deep three and the Lady Cat lead grew to 63-33. Despite the deficit, Haskell was refusing to give in. Every trip down the floor saw increased pressure and the effort by both teams matched the intensity. Another Logan Jones three was followed by layups by Benefield and Rush and the Lady Cats were answering every Indian challenge. With 2:05 left in the third, the Lady Cat lead had grown to 72-39. A pair of Haskell free throws cut into the Lady Cat advantage, but Abbey Linville answered with a pair from the charity stripe of her own. Haskell continued to battle, and the lead was cut to 74-45 at the end of the third quarter.

A Frank jumper opened the fourth quarter scoring, and the Lady Cats were looking to run down the clock. The Indians continued to use pressure defense to dictate the tempo of the game and the Lady Cats continued to attack the basket. A Benefield free throw was followed by a Frank three and the Lady Cats continued to hold the Indians in check. The physical play of the game kept both teams on the free throw line down the stretch and made it difficult for the Lady Cats to run down the clock. Abbey Linville busted a three at the 3:55 mark and the Lady Cat lead was 86-51. Neither team lit up the net the rest of the way and baskets by Benefield and Mattingley answered the Indian Challenges. The buzzer sounded with the Lady Cats closing out the 90-55 win.

Kayley Frank led the way with 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in her final home game as a Lady Cat and Blythe Benefield poured in 18 points in the win. Susie Moran added another double-double to her resume with 16 points and 14 rebounds while Logan Jones and Taylor Rush added double figure scoring with 14 and 11 points respectively. Abbey Linville chipped in five points, Keara Mattingley tacked on four, and Avery Arnold added one point in the win. 

The Lady Cats will head to Campbellsville, KY on February 24 to face the Tigers who are ranked #3 in the latest NAIA poll.

C of O Men
The College of the Ozarks Bobcats returned to Keeter Gymnasium Saturday for Senior Day and to face the Indians of Haskell Indian Nations University. The Bobcats were looking for a repeat performance of their 82-67 win in Lawrence, KS on December 5 and their sixth consecutive win. 

Prior to the game the Bobcats recognized seniors Tanner Rogers and Tanner Diaz. Tanner Rogers (Webb City, MO) has been a fierce competitor during his time as a Bobcat and has showed perseverance, loyalty, and dedication. His range from the three-point arc and his defensive effort have made him an asset to the Bobcats over the years. Tanner has scored 403 points, grabbed 212 rebounds, dished out 170 assists, and drained 87 threes over his career. Tanner Diaz (Steelville, MO) has been a dedicated teammate on and off the court, and has exemplified loyalty, perseverance, and hard work. Often running the point for the Bobcat offense, Tanner has racked up 108 points, 179 rebounds, and 30 assists throughout his career. These two Bobcats will be missed, and their mark left on the program has been valuable during their careers.

The Indians jumped out to an early 7-0 lead and the Bobcats were struggling to get the offence going. Andrew Dalton broke through for the Cats and Jay Baxter followed with a dunk to cut the deficit. Another Haskell three bumped the score to 10-4 and the Bobcats needed a run. Garrett Snyder connected on a pair of free throws and then picked up a steal on the other end. The trip came up empty and the Indians scored to add to their lead. Dalton scored again, but the Bobcats could not get in a rhythm. The Bobcat defense continued to hold and a Caleb Faulkner three cut the gap to 12-11. Kyle Flavin connected for two at the 10:18 mark and the Bobcats took their first lead. Haskell answered on their next trip and the tug of war was on. A Kyle Flavin three returned the lead to the Cats and he followed with a two to bump the lead to 18-14. An Andrew Dalton basket at the 7:37 mark forced a Haskell timeout. Seth Soden drained a three out of the huddle and the Bobcats held their largest lead 23-15. Haskell responded with a pair of free throws and a two and it was clear the visitors were committed for the long haul. A Haskell three on the next trip cut the lead to 23-22 and the bobcats needed to bounce back. Another two for Haskell returned the lead to the Indians as the Bobcat offensive woes continued. A pair of Jay Baxter free throws broke the silence, but the Indians continued to apply pressure. A Haskell three gave the Indians a 27-25 lead with 3:27 left in the opening half. A Garrett Snyder conventional three-point play returned the lead to the Bobcats and Jay Snyder added a pair of free throws to make it 30-27, with 1:37 to play. A Baxter two with time winding down added to the lead and the Cats took a 32-27 lead to the intermission.

Due to a bench technical on Haskell after the half, the Bobcats opened the second half with a pair of free throws by Garrett Snyder. Snyder drained both and the Bobcat lead was 34-27. A Faulkner bucket was followed by a 5-0 Haskell run and the gap was quickly reduced. The Indians continued to apply pressure and a basket at the 16:43 mark tied the score with a pair of free throws following that returned the lead to the visitors. The Bobcats took a timeout to regroup and try to get their offense on track. A pair of Snyder free throws evened the score, but the Bobcats needed a run. A Jay Baxter steal and jam created some energy, and the Bobcats were looking to build on it. The teams continued to trade baskets and score went back and forth. A basket by Andrew Dalton and a deep three by Seth Soden kept the advantage on the Bobcat side but the Indians quickly responded. With 12:52 remaining, the Bobcat lead was 49-47. The Indians picked up a steal and a layup to tie it again and the battle continued. A Dalton three was followed by an Indian basket and a timeout for the visitors. The next six points would come from the charity stripe as Dalton and Snyder connected for the Bobcats and the Indians drained a pair of their own. A Flavin bucket was followed by a Dalton layup, and the Bobcat lead grew to 60-53, with 9:21 left to play. The Indians responded with a 5-0 run and the game remained tight. A Snyder bucket was countered with a pair of Haskell free throws before a Flavin trey and another Snyder two built the lead to 67-60. Haskell answered with a basket then took a quick timeout to talk over the strategy for the final 5:24. Another five unanswered points for Haskell tied the score before a Dalton two broke the string. The Indians tied it on the next possession and this one was seemingly going down to the wire. A Snyder two kept the lead in the hands of the Bobcats and a Faulkner bucket, with 2:10 left in the game gave the Cats a 73-69 lead. The Indians had possession of the ball with 2:00 showing on the clock and they took a timeout. Each trip was vital for both teams and the Indians took advantage of the huddle and finished their possession with a two. With 1:23 showing on the clock, the Bobcats held a slim 73-71 advantage, but the Indians had the ball. A defensive stop for the Cats induced the fouling strategy for the Indians and the Bobcats were challenged with protecting the ball. A turnover and foul sent the Indians to the free throw line where the free throws tied the score at 73 apiece, with :42 left to play. The tension mounted and the next Bobcat possession came up empty. The Indians pulled down a defensive rebound and called a timeout with :8.5 showing on the clock. A Haskell turnover gave the ball back to the Bobcats but the last second shot fell short, and the game moved to overtime. 

After several dry trips for each team, the Indians opened the scoring in the extra frame. Another Indian basket followed before Andrew Dalton connected on a pair of free throws to cut the deficit. A Bobcat stop was followed by another Dalton bucket, then a Haskell two. Trailing by two with 1:43 left to play, Andrew Dalton connected for three and his 7-0 run had the Bobcats on top 80-79. Another Bobcat stop was rewarded with a Haskell foul and Garrett Snyder sank a pair from the line to increase the slim Bobcat advantage. The Bobcats needed stops, and the Indians needed points. The Indians got what they needed, but a Dalton breakaway layup added to the lead. The Indians quickly responded and connected from beyond the arc to tie it. The Bobcats were unable to score as time ran out and another extra period would be needed to determine a winner.  

The Indians opened the scoring in the second overtime, just as they did in the first. A Garrett Snyder drive for two tied the score with 3:05 left to play but Haskell answered on the next trip to maintain the lead. Andrew Dalton responded with a deep three and the Bobcats regained the lead. With 2:03 showing on the clock, the Indians scored inside, and the advantage shifted again. The teams traded baskets before a Bobcat foul sent the Indians to the line with a 92-91 lead. Converting one of two tries, the Bobcats held the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead. A missed shot returned the ball to the visitors and the Bobcats were in a tight spot, trailing by two with 38.6 showing on the clock. The Indians ran the clock down to 14.4 and a Bobcat foul sent them to the line. With the first free throw good, the Bobcats took a timeout, trailing 94-91. A Jay Baxter drive for two drew a foul and Baxter stepped to the line with the Bobcats trailing by two. Baxter connected on the free throw and with :7.3 left to play the Bobcats needed to foul. The Indians hit both free throws and the Bobcats were unable to score. A Layup at the buzzer for the Indians made the final score 99-94 and the Bobcat win streak had come to an end. 

Andrew Dalton dominated the extra periods and ended with a double-double, scoring 33 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Garrett Snyder poured in 21 points, Jay Baxter added 15, and Kyle Flavin tacked on 12. Caleb Faulkner and Seth Soden chipped in seven and six points respectively. 

The Bobcats will return to action at home Tuesday when they host Columbia College in a 7 PM start.