The Notre Dame College Falcons saw all five starters score in double figures as they came away with a 99-78 win at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Va. in the MEC Quarterfinals Friday afternoon. With the win NDC improves to 21-8 on the season and will advance to Saturday's semifinals where they will take on Fairmont State.
Coach Tim Koenig talked about the win:
" It was a really good win. Any win in this league especially in the tournament is a big win. We have our work cut out for us tomorrow, but we will enjoy this one for a little bit and then get prepared for tomorrow's game." Koenig said.
Will Vorhees expanded on the thoughts of Koenig:
" Against a team like that who does a lot of pressing and plays some zone we understand our roles as well as what needs to be done." Vorhees said.
Drew Scarberry talked about relaxing the nerves and getting a few easy ones in transition early:
" Any shot in transition is a good shot. It is good to get a few easy ones especially in a game like this to get rid of some of the nerves. It gets you more into the flow of the game both offensively and defensively.
Vorhees led five Falcons in double figures with 23 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Isaiah Sanders added 22 points- eight rebounds- and- four assists. Scarberry knocked down four 3-pointer's on his way to 16. Bruce Hodges stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points- six rebounds- and- six assists. While Larenz Thurman added 14 points-and- five assists. NDC shot 60 percent as a team on the day. They shot 42 percent (10-24) from the 3-point line- and- shot at a 86 percent (6-7) from the free throw line. NDC won the rebounding battle 37-28.
Koenig talked about that:
" We did a really nice job on the glass today. That meant more moving to go with more energy."
NDC had 22 assists- and- 12 turnovers as a team.
Vorhees talked about the ball movement of the team:
" That is something we have prided ourselves on all season long. We love to share the ball and I have confidence in my teammates once I get doubled that the shots will be open and get knocked down."
Koenig agreed:
" We have been working on the press advancement all season since day one. We go thru progressions kind of like a quarterback in football. The long ball was available today the way that they defended us."
West Virginia State was led by Ernest Jenkins with 19 points. He was one of two Yellow Jackets in double figures- as Isaiah Noel added 16. Three other WVSU players chipped in nine in the defeat as they saw the season come to a close at 12-17. WVSU shot 43 percent as a team- 42 percent (10-24) from the 3-point line- and- shot at a 83 percent clip (15-18) at the free throw line. The Yellow Jackets had nine assists and 14 turnovers in the defeat.
NDC took control from the outset. They would lead 14-8 after a Vorhees jumper with 14:59 to go in the opening half. Halil Parks would knock down a 3-pointer with 8:37 in the half to make it 30-18 in favor of the Falcons.. Vorhees would hit a jumper five minutes later to make the lead 19 (42-23.)NDC would take a 14 point lead (47-33) into the locker room.
Vorhees led the way with 15 points and seven rebounds in the opening stanza. Scarberry added 10- and- Isaiah Sanders added nine with five rebounds. NDC shot 54 percent from the floor in the half. They shot 40 percent (6-15) from the 3-point line- and- shot at a 75 percent clip (3-4) at the free throw line. NDC won the rebounding battle 21-17 in the first stanza.
The Yellow Jackets were led by Jenkins with nine points- while Glen Abram chipped in six. WVSU shot 36 percent from the floor in the half. They shot 43 percent from the 3-point line- and- 75 percent from the free throw line in the half. They had six assists and seven turnovers as a team in the half.
The Yellow Jackets got within 10 early in the second half.
Vorhees talked about answering the run with one of our own:
" We know basketball is a game of runs. We just needed to answer the run of theirs with a run of our own.
NDC did just that as they would expand the lead to as many as 20 points (67-47) after a pair of Thurman free throws at the 13:13 mark. The Falcons would cruise to the win from that point.
NDC did just that as they would expand the lead to as many as 20 points (67-47) after a pair of Thurman free throws at the 13:13 mark. The Falcons would cruise to the win from that point.
Both Vorhees and Scarberry along with Koenig talked about the win afterwards:
" Great team win. Any win in this league is a good win. We have very good players and teams in this league so we are happy to be moving on."
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