*LC-M vs. PN-G/LC-M WINS 57-41/COMMENTS*

[KFDM COOP]

Post updates here...

[KFDM COOP]

14-13 LC-M 2nd Q.

[KFDM COOP]

20-18 LC-M Half.

[KFDM COOP]

55-41 LC-M Leads late 4th

[KFDM COOP]

Bears force play-in with Dayton with 57-41 win over PN-G

Van Wade

The Orange Leader

PORT NECHES — Three weeks ago, many basketball fans thought the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears were dead in the water as far as earning a playoff spot out of District 22-4A.

Not so fast, my friends.

The Bears, who started 22-4A play at 3-6, extended their 22-4A winning streak to five games Tuesday night by burying Port Neches-Groves 57-41 at Indian Gym.

The win pushes the Bears (22-10, 8-6) into a third-place tie with the Dayton Broncos (11-13, 8-6) which fell to first-place Beaumont Ozen 63-55 Tuesday.

The Bears and the Broncos will decide the third-place playoff spot Friday night at 6 p.m. at Lamar University’s Montagne Center. The game will be part of a triple-header with Kountze and East Chambers settling District 24-2A at 7:30 p.m. and Silsbee and Hardin-Jefferson battling for the 21-3A crown at 9 p.m.

“I’m so proud of our kids,†said LC-M coach Darin Harley. “Many counted them out just a couple weeks ago but they hung in there. We're a senior group and they never stopped believing in each other. They went out and accomplished it.â€

Being 8-6 sure sounds better than being 3-6.

“The kids knew they were a better team than what they showed early on in district,†Harley said. “The biggest adjustment we made was that we stopped settling for the outside shots and we started to take the ball inside more. That's been huge for us.â€

PN-G (10-18, 2-12) gave the Bears a tussle in the first half but it was all LC-M in the second half.

Led by the stout play of senior Kevin Cooper, the Bears went on a 17-5 tear in the third period to expand on their slim 20-18 edge at intermission. Cooper burned the Indians for a double-double, tallying 21 points while yanking down 12 rebounds.

“Kevin played huge again,†said Harley. “PN-G has great size but he kept driving the ball in there. We knew PN-G could block some shots, but the kids stayed aggressive and kept attacking.â€

PN-G forward Matt Johnson tied the game at 20-20 with a nice move inside but the Indians fell by the wayside after that.

The Bears, led by Cooper’s 10 points in the period, went on a 14-0 spurt that basically sealed the deal. A steal and a laying by Cooper gave the Bears a 34-20 edge and they never were challenged after that and led by as much as 20 points in the fourth period. LC-M forced PN-G into seven of its 18 turnovers in the third stanza.

Cooper had plenty of help from his Bear teammates.

Senior C.J. Champine penetrated the lane well and finished with 15 points and five rebounds. Senior Dallas Bean contributed 11 points and five rebounds. Senior post David Sicktich played excellent defense inside and collected eight points and seven boards.

The LC-M win offset a superb performance by senior Indian guard Travis Thompson. Thompson filtered in 20 points and hit five three-point bombs and also had six rebounds. PN-G's 6-9 post Ryan Miller was held to seven points but did pull down 12 rebounds while adding six blocked shots.

The Bears finished with a 31-25 rebounding edge. LC-M committed 13 turnovers. The Bears also shot well from the free-throw line, going 12-of-16. The Indians finished just 6-of-15.

Now it’s on to the big battle against Dayton Friday night.

“It’s really like we’ve already been in the playoffs, with all of the games we’ve had to win,†said Harley. “If we don’t win our last five, then we don’t have this opportunity. Dayton has an excellent team. We’re going to have to deal with their pressure better than we did at their place.â€

The Bears defeated Dayton at home in the first half of 22-4A play and fell on the road at Broncos Gym.

[DP#1FAN]

Congrats Bears on a good run!

[24 over par]

good luck friday