Warriors Nab Non-Conference Win

Ottumwa -- Indian Hills put an end to a three-game losing streak in their head-to-head series with Region 16 foe Moberly Area CC on Tuesday night, knocking off the Greyhounds, 92-81, at the Hellyer Center.

The win was the third straight for IHCC and its 22nd of the season against only one loss.

But like the two previous Indian Hills wins, this one didn't come without some anxious moments after the Warriors had opened up a big second-half lead.

Indian Hills took a nine-point halftime advantage and expanded it to 14 points midway through the second half. Consecutive 3-pointers by Gary Ricks, Jr. and Frank Williams put IHCC ahead 69-55.

Moberly, however, responded with an 11-1 run to get to within 70-66. But the visitors never got closer than that. Jameel McKay had a pair of baskets around two free throws by Roderick Bobbitt as the Warriors quickly moved the lead back to double-digits.

Bobbitt drilled four straight free throws down the stretch to help cement the win.

Indian Hills got a solid effort from Williams, the 6-6 freshman who is still coming back from a wrist injury suffered in late November. He hadn't played in the past four games and had seen action in only game since the injury.

Inserted in the lineup early in the first half, Williams hit three shots, including a pair of 3s, not long after entering the game. He helped the Warriors go on top by nine points, only to see Moberly rally to take two one-point leads, the second with four minutes to go in the half.

At that point, Indian Hills' press took over, forcing a slew of MACC turnovers that quickly resulted in a 10-0 run and a 44-35 lead for IHCC.

The Warriors outscored the Greyhounds 16-6 over the final four minutes of the half and were ahead by nine at intermission after a basket by McKay that came with one second to play in the half.

The Warriors D.J. Bennett scored all three of his field goals in a two-minute span in the second half in an 8-0 run for Indian Hills. And even though MACC battled back from the 14-point deficit, they never got closer than four.

McKay led a balanced IHCC attack with 17 points; four teammates joined him in double figures. Moberly had four players with 10 or more points, led by Davonne Henry with 15.

Indian Hills will take on Clinton CC on Saturday night at home. Clinton is taking the place of Southeastern CC on the Warriors' schedule. The BlackHawks cancelled the second half of their season a month ago.

INDIAN HILLS 92, MOBERLY 81

INDIAN HILLS Brandon Spearman 2 0-1 4, Gary Ricks, Jr. 3 0-0 9, Michael Haynes 7 2-7 16, D.J. Bennett 3 0-0 6, Jameel McKay 8 1-1 17, Roderick Bobbitt 1 8-9 11, Dustin Hogue 4 1-4 10, Ronnie Stevens 1 3-4 5, Trinson White 1 1-2 3, Frank Williams 4 0-0 11, Gary Ross 0 0-0 0 Team 34 16-28 92

MOBERLY Daylen Robinson 5 1-1 12, Kenny Williams 4 2-6 10, Jon Gilliam 2 0-0 6, T.J. White 3 1-4 7, Derrick Dilworth 5 2-2 12, Malik Atkins 0 0-0 0, Giovanni McLean 3 0-1 7, Nate Bitner 0 0-0 0, Charles Pemberton 3 1-2 7, Davonne Henry 7 0-0 15, Michael Luscombe 1 0-0 2, Manny Scott 0 3-4 3 Team 33 10-20 81

Halftime score: Indian Hills 50, Moberly 41; Three-point field goals: IHCC 8 (Ricks, Williams 3; Bobbitt, Hogue 1), MACC 5 (Gilliam 2; Robinson, McLean, Henry 1)