Men lose two of three in Oklahoma
BY RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Luckily for the Bluejays and coach Don Brubacher, their preseason stint with the Oklahoma schools is over.
They've run into about every tough school in the Panhandle State except Kelvin Sampson's Sooners and Eddie Sutton's Cowboys.
What doesn't kill you can only make your better, though.
Tabor spent Friday and Saturday in Bethany, Okla., competing in the Southern Nazarene/Clarion Thanksgiving Classic.
The Bluejays avenged a 98-82 loss to the Oklahoma Christian Eagles in the season opener Saturday night, 84-82, hitting a season best 50 percent from the floor.
The shooting was the biggest difference in Tabor's game Nov. 22 against the SNU Crimson Storm, a team the Bluejays held off Nov. 22 at Sterling, 85-80.
But the Bluejays couldn't buy a basket a week later, shooting a modest 37 percent from the floor, falling 83-75 to the hosting Crimson Storm in a game loaded with disputable officiating.
Even the high percentage shots and lay-ups were impossible to knock down against the Crimson Storm.
"We shot the ball very poorly," Brubacher said. "There were a lot of differences (first game against SNU.) They're (SNU) a very talented team, and they're difficult to control. They punished us even more at the four-and five spot."
Talking about 6-foot-9 post Collin Degge and power-forward Chris Robertson.
Robertson lit the Bluejays up for 15 points, snagging a game-high 13 rebounds. Degge scored eight points, but his 10 rebounds made for a lopsided night in battling for the boards.
The bigger Crimson Storm pounded the Bluejays decisively, 59-30.
Tabor had four finish in double figures paced by Jered Reese's season-high 14 points. Scott Brubacher had 13, including a trio of triples, Jeremiah Randall added 11 and Micah Ratzlaff followed with 10.
"I thought Jeremiah Randall did a wonderful job defensively," said Don Brubacher.
SNU got off to a quick start, racing to an early 10-0 lead, eventually pulling in front, 19-2.
"We had a really tough start," Don Brubacher said. "We executed well enough to get good shots, but we couldn't get anything to go."
The Bluejays recovered some, cutting the deficit to 42-35 at halftime, hitting a slightly better 38 percent from the field and a vile 3 for 12 from outside.
The three point line was of no aid to Tabor. For the night, all it could manage was 9 for 30.
That was better than what the Crimson Storm could do though.
Boasting hot-shot freshman Omar Quintero, who scored a game-high 18, SNU was limited to 4 for 18 from outside.
Tabor tied the game up with under 5:00 left, before slipping under by two with under 1:30 to go.
The Bluejays could never seem to muster the steam to get over the hill, though.
"It's still early in the year, and we have an awful lot to learn about our game," said Don Brubacher.
In the first meeting with the Eagles, Osric Woods put up 34 points against the Bluejays.
Scott Brubacher was in Woods' face all night, yielding 11 points to him all late in the game.
The two teams played to a 43-43 deadlock at intermission with both shooting better than 50 percent from the floor.
The Bluejays were on fire from outside the arc, nailing 12 of 22 for the game with Brad Gattis finishing a perfect 3 for 3 for all nine of his points.
Scott also scored 11 with nine from downtown. Tyson Ratzlaff had a team-high 20, Micah, 15, and Randall pitched in with 11.
The 3-4 Bluejays open the KCAC season tonight when they host the Sterling Warriors in a game slated for 8 p.m.
Tabor travels Saturday to McPherson to face the Bulldogs at 7 p.m.
Northwestern Oklahoma State
Until the Nov. 26 game against the Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers in Alva, Tabor's worst game of the year had to be the season openers in Oklahoma City.
Tabor stooped to a new level against the Rangers, a team loaded with back-alley brawlers that like to dish it out as well as take it.
The Bluejays looked as if they were ready for Thanksgiving vacation on Tuesday with the Rangers whipping them, 83-68.
"It appeared we weren't ready to play again," Don Brubacher said. "We had a really tough weekend at Sterling and tried to come back Tuesday and play.
"We weren't ready either physically or mentally to play."
Tabor had a big lead early in the second half, leading to a Ranger time-out.
Then the Rangers' football team came into the game.
NWOSU closed down the lanes to the basket, making it impossible to dribble-penetrate and establish any offense.
