Lynx overwhelm Chicks

DYERSBURG, Tenn. --The Blytheville Chickasaws have had some memorable moments over their holiday break playing six games in two different tournaments.

Beating rival Greene County Tech last Thursday night on the final game played at Tech's Multipurpose building and Tuesday night's battle against Caruthersville, Mo. are probably the two most memorable.

Thursday afternoon's game, however, will be one that the Chicks will want to forget about as quickly as possible.

The Chicks lost a 72-42 decision to the Lausanne Collegiate Lynx in the 5th place game of the Dyersburg Invitational Christmas Tournament.

"They just man-handled us today," said Blytheville head coach David Hixson. "They were bigger, stronger, more physical and more active than we were."

The Lynx beat Blytheville (8-5) inside and outside. Inside, they were led by center Joseph Williams and Denio Chirindza who helped Lausanne collect 10 offensive rebounds in the first half which led to 16 second chance points for the Lynx during that same time.

"That's probably the biggest disappointment from this game," said Hixson. "They just completely destroyed us on the offensive glass."

A three-pointer from Raymond Golphin (11 points) with just over five minutes left in the first period was the last time the Chicks held the lead, at 5-4, as Lausanne finished the period on a 14-3 run and led, 18-10, heading into the second. Golphin's shot from downtown was one of only three three-pointers for the Chicks on the night as Blytheville struggled to find the basket even when there were open looks.

"We just couldn't shoot the ball today," said Hixson. "No one could. When you go against a team that has so many weapons like they (Lausanne) did, you've got to be able to put points on the board."

The tough inside presence of Lausanne led to open shots in the second for guards Damion Wooten and Cameron Payne. The guard duo scored 16 of the Lynx's 22 second period points as Lausanne opened up 20-point lead in the period.

"When they (Lausanne) get the lead, they spread you out and take advantage of their quickness," said Hixson. "That's exactly what they did today."

Wooten, who will be playing Division I ball next year, hit six consecutive points for Luasanne in less than a minute as Lausanne built a 38-17 lead with under two minutes to play in the half.

"They have two very good guards out there," said Hixson of Wooten and Payne. "You have one who is a very strong and athletic guard and another who can score and run the offense and they did their job today."

The Chicks finished the half on an 8-2 run after Golphin hit from beyond the arc and Michael Bell (seven points) completed a three- point play to cut the lead to 15, at 40-25, at the break.

The Lynx silenced any talk of a Chicks comeback in the third period. They held Blytheville to just six points in the period and only one field goal. Blytheville was held scoreless for the final 3:30 of the period and starting point guard Ke'Andre Diamond (seven points) fouled out with 3:15 left in the third.

A pair of free throws from Bell and Greg McKillion (nine points, nine boards and two blocked shots) and a basket from McKillion was all the offense Lausanne would allow as they took a 56-31 lead into the final frame and cruised to the victory.

The Chicks went 4-2 on the two week holiday break and will now get ready for one more non-conferecne game, New Madrid, Mo., Tuesday, and then begin the 5A-East schedule by traveling to Beebe to take on the Badgers Friday, Jan. 6.

"I thought we looked good at Tech, and we looked good here," said Hixson. "It was just hard to get any type of flow of anything because of the whistles. I thought the exposure was good for our kids. We saw some very talented teams with a lot of different styles of play. We're going to take a couple of days off to rest. We're banged up physically and mentally. We'll regroup, comeback with New Madrid on Tuesday and get ready to roll into the conference season."

Tuesday's action at NMCC begins with a "B" game at 5 p.m. followed by senior high "A" game.

afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com