Chipola Defense Sizzles In Win: Indians Remain Unbeaten
January 30, 2008
By Chipola Staff
The Chipola
Indians regained
their defensive
swagger on
Wednesday, holding
Gulf Coast to just
22 second half
points during a
66-51 win in Panama
City.
“I thought our
energy was
phenomenal for
stretches,” said
Chipola head coach
Greg Heiar. “We had
a attitude on the
defensive end that
we didn’t have
against
Tallahassee.”
The top ranked
Indians, who had
given up 84 points
during an overtime
win at home on
January 26 against
Tallahassee, came
out of the gates
with both pressure
and a purpose.
Gulf Coast scored
just 5 points during
the opening 9:45 of
the game, as Chipola
built an early 16-5
lead midway through
the first half.
“I thought during
our first two
substitution runs,
we were really
focused and executed
the game plan,” said
Heiar. “We need to
keep improving as
fatigue sets in to
ensure that our
second and third
runs are played with
that same mindset.”
The Indians built
the lead to as large
as 19 with 6:30 to
play in the opening
period before
eventually heading
into the locker room
with a 41-29
halftime advantage.
Offensively, it was
a balanced trio that
helped the Indians
improve to 24-0 on
the season.
Sophomore Mario
Little finished the
night with a team
high 13 points,
while grabbing 3
rebounds and handing
out 3 assists.
Sophomore Mario
Edwards and freshman
Vernon Teel each
scored 9 points, as
Chipola moved to 6-0
in the Panhandle
Conference.
“We did a good job
at times, but we
know we have to keep
getting better,”
added Heiar.
“Offensively we can
execute better.
Defensively we can
become more
efficient. It’s just
all about improving
in every aspect
every time that we
step onto the wood.”
Freshman Gary
Flowers led Chipola
with a game high 10
rebounds, while
adding 6 points and
3 blocks to the
cause.
Next up for Chipola
is #9
Okaloosa-Walton
(20-2). The road
contest will pit the
league leaders and
will have major
implications in the
conference race.
The Red Raiders are
5-1 in league play
and sit just a game
behind Chipola in
the loss column.
Chipola won the
first contest 56-52
back on January 12
in Marianna. Six of
the past seven
games, dating back
to the 2005-06
season, have been
decided by 5 points
or less, including
every game played in
Niceville.
The game can be
heard live via
webcast on Saturday,
February 2 at 7:30
pm CST.