BASKETBALL: Chaps drop frustrating game against Frank Phillips

By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - The Midland College men's basketball team has had a few frustrating losses during this up and down season. Still, Monday's 64-63 loss to Frank Phillips College had to rank among the most frustrating of the year for the Chaparrals.

The Chaps (11-12, 4-6 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference) let a 10-point lead in the second half slip away, had costly turnovers and couldn't get a last-second shot to fall against the Plainsmen (13-11, 4-6) at Chaparral Center.

"I'm frustrated," MC coach Pat Rafferty said. "When you don't play hard, don't try to compete on either end and just go through the motions, it's beyond frustrating.

"It's enlightening. You can't have excuses and results, you've got to pick one. You've got to be allowed to be coached hard and compete every game and do everything that comes with it and what it involves. Obviously, you can't just show up and go through the motions."

The loss was the ninth in the last 11 games for the Chaparrals, who were looking to have a mini two-game winning streak after a 56-54 victory at Howard College on Thursday.

But Rafferty said the Chaps had a bad second half against the Hawks and a lackadaisical practice on Saturday and that carried over into this game.

The Chaps still took a 36-30 halftime lead as Christian Villegas led the way with 14 points in the first half with 12 of those coming off four straight 3-pointers.

MC then built a 46-36 lead midway through the second half, before turnovers and defensive breakdowns allowed the Plainsmen to come back and take 58-56 lead on a 3 by Aiden Gair (15 points) with 3:46 remaining.

The teams traded leads the rest of the way before FPC took the lead for good on a layup by DJ Richardson (19 points), who converted on one of 12 MC turnovers in the second half with 17 seconds left.

MC finished with 18 turnovers for the game and gave up 29 points off those turnovers. FPC also shot 50.9% from the floor and 45% from 3-point range.

"It's amazing we were in position to have a chance to win," Rafferty said.

"My biggest disappointment is I know that this is nowhere near our best. If we had shown up within a margin of our best effort and best intentions, it would have been a different outcome."

Matteo Tersillo led MC with 15 points, Oliver Hayward had 12 and Trent Johnson added 10.

The Chaps are next scheduled to play at New Mexico Junior College at 8:30 p.m. CST Thursday if weather permits.