2008 Woodie Awards
Season ends with desperation
Brad Seiner
Issue date: 3/16/06 Section: Sports
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A last-second heave and a kiss off the glass ended the college basketball careers of five Mules' seniors Sunday in Bolivar, Mo.
With the game tied and only seconds remaining in regulation in the semifinal round of the South Central Regional Tournament, Tarleton State guard LaShon Sheffield got the ball and drove to the right wing.
Sheffield tried to create contact and a foul by jumping into Mules' senior forward David Hilliard, but the referees held their whistles.
Sheffield threw the ball toward the basket. The ball hit the backboard and went in as time expired. The Mules' (24-8) season ended with the devastating 62-59 setback.
"The Tarleton game was a good basketball game," said Mules' head coach Kim Anderson. "They made a prayer at the end, and the sun came up the next day. It was tough to handle."
To get to the game, the Mules came back from a 35-17 deficit at halftime to beat Truman State Saturday. Central defeated Truman 67-63 in overtime.
"I thought we were confident," Anderson said. "We had a tough game against Baptist in the finals of the [conference] tournament. I think that disappointed the guys a little bit."
Mules' senior guard Michael Hicks, named the co-MVP of the region, sent the Truman game into overtime with a three-pointer of his own with four seconds remaining.
"Then Mike makes a big shot," Anderson said. "If he doesn't make the big shot, we're not having this conversation. The halftime speech wasn't any good if he doesn't make the shot."
Fab five
Senior leadership has carried the Mules all season, and it was no different down the stretch. All five seniors had significant roles for the Mules, and all stepped up at different times.
Anderson said in order for a team to compete and win basketball games, seniors are the ones who step up at the end. But it all came to a halt when Sheffield's shot found the bottom of the net.
"I think it was tough [for the seniors]," Anderson said. "These seniors had a great passion for the game.
With the game tied and only seconds remaining in regulation in the semifinal round of the South Central Regional Tournament, Tarleton State guard LaShon Sheffield got the ball and drove to the right wing.
Sheffield tried to create contact and a foul by jumping into Mules' senior forward David Hilliard, but the referees held their whistles.
Sheffield threw the ball toward the basket. The ball hit the backboard and went in as time expired. The Mules' (24-8) season ended with the devastating 62-59 setback.
"The Tarleton game was a good basketball game," said Mules' head coach Kim Anderson. "They made a prayer at the end, and the sun came up the next day. It was tough to handle."
To get to the game, the Mules came back from a 35-17 deficit at halftime to beat Truman State Saturday. Central defeated Truman 67-63 in overtime.
"I thought we were confident," Anderson said. "We had a tough game against Baptist in the finals of the [conference] tournament. I think that disappointed the guys a little bit."
Mules' senior guard Michael Hicks, named the co-MVP of the region, sent the Truman game into overtime with a three-pointer of his own with four seconds remaining.
"Then Mike makes a big shot," Anderson said. "If he doesn't make the big shot, we're not having this conversation. The halftime speech wasn't any good if he doesn't make the shot."
Fab five
Senior leadership has carried the Mules all season, and it was no different down the stretch. All five seniors had significant roles for the Mules, and all stepped up at different times.
Anderson said in order for a team to compete and win basketball games, seniors are the ones who step up at the end. But it all came to a halt when Sheffield's shot found the bottom of the net.
"I think it was tough [for the seniors]," Anderson said. "These seniors had a great passion for the game.