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Nuckols UnhappyWith Team’s Play)■to-rk.aif-okelirdthe1-32ter.iodfor1110 4 0 21 si 14S 2 1 0 685 23 64 122 4 2 183 4 1 2 I 48 —68By LARRY FARLEYPost-Herald Sports Writer. “We wca but I wasn’t at all satisfied with how we played.Speaking was the coach of the Mullens Rebels, Don Nuckols, who watched his team defeat Sophia, 58-47, during the semifinals of the Region III Double-A playoffs at the Raleigh County Armory Thursday night.Nuokols* chief complaint concerned his team's slow play after taking a 16-5 first-quarter lead. “We relaxed after getting the big lead When they slowed down, our kids did too. Our game is running, we can't play when it's slowed down.”Mullens never trails^ during the game, but Sophia did cut the margin to six twice in the second half.According to Bob Douglas, Sophia’s mentor, the first quarter determined the game “We lost it in the first quarter/ he stated. “Out of 11 shots, we made two. H we could have gotten a few more baskets we could have been in the game.After taking a 6-3 lead, the Rebels hit a hot streak and outscored Sophia 10-2 for a 16-5 lead after the initial period. The Biuehawks went 4:26 without a basket until Larry Lilly tossed in a shot with 1:06 left in the period.Both teams opened their offenses in the second quarter as Mullens cruised to a 17-point lead at one point.Junior forward Barry Smith paced Mullens' offense in thefirst half. 6-2 eager pumpedthrough 18 points to keep Ms team comfortably ahead. Sophiaflmoved within nine, 25-16, on a three-point play by IiUy. But moments later, led by Smith and Billy Mizell, Mullens enjoyed a 35-18 advantage.Spurred by baskets from Lilly and James Harris, the ’Hawks moved within 12 at the half.Rebounding, considered by both coaches one of the keys for the game, was the deciding factor during the third stanza. Sophia rallied to outscore Mullens 13-7 in the quarter, with the Hawks getting nine rebounds and holding the Rebels to two. Lilly, Sophia's top scorer, fouled out with 2:33 left in the period.Going into the final period Mullens had a 43-37 advantage.At die beginning of the final period James Harris cut Mullens* margin to six again, 45-36, but Mizell and Mike Anderson went on a spree, scoring nine points between them to put the game out of reach.Mullens hit 23 of 50 shots for 46 per cent while Sophia canned 19 of 60 for 32 per cent “The tempo was never what we wanted,* Nuckols commented “Sophia played a good game offensively and defensively. They were well-drilled for the game.”Despite Smith’s 26poiht performance, the Rebels’ coach wasn’t completely pleased with Ms game. “I wasn’t satisfied with his play overall. He made some mistakes — the Whole team did — but we won and that’s all that counts.”MullensBilly Mizell Barry Smith Ricky Hype* . Eddie AllenB1011a2-4M1-21-22-41 18 J 28 8 3 1 3 S B
Newspaper Details
Post Herald
Beckley, West Virginia, US
Fri, Mar 16, 1973
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Full Page
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Clayton T.
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