Down to the Wire…again: Chipola edges Tallahassee in finale

By Brenden Martin
TCC Sports Information
@brendenmartin28

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 18, 2014) -The Tallahassee Community College Eagles came up short against Chipola College 67-64 on Sophomore Night at the Bill Hebrock Eagledome. 

Tallahassee (14-14, 3-9 PC) came into Tuesday evening's Panhandle Conference matchup needing a win to make it 23 consecutive winning seasons. Tallahassee has never had a losing season in program history, and a loss to Chipola on would result in its first ever .500 season. 

However, a win would not be an easy task against a Chipola (20-5, 6-4 PC) team that is ranked No. 3 in the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) Men's Basketball Coaches Poll. The last time Chipola showed up in Tallahassee, the Eagles had put a beat down on them 80-59. 

Pushing the tempo seemed to be the game plan for both teams throughout the entire game. The winner of this game was going to be the best-conditioned team, and the team who wanted it more. 

Early on, the teams were trading threes, and when one team went on a run, the other had an answer. The Eagles and Indians were mirror images of each other in the first half. The difference at halftime came from behind the three point line. Tallahassee was able to knock down two three-pointers and gain a five-point lead on the scoreboard. 

The Eagles held a small lead at the break, 34-29. They spread the ball around and were able to get production from multiple players. Cameron Dozier led the team at halftime with eight points and five rebounds. Not far behind him was Earvin Morris with seven points and Cameron Naylor with six. 

As with any rivalry game, this contest was intense, exciting, and physical. 

First, Chipola erased an 11-point second half deficit. Then, with about seven minutes to play in the second half, Tallahassee's Cameron Dozier took a hard elbow to the face and landed hard on the court, losing a tooth. He would come back in the game shortly after. 

This turned out to be another game for the Eagles that went down to the wire. Trailing by a point with 25 seconds to play, Tallahassee committed a costly turnover and had no choice but to foul. Sam Cassell, Jr., only made one of two from the line, giving the Eagles some light. 

Morris was fouled on the other end and was sent to the line where he missed the front-end of the one-and-one. Chipola was fouled once more and again only converted on one of the two free throws with 2.2 seconds remaining in the game. 

Off the ensuing inbound by Tallahassee, Morris received the ball at the top of the key. He got the shot off in time, but the ball came up just short of the rim and Tallahassee lost another heartbreaker. 

Three players for the Eagles finished in double figures. Morris was the high point man with 14 while Dozier and Dirk Williams both had ten. Naylor and Elmo Stephen each had eight points. Dozier grabbed seven rebounds and Naylor pulled down six. 

Tuesday night was Sophomore night for Tallahassee and the following student-athletes were recognized – Earvin Morris, Cameron Naylor, Cameron Dozier, Richard Peters, Trevor McDade, Duran Porter, Michael Saxton, Marlon Johnson and Cheick Thiero.