Men's and Women's Basketball looking for redemption
2/3/2010 – NWF State men, women look for redemption
By ADAM ROSENBERG Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4484 | arosenberg@nwfdailynews.com
NICEVILLE For the first time since Panhandle Conference play began this season, both the Northwest Florida State College men's and women's basketball teams will be taking the floor coming off a loss. Of course, the No. 2-ranked Raider men and the No.13-ranked Raider women are in far different situations, but both teams could certainly use wins tonight.
Both teams will welcome Chipola College to Raider Gym today, starting with the women tipping off at 5:30 p.m. The men should tip off about 7:30 p.m. For both teams, how they play tonight could go a long way toward determining the course of the remainder of the season.
For the men, tonight's game offers a chance to prove that Saturday's loss at No. 14 Tallahassee was an aberration. The 76-73 loss featured an uncharacteristic lack of balance, as the Raiders (20-2, 5-1 in Panhandle Conference) got little production outside of Brian Bryant, Latraius Mosley and Toby Veal. After the game, NWF State coach Bruce Stewart said the loss could have been attributed to a lack of focus. Still, one setback in an otherwise brilliant season doesn't concern Stewart all that much.
"If we have the character that we've exhibited so far this year, I think we'll rebound," Stewart said after Saturday's loss. "But it has to come from the heart. We didn't play with as much heart as (Tallahassee) did. This season is far from over."
Although the loss allowed Tallahassee to move a half game ahead of the Raiders in the conference standings, NWF State could move back into a tie for first with a win over No. 16 Chipola (17-5, 2-4) tonight, as the Eagles are idle. The Indians are coming off a 71-64 win over Pensacola Junior College, their second conference win of the year. The Raiders beat Chipola 86-74 in Marianna on Jan.16, ending a road losing streak to the Indians that dated back to 2003.
While the men look to avoid losing two in a row for the first time this season, the Lady Raiders (14-5, 1-5) simply need something positive to happen. Already in the midst of a four-game losing streak, the Lady Raiders go into tonight's game shorthanded.
Second-leading scorer Josette Campbell is listed as doubtful after she sprained her right ankle at the end of Friday's practice and missed Saturday's loss to Tallahassee. She did some light shooting on Tuesday, but NWF State coach Bart Walker isn't optimistic about her status for tonight's game.
The Lady Indians (11-11, 1-5) are the last team that NWF State beat, and things since have gotten frustrating for the Lady Raiders. Despite strong efforts in most facets of the game, the Lady Raiders have been tormented by a debilitating shooting slump. The Lady Raiders are shooting 35 percent on the season, thanks in large part to their struggles during conference play.
"We're still working hard in practice," Walker said. "In athletics, you're going to have good times and bad times. We just need to push through. I think a win can get the morale up."