East Mississippi Community College men’s basketball coach Mark White repeatedly points out that there are several more basketball games left in the 2011-12 regular season.
In the very next breath, White talks about the extreme importance of the game at hand.
The Lions take on No. 17 Northeast Mississippi Community College with the early North Division lead on the line tonight.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum in Scooba. The EMCC and Northeast ladies meet in the 5:30 p.m. opener.
“There is a lot of basketball left,” White said. “However, when you are 2-0 in the division and the other team is 1-1, it’s a big game. We play 12 division games but if you are Northeast, you really don’t want to leave here at 1-2 and two games behind us in the standings.”
EMCC is off to another fast start. The Lions are 9-2, with their only two losses coming to No. 1 Northwest Florida State College and No. 18 Shelton State Community College.
“Each of our nine victories have been by 10 or more points, so obviously we are off to a good start,” White said. “We lose to Northwest Florida on its home floor and we also lost to Shelton State and they are the best team in the state of Alabama.
“Our schedule has been challenging and the team has really responded.”
For most, Mississippi junior college basketball is fast-paced, full-throttle offensive action.
That is not the case in Scooba. While the Lions are averaging 85.9 points per game, White feels the separation for his team is on the defensive end.
“This is easily the best defensive team I have had in my five years here,” White said. “In our league, if you give up 80 points, you have had a good night on defense.
“We are not that way. Defense is the thing that we stress first. That really gives us an advantage in most games.”
The Lions are only allowing 61.7 points per game. Opponents are shooting a paltry 34 percent from the floor and 22 percent from 3-point range.
“Northwest Florida is the only team we allowed this year to get out of the 60s,” White said. “Offensively, we have improved on a weekly basis.
“We are right now at a plus-12 rebounding advantage. The key is for us to play our style of game and that starts on the defensive end.”
Northeast is 10-1 overall and 1-1 in division play. The Tigers’ lone setback was a 74-50 decision to Holmes Community College on Dec. 5.
“Northeast has a good mix of freshmen and sophomores, ” White said. “They can really score the basketball. They are a great offensive team.
“They are skilled in their sets and good at what they do. It will be a huge test for us.”
EMCC is led in scoring by sophomore guard D.J. Evans (17.2 ppg) and sophomore forward Colin Borchert (16.5 ppg).
A transfer from Yavapai (Ariz.) College, Borchert also leads the Lions with 17 blocked shots.
Evans, a Brandon native, also leads the Lions in assists (4.4 apg) and steals (1.8 spg).
“Our offensive success starts because of our versatility,” White said. “We have a number of different players who can pick up the slack on any given night.
“Our post players are the best group of post players since I have been here. I am excited about how that group has progressed.”
EMCC began the year ranked seventh nationally. Now unranked, the Lions can take a huge step toward returning to the spotlight if they can extend their six-game win streak and knock off a ranked foe tonight.
The EMCC women are 4-8 overall and 1-1 in division play, while the Northeast women are 5-7 overall and 1-1 in division play.
The Lady Lions are being led by the sophomore backcourt duo of Chadisty Hickman and Alvida Clemons, who are averaging 13.9 and 11.7 points per game respectively.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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