Yoemen top Rockdale in convincing fashion, 71-48
The Cameron Yoemen hosted the Rockdale Tigers on Tuesday night at Yoe Gym and won in convincing fashion 71-48.
Cameron started the game strong and took an early 7- 0 lead. The Tigers clawed back to make the score 8-6. The Yoemen stopped Rockdales momentum with a basket by Pharrell Hemphill (21) to make it a 10-7 lead, then he followed that with a three pointer to make the score 13-9. Cameron added to their lead with a brilliant layup by JW Hollas (3) for a 16-11 lead, which would be the score at the end of the first quarter.
The Yoemen started the second quarter with a successful three-point play by Hemphill for a 19-11 lead. Cameron grew their lead to double digits with a layup by Charlie Mayer (4) for score of 25-15. The Yoemen added on with a three point shot by Hemphill to make it a 30-18 lead. The Tigers tried to creep their way back in the game but Cameron halted their momentum with a big three point shot by Ryan Host (5) for a 35-25 lead. Cameron went into halftime ahead 40-32 with the aid of a buzzer beating three-pointer by Host.
The Yoemen started the third quarter with great transition play; a dunk by Hemphill and a layup by Braylan Drake (1) to make it a 44-34 lead. The Yoemen lead continued to increase to 53-38 with a three point shot by Trayjen Wilcox (12). The third quarter ended with Cameron winning 54-41.
The fourth quarter began with a layup by Mayer for a 56-41 lead. That would be followed with a successful three-point play by Hemphill to make it a 59-41 lead. Cameron increased their lead to 65-41, and expanded it even more after a successful three point play by Mayer for a score 68-44. The Yoemen went on to win 71-48.
“They (Rockdale) were using their press to create turnovers, that’s kind of what they’re known for this year,” Coach Calvin King said. “They want to speed things up and use their speed and physicalness to create turnovers. They’ve had some trouble scoring this year, they’ve had quite a few low scoring games, and we knew that if we could handle their press well and give ourselves good opportunities, we should give ourselves a pretty good chance. But their press was something that we were familiar with. We just played a little too fast in the beginning. We were able to stretch it out to 15 at one point. Those guys did a good job of creating some turnovers. I think in the second half, we were able to handle the pressure a little bit better and create good opportunities for ourselves.”
With this win, Cameron has a district record of 3-3 and an overall record of 14-7. The Yoemen basketball team hosted the McGregor Bulldogs on Friday night falling to the Bulldogs 62-58.
Up next for the Yoemen will be a road match against the Troy Trojans.
“They’re (Troy) going to play primarily zone against us,” King said. “So, we’re going to have to work the ball around, have good team ball to where we’re creating good opportunities for ourselves. They do play good defense, they’re going to force you to make long shots, and force you to work as team to create offense. We’re going to have to be diligent about how we’re working the ball around and taking care of it. We’ll have a similar type of feel for Troy as we did for Rockdale. If we can play as a team, I think we’ll be in pretty good shape.”
The game will be Friday and tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.