Avonworth's Mitch Locher goes up for two. Photo by Tom Steiner for The Citizen

By JIM RUMBLE

After falling in the championship game of the Avonworth Tip-off Tournament last weekend, the Antelope basketball team aimed to bounce back when they hosted Cornell this past Tuesday.

Missed shots and an accumulation of turnovers inhibited their chances, however, and they were defeated by the Raiders 62-49.

"Our biggest concern right now is making lay-ups and finishing," said second year coach Dan Bradley. "We missed a bunch of lay-ups and foul shots," he said.

The 'Lopes, who were 7-13 from the line in the first half, actually improved at the stripe in the second half, where they were 15-21.

Avonworth committed seven turnovers in the first quarter trying to move the ball up court through Cornell's trapping man-to-man defense.

"I don't know if it was their defense as much as we were just nervous or rattled," Bradley said.

Back-to-back baskets by Mitch Locher and Coby Croft sent Avonworth to an early 4-0 lead. Cornell cut into the lead before Locher knocked down a three-pointer to put the Antelopes in front 8-4.

Another basket by Locher and a pair of free throws by Croft gave Avonworth their biggest lead in the period at 12-7, but the Raiders converted a fast break basket and a put-back at the buzzer to give the 'Lopes a 12-11 lead at the end of the quarter.

Avonworth continued to maintain their one point lead in the second quarter until Earl Pinkney's fast break basket and three free throws by Locher had the Antelopes leading 19-15 with 3:46 left in the quarter.

The Raiders closed with a 4-0 run to knot the teams at 19-19 going into the half.

Cornell took their first lead on their first possession of the third quarter, however Locher responded with a jumper for a score and a drive to the hoop for another basket and a 23-21 Avonworth lead.

The Raiders then found some consistency on offense, as they exploded on a 10-0 run that would prove to be key on their way to a 31-24 lead with 3:22 left in the third quarter.

Cornell added to their lead, outscoring the Antelopes 6-3 through the rest of the period to go ahead 37-27.

Both teams picked up their offensive play in the fourth, where Locher scored 14 points but Cornell continued to maintain the lead.

The Raider lead was mostly double digits, extending to a 15-point lead before a pair of free throws by Brian Vales put the final score at 62-49.

"That was a scrappy bunch out there.” Bradley said after the game. “Both teams played hard, there were a lot of fouls -- it was a matter of executing, and they [Cornell] were able to execute a little better than we did."

Locher finished with 26 points followed by Croft and Pinkney with 7 points apiece, Vales with 6 and Matt Kujawinski with 3. Conor O'Donnell had 3 blocked shots.

In the first game of the Avonworth Tip-off Tournament, the Antelopes defeated Career Connections 63-56. The 'Lopes overcame a slow start where they were behind by double digits and went on to pick up their first win of the season. Locher, who made the all tourney team, finished with 31 points and 11 rebounds, and Pickney had 11 points and 9 rebounds. Avonworth was then defeated by OLSH in the tournament championship game 56-30. The 'Lopes who, struggled from the field, were led by Locher's 12 points.