Bucs Season Comes to Heartbreaking End in NJCAA Elite Elight
The #5 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers fought to the bitter end Thursday night in the NJCAA National Tournament Quarterfinals against #4 Coffeyville, but the Bucs couldn’t overcome one of their coldest shooting nights of the season, missing a pair of shots in the closing seconds of overtime to fall 67-66 and end their season with a 5th place finish at the Big Dance.
HUTCHINSON, KAN.- The #5 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers fought to the bitter end Thursday night in the NJCAA National Tournament Quarterfinals against #4 Coffeyville, but the Bucs couldn't overcome one of their coldest shooting nights of the season, missing a pair of shots in the closing seconds of overtime to fall 67-66 and end their season with a 5th place finish at the Big Dance.
It took a while for both teams to get going as the first half tipped off with FSW holding just a 4-2 advantage four minutes into the contest. Destin Barnes popped a three and then found DeShawn Thomas for a two handed slam to give the Bucs a 9-5 lead moments later before Coffeyville hit a three of their own to make it a one point game. Over the next 3:15 the Bucs went on an 11-0 run led by Mason Daniels who scored on two tough drives to the basket before nailing a three to give FSW a 20-8 lead. The Bucs went cold from there though, going without a field goal for the next four minutes until Daniels hit another jumper and the Red Ravens slowly sliced into the FSW lead until trimming it to just one before the break at 32-31.
Both teams struggled shooting the ball in the first 20 minutes as FSW connected on just 37% from the field and Coffeyville 34%. Barnes and Daniels each had nine for the Bucs in the first half while Thomas added seven to help lead an 18 point attack off the FSW bench.
The break didn't help the Bucs offensive woes as they failed to score until more than 2:30 in and didn't get their first field goal until the 16 minute mark when Jalen Finch found Thomas for another highlight reel slam to tie the game at 35. Through the first six minutes of the second half, the Bucs shot just 1 for 7 while committing three turnovers, but because of their efforts on the defensive end, trailed just 38-26 with 14:00 to go. Daniels hit another big three to give the Bucs the lead back and the two teams went back and forth until Terence Lewis II and De'Lazarus Keys came off the bench and picked up their lone buckets of the night to put FSW up four at 45-41 with 10:45 remaining. FSW remained up four with 6:49 to go as Thomas connected on a hook on the inside, but five straight from the Red Ravens gave Coffeyville the momentum and the lead back with 5:23 left. With time winding down on the Bucs on their ensuing possession, Finch was fouled shooting a desperation three and nailed all three at the line to put FSW back in front by two, 55-53. The score remained 55-53 with under four minutes to go when FSW had the ball and attempted to call a timeout, but the officials didn't blow the whistle and it cost the Bucs dearly. Coffeyville ripped off a steal and went down to the other end of the floor and hit a three, giving them the lead back with 3:30 remaining. The Bucs looked like they were in trouble as Coffeyville took their largest lead of the game at five with 1:58 left and the Purple and Aqua didn't help themselves from there as they turned the ball over on their next possession to put their backs up against the wall. The Bucs cut the Ravens lead to two on a free throw with under a minute to go and picked up an offensive rebound off of the second free throw miss to start a wild 30 seconds of action. FSW had a shot at a three to take the lead, but missed that, again getting their own offensive board, setting up a second three point try with the game on the line. That shot was off the mark as well, but they corralled another offensive rebound and finally cashed in as Barnes scored on a double clutching shot to tie the game at 60 with 27 seconds left. Coffeyville had the ball with the shot clock off and went for the last shot, but their game winning attempt missed its mark and the game went to overtime tied at 60.
Barnes got the Bucs started off in the right direction in overtime by draining a three from the top of the key to give them a 63-60 lead. Both teams struggled to put the ball in the hole over the next two minutes until Maddox Daniels hit his first three of the game in front of the Bucs bench, giving them a 66-61 lead with 2:35 to go in the extra period. Just when it looked like the Bucs were going to break the spirits of the Ravens, Coffeyville came down and popped a quick three of their own to cut the FSW lead back to just two at 66-64. An FSW turnover with just over a minute to go led to a fast break and a hoop for the Ravens to give them the lead back at 67-66. The Bucs got a stop on the defensive end, giving them the ball back down by one with 14 seconds remaining in overtime. With 8 seconds left on the clock, they got a good look for the win, but couldn't put it in the hole. They again crashed the offensive glass and got another look from the corner, but it was not meant to be on this night as that shot was off as well and Coffeyville corralled the rebound as the final horn sounded, sending the Bucs to a 67-66 defeat to end their 2019 season.
The Bucs 34% shooting and 66 points both marked their second lowest output of the season. FSW also managed just 59% from the free throw line, their lowest effort since the opening game of the season way back in November. Barnes led the Bucs with 16 points and nine rebounds in the loss while Mason Daniels and Thomas each had 12 points off the bench in their final games with FSW. Finch put together his second straight solid effort for the Bucs, scoring 11 points and dishing out seven assists.
FSW finishes their 2019 season at 30-3, with their three losses coming by a total of six points. The Bucs reach the quarterfinal round at the National Tournament for the second straight year, good for a 5th place finish at the NJCAA's premier event. Coffeyville improves to 31-3 on the year and will take on Ranger on Friday with a chance to play for a National Championship.
