Valley gets HAAC sweep at Culver

Senior Craig Jones' (23) lay-up with 1:44 left in the first half pushed the Vikings' lead to 17 points. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

CANTON -- The Missouri Valley College basketball teams began Heart of America Conference play Monday with a sweep at Culver-Stockton, the win the first of the season for the Lady Vikings.

The Valley men led wire-to-wire, the narrowness of the 70-66 decision reflecting some hot shooting down the stretch by the Wildcats. The Vikings began the contest with a 10-0 run on a three-pointer by senior Jelani Hicks, lay-ups from juniors Roc Rogers and Rouven Haenig, and a Haenig bomb.

Although Culver reduced the margin to three points with eight minutes remaining in the opening period on the first of five bombs by junior Phil Peugh, the Vikings closed the half with a 12-5 spurt -- touched off by a pair of treys by Hicks, who scored all of his team-high 13 points before the break.

Valley took a 14-point lead into the second half and didn't allow it to get into single digits until Peugh connected from outside with 5:08 left. While the Wildcats missed five of 12 shots from the field, the visitors sank seven of 10 from the free-throw line.

Peugh hit a pair of threes in the closing 12 seconds, but two charity shots by junior Patrick McDermott with seven seconds to go sealed the win. Valley enjoyed a 36-7 advantage in free-throw attempts, with a 27-4 scoring edge from the stripe.

Peugh wound up with 15 points and senior Brice Fantazia led Culver-Stockton (0-8, 0-1 HAAC) with 16 points, seven assists and three steals.

McDermott and Rogers combined for 21 points and senior Brandon Toliver chipped in with seven rebounds and three blocked shots off the bench for the Vikings (4-2, 1-0).

Senior Ashley Sequeira scored a season-high 21 points to lead the Valley women to a 70-66 victory, one which began with the Lady Wildcats going on a 15-2 tear with two buckets each from junior Gena Reddy and sophomores Breezy Guymon and Jamai Letcher.

The Lady Vikings trimmed the margin to one point with less than seven minutes remaining in the half, getting a three-pointer and breakaway bucket by junior Jessica Francka and six points from sophomore Chelsea Quiring.

The game was tied at halftime, and was still knotted up three minutes into the second half. Then Valley (1-7, 1-0) began pulling away. Sequeira struck from the perimeter and Francka and juniors MaCall Budke and Daisha Shannon scored for an eight-point lead.

Quiring added six more points during a 14-3 surge which extended the Lady Vikings' cushion to 15 points with 7:35 left in the game. The Lady 'Cats were unable to pull closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Junior Briana Mitchell led Culver (1-4, 0-1) with 14 points and Letcher finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

Quiring enjoyed a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards, while Francka added 14 points, three blocks and three steals. Junior Jordanne Walker dished out eight assists and Budke had four assists and four steals to go along with her career-high 12 points.

Both Valley teams will be on the road against Thursday for league tilts at Central Methodist.