Wolves Blitz Ridge Runners

WEST HELENA, Ark. – The Co-Lin Men's Basketball team played their only action of the week on the road against Phillips Community College on Tuesday, November 19. The Wolves overcame a sluggish start to the game as they beat the Ridge Runners, 89-73.

"This was a grind it out kind of win for us on the road," stated Co-Lin head coach David Sanders. "We came out sluggish in the first half after a long bus ride, but we were able to pick it up in the second half to get the win."

The two teams traded baskets and leads throughout most of the first half while the Ridge Runners looked to take a 30-28 lead over the Wolves at halftime. However, Keisean Shields (Atoka, OK) hit a buzzer beating three pointer to give the Wolves a 31-30 lead as the teams entered the locker rooms for halftime.

The second half belonged to the Wolves as they flexed their muscles and outscored the Ridge Runners, 58-43, as they secured the 89-73 victory.

The Wolves had four players hit double digit scoring figures as three of those four players had double-double performances led by Deven Bates (Jackson) who had 27 points and 13 rebounds to lead all players in both categories along with three assists and four steals. Prince Ojukwu (Etobicoke, Ontario) had 15 points and ten rebounds with two assists and a game-leading seven steals while Javian Watkins (Jackson) had 14 points and ten assists, which led all players in that category, along with two rebounds and two steals. Dakotah Hillard (Hazlehurst) had 13 points with three rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.

"Javian Watkins led us to this win," added Sanders. "He got us going scoring wise in the second half. This was a hard fought win for our team."

Chris Stephens, Jr. (Byram, and Keisean Shields had six points each while Demarion Terry (Edwards), Corey Brown (Roxie), and Fred Gray, Jr. (Belzoni) had two points apiece to round the scoring for the Wolves.

Co-Lin is now 4-4 overall and will return to action on the road against Baton Rouge on Monday, December 2. Tip-off between the Wolves and the Bears is set for 6 p.m., in Baton Rouge.