Champion Christian College bounces back with road win

JOPLIN, Mo. — Champion Christian College ended its two-game losing streak to start the spring semester with a road victory over Ozark Christian College Saturday in Missouri.

The Tigers (6-5) suffered back-toback losses last week. National Park College (3-3) evened the first-year series between the two schools with a 113-106 win in double overtime a week ago at Bank of the Ozarks Arena. The effects of the loss may have lingered as Champion was handily defeated by North Arkansas College in Harrison on Friday. Champion only dresses seven players this semester after injuries and other absences depleted the roster.

“We came flat and lethargic after a blow-out loss yesterday,” Champion head coach Jesse Byrd said Saturday.

The Tigers trailed 47-38 at halftime Saturday at Ozark. They finally took control over the final quarter of the game to outscore Ozark 42-28 in the second half to win 80-75.

“We finally locked in hold them to seven points and only one made field goal in the last 10:30 of the game,” Byrd said. “It sparked a balanced scoring attack for us to pull away in clutch time.”

Pargo Williams, of Baltimore, Md., led all scorers with 21 points. He also posted a career-high eight assists.

The Tigers shot 31-for-61, 51 percent, overall. Senior Cody Connor, of China, added 21 points,

Post players DeMarkiyo DeVoil, of Bastrop, La., and Anton Pirtle, of Memphis, Tenn, each recorded double-doubles. DeVoil had 14 points on 7-for-11 shooting and 10 rebounds. Pirtle shot 5-or-8 for 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Byrd said point guard Trevon Reed, of Blevins, “was at his ever-steady self” with nine points, eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals. Reed shot 3-for-7 from 3-point, while the rest of the team combined to make just 2 of 7 attempts from distance.

Champion is back on the road again today to face Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould.