Region XVI Tournament: Raiders battle MAC for finals berth

If there is a team that can speak to dealing with adversity, the Three Rivers men’s basketball team can speak loudly on that issue.

From injuries of all kinds — including a ghastly leg break and a semi truck running into the team bus — and playing arguably the toughest schedule in the country, the Raiders have battled it this season. And it all kicks back up at 6 p.m. Friday at Lincoln University in Jefferson City when the Raiders (14-16), the No. 3 seed, battle No. 2 Mineral Area College in the second of two Region XVI semifinals.

No. 1 Moberly Area will take on State Fair at 4 p.m.

The Raiders have dropped their three decisions against Mineral Area this year, but the last time they met up, the Three Rivers men fell 73-70 on the road — so there is always a chance for a breakthrough.

“We are excited about getting to play them again,” Three Rivers head coach Brian Bess said. “We have to do a better job packing the paint against them and making them shoot 3s. (In the last meeting) we rebounded better and we handled their pressure a little better. We should have won, but didn’t.”

Bess said the team has been able to find itself over the last month — and at just the right time.

“We know our roles better and hopefully we can compete,” Bess said. “The defining moment of the season is adversity. Hopefully pulling out a few wins this season will be the difference and make it all worth it.

“Our effort this weekend is going to be the main thing.”

Raider Caleb Young said the playoffs are essentially a reboot for the program and a chance for an even better chapter to wrap the season.

“This is a chance for us to start over and all we have to do is go 1-0,” Young said. “It’s for sure time. I believe we are due because we are all coming together as a team. I believe we are going to do what it takes to win. I feel we are ready for that.”

Sophomore Lamont Jackson said the year has been challenging with all the setbacks.

“We have had our trials and tribulations, but it has molded us to be our best for this run and it has brought us together,” Jackson said. “It’s said that God gives his toughest battles to his toughest soldiers.”

Jackson said that playing Mineral Area during the win-or-go-home phase of the season is that the playoff affords the Raiders one more shot at a team that has had their number. “We are not worried about the past,” Jackson said. “I feel really great about it. Beating a team four times in a row, I think that’s hard to do. I feel good about the game (Friday) and I feel we are going to come home Region XVI champions.

“For us, it’s just about making shots. We did everything in the previous game, really well — we found each other, we got in the paint and we got stops. We just have to knock down the open shot.”