Recap: Chipola men end season in semifinals

Chipola's head men's basketball coach Donnie Tyndall talks to his players during a timeout in their game against Coffeyville during the NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Friday evening at the Sports Arena. | photo courtesy of SANDRA J. MILBURN/THE HUTCHINSON NEWS
Chipola's head men's basketball coach Donnie Tyndall talks to his players during a timeout in their game against Coffeyville during the NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Friday evening at the Sports Arena. | photo courtesy of SANDRA J. MILBURN/THE HUTCHINSON NEWS

The Chipola Indians overcame a 14-point second half deficit and took the lead with two minutes remaining in the game but could not hold on as Coffeyville Community College ended the Indians' season on Friday night, 66-63.

The Indians led much of the first half and went in to the locker room with a 29-28 advantage. The Red Ravens, however, went on a 14-2 to open the first five minutes of the second half.

With just under thirteen minutes remaining in the game, the Indians went on a 14-0 run of their own over the next five minutes to tie the score 47-47. The point differential would never be greater than four points the remainder of the game.

With 2:02 remaining in the game, Carlos Lemus drove to the basket for a layup to put Chipola up 62-61, It would be the last lead the Indians would have on the night. The Indians would go on to miss 3-of-4 free throws in the last two minutes and turned the ball over with under ten seconds remaining, down by two.

Carlos Lemus tied a season-high of 27 points in the loss. Jaeden Zackery finished the tournament with another stellar performance in the NJCAA Tournament, scoring 17, his ninth consecutive game scoring in double figures.

The Indians finished 23-5 and won the Panhandle Conference and FCSAA State Tournament Championships in Coach Donnie Tyndall's first season.