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Chanticleers Flounder Against Panther Press: High Point Scores 17 Points Off Coastal Turnovers in 2nd Half

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 09:00 CST

By Ian Guerin, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Jan. 10--HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Coastal Carolina knew High Point was going to press the basketball throughout the game

It was no top-secret mission, but it worked with stealth effectiveness.

The Chanticleers committed 25 turnovers Monday against the Panthers, and High Point handed Coastal its second consecutive Big South Conference loss, this time an 82-62 defeat.

"I felt like they had four point guards out there," said first-year coach Buzz Peterson, whose guards committed 19 of the turnovers. "It was obvious. They were so much faster, quicker than we were. Every team I see, everyone is bigger than we are."

The majority of Chants turnovers were a product of the Panthers full-court defensive scheme, one that routinely put Coastal players in no position to find an open teammate.

After nearly every High Point basket in the second half, Coastal players would catch the inbound pass only to find two Panthers stalking the ball. By the time the Chants began to figure out the pressure, High Point was holding a 20 point lead.

"We're prepared, but we need to learn to adjust quicker," freshman Mario Sisinni said. "We took way too long to adjust."

Fellow guard Jack Leasure added, "If we're tentative breaking the press, then they will do that the whole game. We tried to play their style and run with them. That's not really what we do."

Leasure said he was catching the ball too often with his back to the Coastal basket, effectively helping High Point's defense. And while he had a game-high 25 points on 8-of-22 shooting, he also had a game-high seven turnovers.

But none of the Chanticleer ball-handlers had much success.

Sisinni committed three turnovers, as did Steven Sexton and Pele Paelay. Colin Stevens added two more in limited playing time.

Peterson had addressed the issue at halftime after the Chants already had 12 turnovers. At the same time, though, Coastal held a four-point lead. In the second half, though, the Panthers scored 17 points off turnovers alone and outscored CCU 51-27 to hand Coastal its worst conference loss since February 26, 2003.

Despite what happened against High Point, Sisinni would like to think his team still has an important virtue.

"We know what were missing compared to other teams," Sisinni said. "We know what we lack, but we know where we can make it up. We can make it up if we stay patient on offense."

COASTAL CAROLINA (6-7) -- Harris 2-5 2-5 6, Sonko 6-12 0-0 12, Sisinni 0-3 0-0 0, Paelay 4-9 0-0 9, Leasure 8-22 4-4 25, Stevens 0-0 0-0 0, Brennan 1-4 2-2 4, Sexton 1-4 2-2 4, Ferguson 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 23-60 10-13 62.

HIGH POINT (9-4) -- Konare 6-10 5-5 18, Dunn 2-5 2-2 7, Jefferson 0-1 6-7 6, Scott 2-6 5-6 10, Reid 7-13 3-8 18, Crowder 3-4 2-2 10, Davidson 0-1 0-0 0, Quick 3-11 0-0 6, Witek 0-0 0-0 0, Minnis 2-4 0-0 4, Lamons 0-0 0-0 0, Bowen 1-4 0-0 3. Totals 26-59 23-30 82.

Halftime-Coastal Carolina 35-31. 3-Point Goals-Coastal Carolina 6-23 (Leasure 5-15, Paelay 1-3, Sisinni 0-2, Sexton 0-3), High Point 7-20 (Crowder 2-3, Konare 1-1, Reid 1-2, Dunn 1-3, Bowen 1-3, Scott 1-5, Davidson 0-1, Quick 0-2). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Coastal Carolina 37 (Paelay 8), High Point 35 (Reid 10). Assists-Coastal Carolina 12 (Leasure 5), High Point 18 (Quick 7). Total Fouls-Coastal Carolina 22, High Point 21. A-1,003.

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High Point82

Coastal Carolina62

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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Source: The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)

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