Raiders vs. Mineral Area

Sunday, February 17, 2019

DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields

During a season in which it seems like not many things have gone right for Three Rivers, the Raiders still have a chance to come away with the third seed in Region XVI and host a region tournament game. Those chances received a huge boost Saturday with a momentous win. The Raiders trailed almost the entire way, erased a double-digit deficit in the second half and overcame a 34-point night from Steve Wooten to win 83-77 over the Cardinals. “Well, you know, biggest win of my life,” Three Rivers coach Gene Bess said. “That’s as simple as I can put it. I have two great assistant coaches that had a great scouting report on Mineral Area and did everything we could do to get ourselves prepared.” With Saturday’s win, the Raiders secure at least the fourth seed in the region tournament, and they need Mineral Area to beat State Fair in the regular-season finale to claim the third spot and host a first-round game.

Three Rivers' Miganeh Jama, right, Hayden Sprenkel, left, and Austin Parker, back left, celebrate after defeating Mineral Area Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Willie Lucas celebrates during the second half against Mineral Area Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Tallon Fonda hangs on the rim after finishing an alley-oop during the second half against Mineral Area Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Tallon Fonda dunks the basketball during the second half against Mineral Area Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Mandarius Dickerson (2) crosses over during the second half against Mineral Area Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Abiodun Ayetimiyi, left, and Mineral Area's Anthony Wales go after a loose ball during the second half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Mineral Area's Steve Wooten watches a shot go in the basket during the second half of Three Rivers' Region XVI game against Mineral Area Saturday, Feb. 16, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Khalil Johnson (3) shoots against Mineral Area's Gabe O'Neal during the second half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Khalil Johnson, middle, drives against Mineral Area's Gabe O'Neal, left, and Yahuza Rasas, right, during the second half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Mandarius Dickerson dribbles against Mineral Area's Jared Grubb, left, during the first half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Aaron Tait, middle, and Mineral Area's Gabe O'Neal (32) and Steve Wooten, left, look at a loose ball during the first half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Miganeh Jama, right, celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer during the first half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Abiodun Ayetimiyi, middle, defends Mineral Area's David Kachelries, left, during the first half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Tallon Fonda (12) shoots against Mineral Area's Gabe O'Neal, left, during the first half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Miganeh Jama, left, shoots against Mineral Area's Gabe O'Neal during the first half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Miganeh Jama (1) drives against the Mineral Area defense during the first half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Tallon Fonda (12) shoots a layup against Mineral Area's Yahuza Rasas (20) during the first half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Austin Parker (33) shoots during the first half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Abiodun Ayetimiyi, right, prepares to attempt a layup during the first half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)
Three Rivers' Tallon Fonda (12) dunks the ball during the first half Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Mineral Area. (DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC/Nate Fields)