Raiders can't overlook Moberly

By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

The Three Rivers Raiders won four road games to open Region XVI play and know they need to keep it going at home.

The Raiders will host Moberly at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Bess Activity Center. The Raiders beat the Greyhounds, 67-45, earlier this season on their home floor and haven't lost to them since the 2005-06 season.

"I don't think so," Raiders coach Gene Bess said of possibly underestimating the Greyhounds. "I think our guys know that we are playing a capable team that is well coached.

"They are going to try to come on down here and steal one from us."

The Raiders are not satisfied going undefeated through the first half of region play this season.

"We are not trying to take any games off," guard Marquise Carter said. "We want to come out and play hard."

Moberly has the Region's leading scorer in Sam Pearson who is averaging 19.7 points per game. Pearson went 0-for-13 from the field in the loss to the Raiders and his four points came from the free-throw line. Bess said one of his better defenders like Marquise Carter or Ken Bingham will have the task of guarding Pearson.

"We are going to need something big like that again," Bess said. "That is going to be real key."

Carter has been watching some film to see get a better idea of Pearson's game.

"I am just looking to see what he likes to do best and make him do what he doesn't like to do in the game," Carter said.

The Raiders held the Greyhounds to just nine points via the long ball in the last meeting as they went 3-for-27 on their home floor.

"They are much the same team as West Plains," Bess said. "Both those teams are perimeter-oriented with some good 3-point shooters and that becomes the real key to guarding them is hunting their 3-pointers up."

The Raiders are coming off a region win last weekend in which Bingham scored 16 points on three 3-pointers and Jeremy Marrs led the team with 19 points. Bingham also scored 16 earlier in the season against Moberly.

"I think Ken and Adam (Carpenter) both are excellent three-point shooters as is Nick (Niemczyk)," Bess said. "They have been hunting them up good, particularly Adam. We are pretty well blessed with 3-point shooters and that does help open up the inside game."

Marrs had 18 rebounds in the Raiders' win over the Grizzlies last weekend.

"Jeremy is really explosive," Carter said. "When we get the ball inside and he can back his man down, he is pretty good. We look to get him as many touches as possible."

Among the keys for the Raiders will be rebounding and defense, a staple Bess' teams over the years.

"That is still the name of the game," Bess said. "If we are going to be good in postseason play, we are going to have to get more consistent defensively."