The Tabor basketball teams swept their first games of the Post Holiday Classic at home Friday night. The Bluejay women opened with a 66-64 victory over Missouri Valley, and the Tabor men followed with a 72-65 win over Benedictine.
WOMEN?The Bluejays pulled off a narrow, 66-64, victory over Missouri Valley Friday night.
After falling behind early, the Bluejays rallied to tie the score and take the lead. The teams engaged in a back-and-forth battle, and Missouri Valley held the edge, 38-37, at halftime.
The Vikings maintained their lead until Nikki Lewis drained a three-point basket with 10:25 left in the game to push Tabor in front. Tabor held on to the lead for nearly 6 minutes before the Vikings took it back with 4:31 to play. The teams traded baskets, and a free throw by Tonisha Dean gave Tabor a 64-62 lead with 1:15 to go. Tena Loewen chipped in two free throws before the Vikings scored one final basket with 7 seconds left, but Tabor held on to win by two.
Nikki Lewis led the Bluejays with 18 points and 10 assists. Dean added 10 points.
MEN?The Tabor men defeated Benedictine, 72-65, Friday night.
After trailing 2-1 early, the Bluejays gained the lead on a Lance Carter three-pointer with 18:03 left in the opening half and did not trail again the duration of the period.
Tabor increased its lead to double figures, 15-5, when Jonathan Gibson made a basket, and enjoyed its largest lead of the half, 29-12, after a Dewayne Biggs basket with 7:31 left before halftime. A three-pointer brought Benedictine within 33-24 with 3:04 before the break, but Tabor extended its lead to 40-25 at halftime.
Benedictine came out of the break and chipped away at the Bluejay lead. The Ravens enjoyed a 15-0 run to take the lead, 51-48, with 10:33 left to play. JT Nemit answered with a three-pointer to tie the game, 51-51. The game was tied twice more before Tabor captured the lead for good when Carter scored with 6:48 left on the clock for a 57-55 Bluejay advantage.
Tabor pulled away from there and led, 70-59, after Biggs made a layup with 39 seconds left. The Ravens were unable to make up the difference, and Tabor led by seven when time expired.
Biggs led with a game-high 21 points. Carter added 20 and Nemit 14.
COMING?The Tabor women will host Baker Saturday at 5 p.m. The Bluejay men will face Central Baptist at 7 p.m.
