Pioneers Fall in First Conference Game

By: Nick Kieser

GALLATIN, TENNESSEE — For as far as the first conference game went against Columbia State Community College (4-1) the Vol State Pioneers (1-5) did not execute as well as they would have liked to in the first five minutes of the contest.  With the final being 70-86 Vol State struggled with the man-on-man coverage and breaking out from their own end.  Columbia State had the size and speed over the Pioneers half-court offensive style of play.  The start for Vol State's offense seesawed until the first five minutes were over and the score was 7-15.  As far as getting a win against Columbia State the Pioneers will have to wait until after winter break in February to do so.  The winless streak for the past five years will go on until another chance late in the season which could be a pivotal win for position in the conference standings.

The guys said it best

"I have to come out early on in the game and be more aggressive.  Instead of being as passive as I am I need be physical, and for my teammates as well we have to knock down those shots early on into the game," said George Stanberry.

"We should have stuck to the game plan we had already.  Intensity is something we needed more of tonight," said Jaden Chumley.

"I was going straight for the basket instead of finding my man to box out.  Talking for the majority of the game was an issue for us as well.  We need to do a better job of catching and looking rather than catching and going.  We do that and we beat ourselves.  We need more patience," said Stanberry.

"We need to let each other know where our man is and say when a shot is going up.  Just calling out for help and for the ball then we will all know what's going on," said Chumley.

"I hold high expectations for this team whether they believe that or not.  I expect these players to come in and do something to step up.  If each player ten or twenty that's a lot of points.  Each guy could hit five layups to have ten points," said Stanberry.

Next game up

Vol State will play (Nov. 17) against another conference opponent in Jackson State Community College (2-2) who was victim to a loss (80-90) at Motlow State Community College (2-3) last evening.

The game will be Vol State's fourth of sixth game at home.  Tip-off is at 2 p.m. and for coverage tune in to 88.5 WVCP and updates on the game on Twitter @VSCCPioneersMBB.