The Missouri Military Academy seniors really wanted to win Thursday's home game in Mexico. MMA was without two seniors (Josh McCart and Joseph Roach) due to injuries and had high-effort performances from its remaining seniors (Nathan Dempsey, Ky-mani Erskine and Bradley Thumbi) but lost 63-49 to Columbia Independent on Senior Night in the Colonels' regular season finale.
Dempsey and Gihana Favour Nziza each led MMA with 10 points, Mateo Eaton finished with eight points and two 3-pointers and Erskine added five points and a team-high seven rebounds, but they and the other Colonels had to play from a deep hole starting with a 23-13 deficit after the first quarter. The Lions (9-12) nailed half of their eight 3-pointers in the first quarter and held a lead until MMA tied the game momentarily at 29 early in the third quarter. Dempsey and Mateo Eaton hit back-to-back 3-pointers, but then the Colonels struggled with turnovers until Columbia Independent grew its lead to as much as 16 points to pay MMA back for a 41-38 loss earlier in the season.
Blake Morris led the Lions with 19 points, and Deolu Adibiyi and Gabe Martin each followed with 16 points. Martin made four 3-pointers.
MMA recognized its wrestling seniors as well before the Colonels junior varsity won their two-quarter game 24-12.
MMA goes into its Class 3 District 7 tournament matchup with South Callaway (18-6) at 2-21 and as the loser of the previous meeting with the Bulldogs earlier this month at 91-35. The Colonels play at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in New Bloomfield.
Look for the full story on the Mexico Ledger website on Saturday and in the Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, edition of the Mexico Ledger.
