A "CLASSIC" WIN FOR SNOW'S MEN
by Rick Pike

Payne and Clark Combine for 69 Points

EPHRAIM, UTAH-January 13, 2006-EPHRAIM, Utah-January 13, 2006-"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." If the Badger men were literature they might be Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities." For the second Friday in a row, Snow played some of its best basketball counteracted by careless regard for the ball, allowing an opponent to stay close and even lead. Fortunately, the "best of times" were enough for the Badgers to hold off Colorado Northwestern in a 92-90 win.

Geoff Payne and Mike Clark led Snow to victory with 37 and 32 points respectively. Payne was among the game's rebounding leaders with eight while Clark led Snow with five assists. Their efforts offset a spectacular second half from the Spartans' LaRon Frazier who scored 29 of his game high 38 points.

"I'm tickled for our guys. They've worked hard and have been so close in most of our league games," remarked Roger Reid, Snow's head coach. "I'm particularly impressed that we didn't get down when they (Colorado) game back and even took the lead. We kept our composure for the most part and got the win."

One of Snow's "bests" was Payne's free throw shooting. After struggling at the line in Snow's first three league games, Payne has been terrific the past two weekends - making 15-17 attempts against the Spartans.

"Everyone knows who Payne is now - he is double- and even triple-teamed, but he keeps playing his regular game and now he's making his free throws," said Reid. "We've stressed free throws in practice and I can see that Payne, and all of our guys, want to be at the line now."

Snow made 28-38 free throws - a respectable 74%. Reid's emphasis on getting the ball to his bigs means many free throw opportunities. Snow shot 15 more and made 15 more free throws than the Spartans (13-23).

Snow jumped out to a 12-2 advantage behind six points from Payne and five from Clark - two on technical free throws due to an administrative violation on the Spartans before the game began. The Badger lead climbed as high as 16 points at 32-16 and again at 42-26 in the first half. Snow led 43-31 at halftime.

Unfortunately, one of the Badger "worsts" is the first five to seven minutes of the second half. Just like last Friday against North Idaho, and an earlier game against Dixie, Snow turnovers and lackluster defense gave an opponent new life. The Spartans opened the second half with a 22-9 run to take their only lead of the game at 53-52. Snow committed five turnovers during the Spartan run - four of them turning into a total of nine points for Colorado. The Badger defense softened as the Spartans got too many lay-ups and easy jumpers from outside. Snow held Colorado to 28% shooting in the first half but the Spartans shot 55% in the second half.

"We're giving away too many easy baskets off of turnovers - that's what happens when you turn the ball over. We also have to understand our scouting report - who are the scorers and how to guard them," said Reid. "But I like our effort. We'll keep getting better."

Snow retook the lead (55-53) on a nifty pass from Clark to Payne who was fouled and completed the three-point play at the line. There were four ties in the final 12 minutes but Snow led by four to six points, with the lead reaching eight, most of the second half. Payne sank five of six free throws in the final 30 seconds to hold off a late Spartan rally.

Other Badger contributors included Dante Green, who scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Tyler Quinney, who snared a game-high 11 rebounds and scored seven points.

The Badgers earned their first SWAC win. They'll take their 1-5 league record to Rangely for two return games against Colorado Northwestern next Friday and Saturday nights.