PAYNE GETS RELIEF IN BADGER WIN
by Rick Pike

Snow's Defense Frustrated Colorado Northwestern

RANGELY, Colo-January 20, 2006 -Four Badgers scored in double figures and Snow’s defense frustrated Colorado Northwestern en route to a 94-78 win. Dante Green led Snow with 26 points while Geoff Payne scored 25 and grabbed 11 rebounds. Mike Clark followed with 18 points, Chris Hoopes scored 11 and Jake Peterson dished out 10 assists.

“I really like our mental toughness coming over here to Rangely. We had the right attitude and the right intensity,” remarked Roger Reid, Snow’s head coach. “Our offensive execution was better and we played better defense and rebounded well.”

Reid was right. The Badgers shot 60% from the field and held the Spartans to 47%. Snow out-rebounded the Spartans by nine – 35-26. Most important to Reid was the defensive execution.

“We took them out of what they like to do by switching defenses. We played some man but we played some standard zone and mixed in some triangle-and-two. What we wanted to do was prevent the guards from coming off a high screen at the top of the key and getting good looks. Our guys did a good job of executing,” explained Reid.

But four players filling up the scoring column may have been the most important part of this Badger victory.

“Payne continues to do it all for us but he still needs some help. Dante and Mike really played well. Mike is really beginning to understand what a good shot is and he’s making good passes (four assists), said Reid. “I was really happy with Chris’ effort. Now we need to see more of it.”

Snow never trailed in the game. The Badger’s led by as many as 12 points in the first half and led 43-33 at halftime. The Spartans cut the lead to six two times early in the second half but a 12-0 Snow run around the 14 minute mark gave the Badgers a 62-44 advantage. The run began with a Clark three and ended with Green fouled while sinking a three-pointer. He made the foul shot for a four-point-play.

Snow will be in Rangely for one more evening hoping to improve on their 2-5 conference record.