PREP BOYS BASKETBALL: Alton survives in OT, beats Soldan in MLK Classic

Redbirds beat Soldan in MLK Classic

Louie Korac For The Telegraph

 Published 10:19 pm CST, Monday, January 21, 2019

Photo:

Greg Shashack / The Telegraph

IMAGE 1 OF 4

Alton’s Josh Rivers (left) draws a foul on a Soldan defender on a shot in the lane in the fourth quarter Monday night in fourth annual SLUH/MLK Classic in St. Louis. The Redbirds won 75-71 in overtime.

ST. LOUIS — Winning a tourney title at Belleville East on Saturday was the climax for a solid week of basketball for the Alton Redbirds.

But for the players, a real test came Monday, just two days later, to see how the Redbirds would be able to move on and bounce back with a business as usual attitude.

Recommended Video

00:10

01:11

The Redbirds were able to pass the test but not without some adversity, allowing a 17-point lead to slip away before rallying for a 75-71 overtime win over the Soldan (Mo) Tigers at the SLUH/MLK Basketball Classic at Danis Field House.

Alton (14-8) led at one point 29-12 and seemed destined to another impressive win following three wins last week to win the Chick-fil-A Classic at Belleville East. But Soldan (12-7) fought back and actually led by five (39-34) at one point and 45-41 heading into the fourth quarter before Alton got 16 points after halftime from Malik Smith, who finished with 19, and Donovan Clay finished with a game-high 24 points, including 18 in the second half and overtime.

“We just didn’t really come to play in the first half and the third quarter,” Smith said. “We were taking a lot of bad shots in the first half. We were just being selfish. I guess we kind of pulled it together, but we really didn’t. We let the shooter get wide open shots, back-to-back plays. It was just bad.”

Alton coach Eric Smith normally would say a win is a win and move on, but after squandering such a big lead early, then a pair of six-point leads late, Smith said the Redbirds got out-toughed.

“They’re tougher than we are,” Eric Smith said of Soldan. “They got to loose balls, they got rebounds. Once they decided to put the ball on the floor and go to the basket, they did it and we didn’t play very smart.

“This is what we talked to the kids about. These are the kind of games that show how good a basketball team you are. The good teams in our conference that are just beating people, don’t come out and win a tournament the next night and don’t lose a 17-point lead and not play hard. That’s the difference between us and everybody else right now. Everybody says we’re a good basketball team, and I think we’re a good basketball team, but I think we do have some questions about our toughness right now.”

Alton would use a pair of 11-0 runs in the game, going up 11-2 early in the first quarter with efficient ball movement and the ability to get the rim with authority, and another 11-0 run to turn a 13-8 lead in the first to 24-8 into the second quarter. They had control early.

But the Tigers climbed back within seven at halftime, using an 11-1 run of their own to turn a 29-12 deficit into a 30-23 Redbirds lead, thanks to Ryan Torey’s 11 points, including three 3’s coming off the bench. And the Tigers opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run to tie the game 32-32 with 5 minutes 27 seconds remaining before then going on another 7-2 run to go up by five.

“I guess guys were tired or whatever they were, but the defensive end looked sloppy today,” Malik Smith said. “Standing in front of people was one thing, but we just didn’t guard very well.”

Malik Smith, who was 0 for 6 shooting through three quarters, scored 10 points in the fourth on 4 of 4 from the floor, and getting to the rim was key.

“The first half, I was really focusing more on the outside shot,” Malik Smith said. “At halftime, coach gave us a talk. We had to pull it together or they were going to beat us. I felt like I had to step up and play a big role and help by team win a game.

“Whenever we attack the basket, it opens up a lot more things. The 3-pointer, instead of being contested, you’re wide open, and we were able to knock down those shots. But we had them down and we’ve got to learn to keep that momentum going.”

Alton got it back and once the Redbirds got the lead in overtime, they were able to withstand one last-ditch effort by the Tigers, who got 15 points from Jesse Little and 14 from James Little.

“I think we’re more skilled than they were,” said Eric Smith, who also got 18 points from Moory Woods. “We’re a more skilled basketball team than what we saw tonight. They were just tougher, and the toughness almost beat the skill tonight.”

Alton won’t have time to dwell on it. The Redbirds get back on the court Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at home against Edwardsville in conference play.