Mamou finishes off regular season with loss to Northwest

PRAIRIE RHONDE -- It was a bittersweet way to end the regular season for the Mamou Demons, as they came up just short in their 56-41 loss to the Northwest Raiders Friday night.
Even more bittersweet was the fact that this game represented the final regular season game in the 30 plus year career for Mamou head coach John Jack.
“I did not really realize that it was my last regular season game until my daughter told me right before we started,” stated Jack. “A lot of people have come up to me and asked me if I was sure that I wanted to retire. I just think it is time for me to step away.”
“Right now, it really hasn’t hit me yet,” continued Jack. “I don’t normally get emotional, but it may happen after the final game for us in the playoffs. I guess I will deal with it all after everything is finally over.”
On Friday, Mamou came out ready to battle against a very good Raider ball club. The Demons gave up a free throw to start the contest, but reeled off the next four points.
Northwest did not allow Mamou to gain any more momentum. Over the next 1:07 seconds, the Raiders busted loose on the offensive side of the floor, going on a 10-0 run to take an 11-4 lead.
For the remaining 4:21 of the first quarter, the only points Mamou could muster came via the free throw line. As the horn sounded to end the period, the Raiders held a 10 point advantage, 18-8.
Mamou tried to crawl back into the game at the beginning of the second quarter, picking up the first five points scored. Northwest would answer back with a five point run of their own to lead 23-13 at the 2:10 mark.
As the final minutes of the first half ticked off, the two clubs stood toe-to-toe with each other, exchanging baskets to put the score at 27-17 in favor of the Raiders.
The power struggle between the teams stretched into the third quarter. For the first 3:20 of the period, the 10 point lead owned by Northwest remained with the Raiders holding a 31-21 advantage.
A three-point basket at the 3:20 mark gave Northwest a 36-23 lead. Mamou hit a shot 11 seconds later to cut back into that lead. However, the defensive pressure of the Raiders gave them the opportunity to close out the quarter on a 7-4 run to up the lead to 16 points.
Once again the Demons came storming back to begin the final quarter of the contest. Tough defense and the inside play of forward Tammrick Thomas allowed Mamou to cut the Northwest advantage back down to 10 points, 46-36, with only four minutes to go.
In fact, the Raider lead could have been cut even more if the Demons had been able to hit free throws over the next two possessions. With 2:22 remaining in the game, Northwest took over on both sides of the floor, as the Raiders finished on a 6-3 run.
Thomas finished the night with 20 points to lead all Demons in scoring.