There was only one game on the docket for the Wildcats last week, but it served as a microcosm of Columbia’s season.
Columbia (3-12, 0-1) played host to Jeff Davis County Jan. 7, had a great first quarter with a five-point advantage, lost the lead in the second quarter but remained within striking distance and then the fourth quarter happened. The Wildcats were outscored 21-6 in the final stanza to lose 83-59.
Head coach Charlie James said the Wildcats got out of character and started trying to do things they aren’t capable of doing during the fourth quarter.
“We just stopped playing defense the way we had been playing the whole game. We just kind of started to take some chances that cost us late,” he said. “We struggled to put together 32 minutes of sound basketball basically.”
It’s been a game-to-game issue for the Wildcats all season. They will have stretches where they play great basketball and have the lead going into the second half before everything falls apart. Or they will start a game off slow before flipping on the switch too late.
“It’s all about being consistent,” James said.
One of the main problems for Columbia this year has been the lack of a consistent third fiddle behind Daqwan Jones and Jaheim Oatis. The duo had 16 points apiece against JDC while shooting a combined 60% from the field with Jones adding eight rebounds and five steals and Oatis hauling in five offensive rebounds.
The rest of the team scored just a combined 27 points on 11-of-33 shooting (33%).
While there are a number of players James believes could fill that role as the third option, nobody has risen to the challenge yet.
“I thought it would be Keion Jackson, but he’s struggled to shoot the ball. We have Josh Brown, who is coming along, and he’s learning. Then we have Ziquae Amos that has the capability, but sometimes I don’t know if it’s nerves or what that gets to him. We have a couple of guys who have the capability, but they just need to believe and trust in themselves to do it,” he explained.
Darius Stewart is still rehabbing the broken leg he suffered during the fourth game of the season, and James said while he has resumed basketball activities he is likely out until the beginning of February. Stewart, who was the early star for the Wildcats and was expected to be the No. 1 option this year, is working on conditioning and building the strength back up in his leg.
“That would be a big help for us if we can get him back,” James said.
It would also help if Oatis realized his immense potential, but he, too, has struggled with consistency. At times he’s the best player on the court, and other times he’s just another guy on the floor. James said the inconsistency with Oatis, who is still just a sophomore, boils down to a mixture of conditioning and understanding how much the Wildcats need him to step up and be the leader of the team.
“He’s definitely one we look to step up to be a leader. He has the potential and the skillset. It’s all about him understanding it and doing it,” James said. “I really think he’s capable of it, and eventually I think he will do it.”
The Wildcats played host to Tylertown Tuesday night, but results were unavailable at press time. They will remain at home for their next two games, taking on Seminary Friday and West Marion Tuesday.
Pictured Above: Columbia's Daqwan Jones banks a layup off the glass. | Photo by Charlie Smith
