Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!: JWCC guard comes off bench to provide second-half spark

QUINCY — Ryan Snow had been a man without minutes, but not without confidence.

“I know when I get on the court I have to shoot with confidence or else there is no point in being out there,” he said.

So when Snow was inserted into the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team’s lineup with 13 minutes remaining in regulation Wednesday night, the redshirt freshman guard played like he’d been there all along.

Snow buried his first field goal attempt — his first shot taken in a game since Nov. 2 — and scored nine points as the Trail Blazers outscored Lincoln Land Community College 36-11 with him on the floor, leading to an 81-55 Mid-West Athletic Conference victory at the Student Activity Center.

“We always say, ‘Next man up,’” Snow said. “Anyone on the team can do that.”

This time, it was his opportunity.

The former Triopia standout had played in seven games this season, totaling just 16 minutes and two points. He had attempted only one shot to go with one rebound, one steal and one assist. Against the Loggers, he went 4 of 6 from the field and 1 of 2 from 3-point range, finishing with nine points to go with three rebounds and an assist.

More importantly, he provided a spark at a critical juncture.

“That’s huge,” JWCC sophomore guard Connor Watson said. “At practice, he tears us up sometimes. We know what he’s capable of doing.”

His sticktoitiveness in practice had Snow ready to play and contribute.

“Just confidence,” Snow said. “With that first shot, you might be a little cold, your legs might not be as activated. Then you see the first one go in, confidence just rises.”

It was that way the entire second half for the Trail Blazers (10-13).

Lincoln Land led 32-27 at halftime after JWCC shot just 33.3 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from 3-point range. In the second half, when the Trail Blazers outscored the Loggers 54-23, they shot 64.5 percent from the field and 64.7 percent from 3-point range, making 11 of 17 attempts.

Watson said the reason the Trail Blazers shot so well against the Loggers’ 2-3 zone defense was quite simple.

“Just moving the ball, trusting each other, trusting your teammates,” said Watso, who made 5 of 9 3-pointers to finish with 15 points along with five rebounds and five assists. “Make the extra pass and trust you’re going to get it back.”

It also allowed the Trail Blazers to dictate the pace of play.

“I was so sick of saying ‘play with pace’ that I felt I was not a good coach because I said it so much,” Dahl said. “Anytime we can get stops and play with a little bit of pace, we can get something good, especially with the shooters that we have. When you push the ball and get a paint touch, you’re going to find an open shot.

“We played with way more aggression, way more pace, way more paint touches. Everything was better.”

The Trail Blazers finished with 26 assists on 31 field goals, while committing just 10 turnovers.

“That’s how you beat a zone,” Snow said. “It’s moving the ball.”

The defense did its part, too, holding the Loggers to 35.7 percent shooting in the second half and a 1-of-8 effort from 3-point range.

“Winning in the region is big,” Watson said. “This just continues to give us confidence.”

So will seeing production from unexpected sources like Snow.

“He just stays ready,” Dahl said. “He comes every day to practice ready to go. Hats off to him for staying locked in. He’s a great teammate and it showed tonight.”