When Three Rivers traveled to Moberly two weeks ago, both the Raiders and Lady Raiders suffered similar games and similar losses.
After an OK first half, they had a poor start to the second, were suddenly way behind, and couldn't make a run as the score ballooned into 30-point win for the Greyhounds.
The message since has also been the same for both the Raiders and Lady Raiders.
Rebound!
The Greyhounds (19-3, 3-0 Region XVI) climbed three spots in the latest NJCAA rankings to No. 16. Tyree White, a 6-foot, 7-inch forward, led Moberly with 17 points and 15 rebounds, including eight offensive rebounds. He is averaging 6.9 points and 5.8 rebounds.
No other player had more than five total rebounds for the Greyhounds, who had 11 more total rebounds than Three Rivers.
Aidan Saunders came off the bench and led the Raiders (7-12, 0-4 Region XVI) with 17 points on 5 for 16 shooting against Moberly the first time. Keiondre Jefferson had 16 points and six rebounds and Jeffery Porter had 12 points and five rebounds.
Chucky Wilson led the team in rebounding with seven and five Raiders had at least five rebounds.
Three Rivers has been suffering roster issues lately. It has played with either seven or eight players in each of the past five games and have gone 1-4 in that stretch.
While Three Rivers has lost 7 of 8 and is dangerously close to having its first losing season in 48 years under Bess, the Raiders have been close of late.
They lost to Arkansas Baptist by a point on Tuesday after a late free throw, and they lost to No. 15 MSU-West Plains by four on Saturday.
The Raiders also have played just one home game since Dec. 9. Saturday's game against Moberly Area will be the first of eight straight home games for the Raiders, including their remaining four Region XVI games. Three Rivers' only road trip left is Feb. 19 at Lincoln Trail.
With 10 games left in the regular season, Three Rivers must go 8-2 to ensure at least a .500 record for the season.
The Lady Raiders grabbed 27 fewer rebounds than Moberly in the first matchup, including eight fewer offensive rebounds. They also shot 20 percent worse after missing every shot in the third quarter.
"If we do anything in the third quarter, we give us a chance to win up there," Walk said.
Moberly (20-0, 3-0 Region XVI) outscored Three Rivers 28-5 in the third, turning a nine point halftime lead into a 32 point lead going into the fourth quarter. Three Rivers then played even and matched Moberly with 21 points in the fourth.
"We think we can score enough points to win, but we have to make sure we have the other side of the ball taken care of," Walk said. "There is no athletic ability in rebounding. You just have to want the ball more than the other person and block out."
Walk's two primary post players, Sydni Williams and Kahlia Murry, will likely be in the lineup.
Williams missed Tuesday's road trip to Dyersburg, Tennessee because of the flu and will play Saturday. Murry is probable after twisting an ankle against State Fair on Jan. 13.
"She told us last week, she doesn't care if she is on crutches, she is going to play," Walk said of Murry.
Williams is averaging 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds while Murry is averaging 3.2 points and 4.5 rebounds. Murry also leads Three Rivers in blocks with 2.9 per game.
Sophomore forward Markeia Porter leads the Lady Raiders in rebounding at 6.8 per game and is scoring 7.2 points, as well. Double-double threat Lakeita Chappel is averaging 13.5 points and six rebounds and is the team's leading scorer.
In practice, the Lady Raiders have been putting on the blocking pads, shooting over cut in half pool noodles, things Walk does every year to simulate long opponents, but you can only simulate a 6-foot opponent in the post so much.
And the Lady Greyhounds, the longest team on Three Rivers' schedule, has five of them.
"We have got to learn to handle that type of length," Walk said. "They have the ability or they wouldn't be playing."
The undefeated Lady Greyhounds are ranked No. 7 in the most recent NJCAA poll. They are one of four undefeated teams in the top 25.
Anisha George, a 6-2 center who had 13 points and nine rebounds against Three Rivers, leads the team in both scoring (14.3) and rebounding (8.6).
Angelica Wiggins is averaging 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds and Carnethia Brown is getting 10.6 points and 2.3 rebounds. The pair, along with Sentreal Gregory off the bench, each scored 13 points against Three Rivers.