PITTSBURG, Kan. — Joplin opened the game with all of the momentum and never relinquished it in a 91-47 rout over Wichita West in the consolation semifinals of the Bill Hanson Memorial Tournament on Friday.
Joplin (12-3) opened the game on a 13-3 run and closed the first quarter on a 13-0 run to build a 21-point advantage after the first eight minutes of action. Joplin used another large scoring run in the second quarter to push the lead to 37 by halftime. The Eagles maintained that pace in the second half.
All Wright finished with 25 points, while Always Wright finished with 23 in the win to lead Joplin. All Wright was 13-of-15 shooting from the foul line, while Always Wright had 21 points in the first half, including four 3-pointers. Terrance Gibson finished with 15 points to give Joplin three players in double figures. Brantley Morris added eight, while Quin Renfro finished with six.
Joplin takes on the winner of Pittsburg and Willard at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday in the consolation finals.
Joplin didn’t wait long to take the momentum in the win, outscoring Wichita West 13-3 over the first three and a half minutes of game action. Gibson accounted for seven points, including a three-point play, while Always Wright, All Wright and Renfro contributed with buckets.
After trading baskets for the next 90 seconds, the Eagles closed the first quarter on a 13-0 run over the final two minutes of action to build a 33-12 lead by the start of the second period. Always Wright had two 3-pointers to highlight the run, while Whit Hafer, All Wright and Joe Jasper also had buckets.
Holding a 41-17 lead early in the second, Joplin scored 12 unanswered points to extend the margin to 36 points, 53-17. Gibson started the run with an inside score before Always Wright knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key and followed it up with a steal for a runout layup. LT Atherton added a 3-pointer and All Wright closed the run with a baseline drive.
Joplin ultimately took a 60-23 lead into the intermission, pushed the lead to 40 early in the second half and cruised to the final horn.
