CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Carl Junction Bulldogs got off to a hot start en route to a 72-53 win over the Monett Cubs on Friday night.
Monett got off the first basket, but then the Bulldogs went on a 12-3 run.
Senior Alex Baker made four free throws to start off his night, and senior Blake Poorman also made two field goals. Monett made a pair of 3-pointers to brings the score to 14-8 in Carl Junction’s favor at the end of the first quarter.
Carl Junction junior Josh Cory went off in the second quarter for the Bulldogs by scoring 13 points off six baskets and a free throw. Cory was aided by Baker, who also made a basket and a pair of free throws, giving him eight points for the half.
Bulldogs senior Sincere Williams also made his first basket of the half to add onto two free throws he made in the first quarter. By the time both teams headed to the locker room, Carl Junction had a 33-17 lead that they would not relinquish.
Coming out of the half, Williams added to his totals by hitting a two free throws, a 3-pointer and a pair of field goals to give him nine points in the quarter and 13 for the night.
Senior Mylas Derfelt also added a pair of impressive 3s and Cory, Baker and Poorman all contributed with points of their own.
Baker finished the night with 10 points. Sophomore Ayden Bard, making his first start of the year, also made his first basket of the game. Monett tried to mount a comeback but were never able to bridge the gap.
As the clock turned to the final period, Carl Junction led 56-30.
“We came back and took care of our house tonight,” Carl Junction coach Justin Pock said. “The other day we let Hillcrest come in here and take over our house, and we respect where we play and we had to protect it.”
Even with a 26-point deficit, Monett continued to try and claw their way back into the game in the fourth, making two treys, several field goals, and going 5-for-6 from the line to put up 23 points.
The Bulldogs were not going to let a comeback happen, as Bard scored seven points (giving him 9 on the night), Cory added two baskets, junior Jaden Cherry hit a basket and sophomore Nathan Planchon finished the night off by hitting his only basket for 3.
“We got a little sloppy there at the end, but we played really hard defensively and rebounded a lot and that was a big takeaway,” Pock said. “I’m going to tell our guys to celebrate tonight, but then we’ve got to get back to work. We have Central next Tuesday, but we definitely rebuilt our house tonight.”
