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BOYS HOOPS: Carthage comes from behind to earn COC win over Willard

By:
SoMo Sports staff reports

CARTHAGE, Mo. — With a spirited finish, the Carthage Tigers overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half to earn a 57-52 come-from-behind win over Willard on Friday night in Central Ozark Conference play. 

The hosts outscored the visitors 38-28 after the break, including 20-12 in the final eight minutes.

“Our kids answered the bell at halftime,” Carthage coach Nathan Morris told SoMo Sports. “The players and the coaches weren’t pleased with the product we put on the floor in the first half. I told the guys we appeared to be sleepwalking through most of it. I challenged them to fight with everything they had, play with extreme energy, and support your teammates whether you play 16 minutes or zero minutes. We ended up playing the same five guys the entire fourth quarter and just rode their momentum.”

Willard led 11-10 at the end of the first quarter and the visiting Tigers were up 24-19 at halftime. 

Carthage put up 18 points in the third period, but still trailed 40-37. The hosts scored 20 points in the fourth quarter. 

“The entire second half wasn’t all pretty, we got down 12 early in the third but battled back to tie it before they hit a buzzer 3 (40-37) to end it,” Morris noted. “We rebounded, fought in the post, defended in the full court and shared the ball better than we have all season for a stretch to begin the fourth quarter. We held them at 37 points for half or maybe even a little over halfway into the fourth quarter. Every COC game is a physical battle and extremely important.”

Carthage is now 17-5 overall and 3-3 in the COC. 

Joel Pugh scored 13 points to lead Carthage, while Justin Ray had 12 and Max Templeman added 11. Clay Kinder added nine points for the hosts, while Tyler Willis contributed eight.

Willard fell to 14-9 and 2-4 in the COC. Brett Hall scored 10 points for Willard. 

Carthage hosts Branson on Tuesday. It will be Senior Night. 

“We have one home game left and we’d love to see the bleachers full for this group that is currently 17-5,” Morris said.

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