The Webb City Cardinals had plenty of motivation ahead of Thursday night’s matchup with the Nevada Tigers at the 2021 Kaminsky Classic.
For starters, a victory would put the Cardinals into the annual event’s championship game.
Next, and not to be understated, Nevada had won seven straight matchups against Webb City dating back to 2012.
Lastly, there were postseason implications at stake. With that, it’s safe to say the Cardinals wanted this one.
Propelled by big runs in the first and third quarters, highly-motivated Webb City defeated Nevada 65-55 in a clash between state-ranked foes at Joplin High School’s Kaminsky Gymnasium.
“Our kids were motivated and excited to play Nevada,” Webb City coach Jason Horn said. “Their program is really solid. Coach (Shaun) Gray does a good job with them. We knew it was going to be tough coming in. They’ve got guys who can shoot the basketball and they play tough defense. The last few years, the games went back and forth, but we weren’t able to finish them off. It seemed like they’ve always had an extra punch for us. Tonight, it was our night.”
Ranked eighth in Class 5, Webb City improved to 7-1 after going 2-0 in pool play, earning a spot in Saturday’s title game against Joplin.
“We’re excited to play for the tournament championship,” Horn said.
In what was another motivating factor, both teams are in Class 5 District 12.
“We’re district opponents and we know we’ll see them another time (at the Frontenac Tournament),” Horn said. “But these games are big for deciding home-court advantage in the district tournament.”
As far as the key to victory, Webb City put together a 17-0 run in the first quarter and then had a 13-0 surge in the third quarter.
“I thought we were really good defensively to start the game,” Horn said. “We did a great job of putting pressure on the basketball and we did a great job of rotating. We kept their guys out of the lane.”
Nevada won the second quarter 17-11 before the Cardinals outscored the Tigers 16-6 in the third period.
“In the second quarter, we weren’t moving our feet like we needed to defensively,” Horn said. “But in the third quarter, we regrouped and got a little run going. Our defense always leads our offense. When we’re solid defensively, we can be a load for anyone.”
NAMES & NUMBERS
Senior guards Nickhai Howard and Trenton Hayes scored 17 points apiece to lead Webb City, while junior guard Cohl Vaden added nine points and senior forward Luke Brumit contributed 11 rebounds and eight points.
Howard had four assists, while Mekhi Garrard recorded three steals and two assists.
The Cardinals shot 37 percent (18-of-49) and out-rebounded the Tigers 46-36.
Senior Logan McNeley scored a game-high 22 points and also had eight boards for the Tigers, while senior Logan Applegate added 18 points and four assists.
The Tigers made just 31 percent of their field goal attempts (19-of-62), including 5-of-27 from 3-point range (19 percent).
GAME RECAP
After Nevada scored the first four points of the game, Webb City recorded 17 unanswered points, with five different players scoring during the spurt.
The Tigers managed just six points in the opening frame.
“There was kind of a lid on the basket for a while,” Nevada coach Shaun Gray said, noting his team’s 3-for-15 shooting. “We missed our first six or seven 3-balls. And a lot of times, those long misses fueled Webb City’s transition game. Early on, it seemed like everything was falling for them and nothing was falling for us. And when you get behind against them, you have to start playing a little faster and that’s the style of play they want. An early deficit against a team like Webb City is huge.”
The Tigers charged back in the second quarter, as McNeley’s second 3-pointer cut Nevada’s deficit to three at 26-23. But Webb City’s Alex Martin hit a turnaround jumper in the lane to give the Cardinals a five-point cushion at the break.
Webb City began the third quarter much like it started the first, as the Cardinals scored 13 unanswered points and put together a 16-2 run to start the second half.
During the spurt, Hayes, Howard and Shane Noel all hit 3-pointers, while Vaden, Hayes and Howard contributed hoops and Kaden Turner added a free throw. The run gave the Cardinals a comfortable 44-25 advantage.
Nevada didn’t quit, as the Tigers were only down seven with 2:24 remaining after Lane McNeley’s layup. But the Cardinals responded with six straight points to all but seal the deal.
“I was pleased with the fact that we kept battling,” Gray said. “We didn’t throw in the towel. We battled back and I felt like we had them on the ropes, but we had another lull and they went on another run. We have to be more consistent than we were tonight.”
GAME NOTES
Webb City won 21 consecutive games against the Tigers from 2001-12 before Nevada began its win streak in the series against its former Southwest Conference rival.
Nevada, ranked 10th in Class 5 and now 5-4, will take on Clever at 6 on Friday night to conclude pool play.
