Joplin jumped out to a fast start and never looked back on the way to a 69-46 Central Ozark Conference win over Carthage to snap a three-game skid on Tuesday.
The Eagles (11-7, 2-1 COC) started the contest on a 10-2 run and never trailed while pushing the lead to 15 points by halftime, 32-17. Carthage (6-13, 0-3) cut the lead to single digits early in the third quarter before Joplin used a huge surge to close out the third, building an insurmountable lead in the process.
“Fortunately, the losing streak had nothing to do with conference play,” Joplin coach Jeff Hafer said. “After having a rough patch, we are still 2-1 in the COC. … It was really good to see that. We’ve had some challenges.”
“Overall, I think their supporting cast was really good, and the difference in this one,” Carthage coach Nathan Morris said. “We did a pretty good job on All and Always (Wright), so it was pretty disappointing that those weren’t the two who ended up hurting us. Any night that we go 3-of-17 from the 3-point line and we missed 13 layups in the first half. I don’t think it was a lack of effort or competing. I just think we had to expend so much energy to make a little comeback in the third quarter that we were emotionally gassed because this was a big game for the guys.”
The win for the Eagles was the first game back at Kaminsky Gymnasium since the Kaminsky Classic championship game on Jan. 9.
“Our kids enjoyed it like crazy,” Hafer said of his team’s first home game in nearly a month. “The student section was great. They needed it. We needed to come home for something, and it’s good to play someone local when you’re at home for a good atmosphere.”
Joplin’s 10-2 start to the game was highlighted by a Dominick Simmons 3-pointer, two baskets from Dante Washington and a bucket from LT Atherton inside the first three minutes of action.
“That’s huge,” Hafer said of his team’s fast start. “We are like a lot of teams that don’t have a lot of experience. When things go well early, we play well. Adversity is something we’ve been battling a little bit, so having a good start was important.”
The Eagles took a 16-9 lead into the second when back-to-back 3-pointers from Carson Wampler out of the break pushed the margin to 22-9. Always Wright closed out the first half with score on the drive to send Joplin into the intermission with a 15-point lead, 32-17.
Carthage’s Justin Ray knocked down a 3-pointer to open the second half, igniting a 9-2 spurt to cut the lead to single digits early in the second half. Ray ended the run with a driving score to make the score 34-26.
“We rebounded the ball much better,” Morris said of his team’s play to start the second half. “At times, we know we are very undersized. We were able to get some early rebounds and get in transition, which this group has to do. Joplin, at times, took that completely away, so credit to them.”
Joplin responded in a big way, closing the third period on a 16-4 run to push the lead up to 50-30 with eight minutes left, essentially sealing the win.
Washington sank a 3-ball from the wing and added a score on the drive to start the game-deciding run. Simmons added a 3-pointer from the corner, with All and Always Wright scoring inside on the break to make the score 47-30. All Wright closed the run and the quarter with a 3-pointer with two seconds on the clock.
“My favorite (possession of that run) was how well our offense looked on Dom’s 3-pointer,” Hafer said. “The ball touched both sides of the floor, it got to the paint and we had them in so many different rotations. It was an inside-out pass in a fluid offense. That was one, as a coach, that even if it doesn’t go in, you’re going to be excited.”
SCORING LEADERS
Joplin finished with three players in double figures, led by Washington’s 13 points. Always Wright added 12 and All Wright scored 10. Terrance Gibson and Simmons finished with nine, while Wampler had eight.
Joel Pugh led Carthage with 13 points, while Max Templeman had nine points. Silas Templeman and Cadence Kabance each added eight points in the loss.
UP NEXT
Joplin hosts Nixa (16-3, 3-0) on Friday.
Carthage hosts Republic (17-2, 3-0) on Friday.
