Joplin boys basketball wrapped up play in the 12 Courts of Christmas basketball tournament on Saturday.
The Eagles took a loss to Smithville on Friday before surffering a loss to Central (St. Joseph) on Saturday to end play in the 2023 portion of the the season.
Joplin (1-8) hosts the 2024 Kaminsky Classic basketball tournament from Jan. 4-6 with a 6:30 p.m. matchup against Union in the opening round on Thursday.
CENTRAL BOYS (ST. JOSEPH) 52, JOPLIN 48 (DOUBLE OVERTIME)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Joplin and Central needed a pair of extra overtime periods to decide the Eagles’ final 12 Courts of Christmas basketball tournament appearance on Saturday.
Joplin led 21-17 at halftime before Central tied the game by the end of the third quarter. The contest remained tied at the end of regulation 40-40 and 45-45 at the end of the first overtime period. Central found the momentum in the second extra five-minute period en route to the win.
“We got off to a slow start but were able to get going a bit in the second quarter,” Joplin coach Nick Pfeifer said to SoMo Sports. “Defensively, we were mostly solid throughout the game and did a pretty nice job of getting some deflections and turnovers. Offensively, I thought we were a little better than last night. Unfortunately, they made a few more plays than we did in the second overtime.”
Trenton Gage led Joplin in scoring with 17 points, while Brecken Green closed with nine points. Aiden Scourten added eight, while Whit Hafer, a senior who has signed with Missouri to play football, finished with seven points in the loss.
Shadai Ndamboma finished the game with nine points, while DaKoda Plymell had eight points and Amonttay Henderson seven in the win for Central.
SMITHVILLE 45, JOPLIN 37 (FRIDAY)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Joplin took a slim lead into halftime before Smithville outscored the Eagles 22-13 in the second half on the way to the win in Joplin’s 12 Courts of Christmas basketball tournament opener on Friday.
Joplin rallied in the second period to lead Smithville 24-23 at halftime before the Warriors took a 35-29 lead into the final eight minutes of play and didn’t give it up.
Trenton Gage and Brecken Green each scored nine points to lead Joplin in scoring, while Carter Harbin had seven points in the win.
Max McKenzie had 14 points and Tobias Ford finished with 13 points for the Warriors to lead all scorers.
