ANDERSON, Mo. — Neosho earned its second win in as many days after hitting the road for a 55-43 non-conference win over district rival McDonald County on Tuesday.
The Wildcats (12-6) built a three-possession lead over the Mustangs (7-8) by halftime and pushed the advantage to double digits by the start of the fourth quarter. Neosho was staunch down the stretch on both ends of the floor to hold onto the win.
“Really proud of our team’s effort after a hard-fought game last night,” Neosho coach Zane Culp said to SoMo Sports. “They gutted it out and found ways to win.”
The opening eight minutes of action was back and forth with McDonald County holding a 10-7 lead late before Neosho closed the period on a 7-2 run to take a 12-10 advantage into the second quarter. K’dyn Waters, who scored nine points in the first quarter, led the charge down the stretch with four points, while Carter Baslee scored inside and drew contact for a three-point play with 48 seconds left.
The Mustangs, playing without Teddy Reedybacon, got on the board first in the second quarter with a bucket from Cross Dowd. The Wildcats answered with the next nine points, four from Kael Smith and five from Waters, to take a 21-12 advantage.
Pierce Harmon went 1-for-2 at the foul line on three straight possessions for the Mustangs to cut the lead to 21-15 before Neosho closed the first half with another 7-2 run. Carter Fenske knocked down a 3-pointer from the wing before Baslee closed the second period with two buckets inside to give the Wildcats a 28-17 advantage at the intermission.
Neosho played with the double-digit margin throughout the third quarter, pushing the lead to as high as 14 when Brock Franklin hit a corner 3-pointer at the 3:10 mark on the clock. The Wildcats ultimately took a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter, 42-30.
Sterling Woods drilled a 3-pointer for McDonald County to open the final eight minutes of play to trim the lead to nine, 42-33, but Neosho pushed the lead back up to 16 points and put the game out of reach with a 6-0 run highlighted by four points from Smith inside with 2:16 to play.
Waters finished with 20 points to lead all scorers, while Smith finished with 11 points for Neosho. Baslee added seven points and Isaiah Green finished with five.
Woods had three 3-pointers and finished with 16 points to lead McDonald County. Harmon added 10 and Eli McClain finished with eight.
Neosho is back on the road for a matchup at Forsyth on Friday.
McDonald County hosts Cassville on Tuesday.
