NIXA, Mo. — Ozark finished strong to earn a 73-59 win over Webb City on Saturday in the third-place game of the Nixa Invitational Tournament.
Webb City fell to 13-5, while Ozark improved to 13-5.
Cohl Vaden led Webb City with 20 points. Vaden, who scored 15 in the first half, hit five 3-pointers.
Trenton Hayes added 12 points and made three treys, while Mekhi Garrard chipped in nine points for the Cardinals.
Blaine Cline scored 20 points to lead Ozark, while Ethan Whatley added 19.
Vaden buried three treys in the first period, while Hayes hit two of his own, giving Webb City a 20-18 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Vaden’s fifth 3-pointer of the game gave the Cardinals a 33-28 advantage with just under five minutes remaining in the first half.
The Tigers used a 9-2 run to take the lead.
A pair of free throws from Garrard tied the game, but Ozark’s Kyle Flavin drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Tigers a 40-37 at the break.
Ozark extended its lead to seven early in the third period, and the Tigers were up 54-49 entering the fourth quarter.
A hoop by Nickhai Howard cut Webb City’s deficit to three at 58-55, but the Tigers used a 13-3 surge to take a 71-58 lead with two minutes remaining.
In the tournament’s championship game, Kickapoo beat Nixa 84-69. Parkview defeated Springfield Central 56-43 in the fifth-place game.
Webb City hosts Willard on Tuesday night.
FULL STATS: Webb City HS (webbcitycardinals.com)
