BRANSON, Mo. — The Wright brothers combined for 47 points as the Joplin High School boys basketball team beat Branson 69-62 on Friday night in Central Ozark Conference action.
Freshman guard All Wright poured in a game-high 30 points to lead the Eagles, while junior guard Always Wright added 17 points. All Wright made 10 field goals, with four 3-pointers, and hit 6-of-9 free throws.
Sophomore Dante Washington added 14 points for the Eagles.
Joplin improved its record to 8-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Branson fell to 6-7 overall and 0-2 in the COC. Kade Goodwin scored 22 points to lead the Pirates, while Kyle Scharbrough added 18.
The Pirates led 9-7, but the Eagles closed the first quarter on a 13-2 run to take a 20-11 lead into the second quarter.
All Wright had 14 points in the opening frame.
The low-scoring second quarter saw both teams struggle with turnovers and cold shooting.
But Always Wright knocked down a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the first half, giving the Eagles a 27-18 halftime advantage.
Hoops from LT Atherton and Washington pushed Joplin’s lead to 37-22 with five minutes left in the third quarter before Always Wright’s dunk off a feed from Washington extended Joplin’s advantage to 45-27.
The Pirates scored the final eight points of the third quarter, cutting Joplin’s lead to 10 at 45-35.
Two free throws by Always Wright and a corner trey by Washington pushed Joplin’s lead to 62-45 with just under four minutes to play.
Using a late spurt, Branson pulled within single digits in the final minute, but Joplin’s lead was never in serious jeopardy.
Joplin’s boys will begin competition at the Lebanon Fall of Fame Classic on Thursday.
