WEBB CITY, Mo. — Points were definitely at a premium for both the district host and second-seeded Webb City and seventh-seeded Belton for the vast majority of their Class 5 District 7 quarterfinal game Thursday in the boys gym at Webb City High School.
Webb City endured about one quarter’s worth of not scoring a point, falling behind for most of the first three quarters, but the Cardinals’ defense stymied Belton on their way to a 34-24 win for the higher seed.
The visiting Pirates scored no more than seven points in any quarter on Thursday, and they finished with one made field goal in the second half, including none in the critical third quarter that saw Webb City turn a 14-10 halftime deficit into a 25-18 lead entering the fourth behind a 15-4 advantage in the third.
Seven of Belton’s 10 second-half points were from made free throws, and Belton senior Anna Shrum’s trifecta with 2 minutes and 44 seconds remaining in regulation proved to be their only field goal in the final 16 minutes.
“I thought we did a pretty good job the whole game of defending,” Webb City coach Lance Robbins said. “We struggled a little bit offensively tonight, which didn’t allow us to get into our press and do some things early in the game that we wanted to do.
“Overall, when we needed to make plays, we stepped up and made plays. At this point in the season, you’re going to get everybody’s best shot because it might be the last time they step on the floor. We’re anxious to play on Saturday.”
Webb City (17-10 overall) faces third-seeded Bolivar in the semifinals on Saturday inside the Cardinal Dome.
Bolivar (19-8) rolled 61-33 over No. 6 seed McDonald County in the game after Webb City and Belton.
“It will be a big challenge no doubt about it,” Bolivar coach Ben Glasgow said. “They’re really good, they’re playing on their home floor, and they have some very unique weapons. We’re considered an underdog and I get that, but I feel like we have a good chance.”
Webb City and Bolivar are scheduled to tip at 2:30 p.m.
In Thursday’s win over Belton, a sequence late in the first half changed the entire complexion of the contest for both the Cardinals and the Pirates.
Kate Brownfield made a 3-point shot with only a few seconds before halftime for a 14-10 score and the Cardinals just missed on a one-point halftime deficit after a steal and a dramatic shot at the buzzer rimmed out.
“I thought that was a big momentum boost for us,” Robbins said. “That three was huge and I know Kirra (Long) didn’t make the halfcourt shot, but the steal and everything there at the end of the half gave us some confidence and energy going into the second half. I thought we played a little better offensively in the second half, but still not up to par for what we normally do.”
Webb City sophomore post Sami Mancini scored a game-high 12 points, including nine in the second half, despite the best efforts of the Belton defense to deny her the post entry passes with ball pressure on the passer and a bunch of defenders ready to swarm Mancini when the ball entered her possession.
“She was working hard in the post,” Robbins said. “The few times we tried to force the ball into her, we got some turnovers. We’re seeing a lot of double and triple teams right now. That makes it difficult sometimes to get the ball there into her, but most of the time when we get it in, she’s got her shot and she’ll take it. If not, she’ll look to get other people involved.”
Brownfield finished with seven points, Long and Mia Robbins each had five, Malorie Stanley’s three points arrived on a trifecta to give the Cardinals their 25-18 lead entering the fourth, and Dawsyn Decker added two points.
Amaya Crowder led Belton with nine points, Shrum added eight, Sh’ryah Wright five, and Morgan Bandy two points for the Pirates, who ended their season 7-19 overall.
