SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Joplin girls basketball team outscored Hillcrest 19-5 in the first quarter and never looked back in a 65-21 win on Thursday in non-conference action.
Brooke Nice knocked down three 3-pointers in the first quarter to help build the cushion for the Eagles. Seven Joplin players scored in the second quarter, with Brynn Driver leading the way with six points, to stake JHS out to a 41-13 lead by the intermission. Joplin (7-8) held Hillcrest to eight total points in the second half on the way to the comfortable win.
“After a good week of practice, the girls went out and took care of business tonight,” Joplin coach Luke Floyd said to SoMo Sports. “From the opening tip, I felt like we were locked in on both ends of the floor. This is a game where everyone got to play and they all did an excellent job. It was an all around great effort by everyone.”
Joplin finished with three players scoring in double figures, led by Nice’s 15 points. She finished the night with four 3-pointers made. Driver finished with 12 points, while Ella Hafer scored 11 in the win. Ashley Phillips added nine and Emma Floyd scored seven.
Joplin takes part in the I44 Lady’s Classic hosted by Lebanon on Jan. 27.
