LEE’S SUMMIT BOYS 46, JOPLIN 40
LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — Joplin fell into a double-digit hole by halftime and was unable to overcome it in a loss to Lee’s Summit on Thursday.
The Eagles (1-5) led by one after the first eight minutes before the Tigers (4-2) outscored joplin 17-4 in the second period to go into the locker room on top 23-11.
Joplin cut the deficit to 31-27 by the start of the fourth, but Lee’s Summit staved off the Eagles’ comeback bid down the stretch to preserve the win.
“Another instance in which we did enough defensively to give ourselves a chance to win the game,” first-yearJoplin coach Nick Pfeifer said. “A slow start and some costly turnovers down the stretch really hurt us. I am encouraged by the effort and the way we competed as a team, but we are still looking for guys to produce consistently on the offensive end.”
Whit Hafer led Joplin with 15 points, including four 3-pointers, while Collis Jones and Brecken Green each scored six in the loss. Trenton Gage and Cooper Williams each scored four.
Gatlin Brody had 14 and Jaylen Lockhart finished with 10 to lead Lee’s Summit in scoring.
Joplin hosts Kickapoo on Dec. 22.
LEE’S SUMMIT GIRLS 51, JOPLIN 26
LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — Lee’s Summit outscored Joplin 31-9 in the first half to build an insurmountable lead on the way to a win on Thursday.
The Eagles (1-6) won the third quarter 11-10 and lost the fourth quarter 10-6.
Adriana Benassi led the way for Lee’s Summit (7-1) with 18 points, while Avery Rausch and Ryann Arnold each scored nine in the win.
Alissa Owens and Ashley Phillips each scored seven points to lead Joplin, with Brylee Strickland closing the game with six in the loss.
Joplin takes part in the Waynesville Route 66 Shootout over the weekend.
NEVADA BOYS DROP A PAIR AT BUTLER TOURNEY
BUTLER, Mo. — After suffering losses on Tuesday and Thursday at the Butler Tournament, the Nevada boys basketball team will meet University Academy for seventh place at the event at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
On Thursday night, Butler defeated Nevada 53-48.
Butler led 24-20 at halftime and the Bears were up 40-34 at the end of the third quarter.
Nevada won the fourth quarter 14-13, but it wasn’t enough.
Jack Cheaney scored 22 points to lead the Tigers (3-5), while Brice Budd added 11 and Gabe Smith had six.
Carter Trumbore scored 24 points for Butler (6-2).
St. Michael the Archangel beat Nevada 61-41 on Tuesday.
The Tigers trailed 41-33 at the end of the third quarter, but were outscored 20-8 in the final frame.
Cheaney scored 14 points for the Tigers, while Budd added nine and Uche Mba had eight.
