NIXA, Mo. — Joplin dropped a Central Ozark Conference basketball doubleheader at Nixa on Saturday inside Eagle Fieldhouse.
Nixa’s girls finished strong to upend Joplin 63-36 before the Nixa boys rolled to an 83-50 win over Joplin in the day’s finale.
In Saturday’s other COC action, Carl Junction’s girls beat Willard 65-50, while Carthage’s girls and boys both suffered losses at Republic.
NIXA GIRLS 63, JOPLIN 36
Joplin stayed within striking distance for most of the game, but Nixa outscored Joplin 22-7 in the fourth quarter.
“In spite of way too many turnovers, we were able to play with Nixa through three quarters,” Joplin coach Luke Floyd told SoMo Sports. “Unfortunately, I felt like we quit in the fourth quarter. Our halfcourt defense was extremely good throughout the game, but when you have over 40 turnovers you aren’t going to beat anyone…especially teams as good as Nixa. I was extremely disappointed in how the girls finished the game. At some point they are going to have to realize that they are a good basketball team and then consistently play that way. We should be beyond the point of feeling sorry for ourselves and not competing.”
Joplin fell to 10-10 overall and 1-3 in the COC.
Brooke Nice scored 18 points and hit three 3-pointers to lead Joplin, while Ella Hafer added 12 points.
Macie Conway scored 28 points to lead Nixa. Ranked fourth in Class 6 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, Nixa improved to 17-4 overall and 4-0 in the COC.
Despite numerous early turnovers, Joplin only trailed by six at the end of the first quarter at 10-4.
Hoops from Emma Floyd and Nice cut Joplin’s deficit to three in the second quarter, but Nixa finished the first half on a 15-7 run to take a 27-16 lead at intermission.
Nice scored 10 of Joplin’s 13 points in the third quarter, but the visitors trailed 41-29 entering the fourth quarter.
A breakaway layup by Hafer cut Joplin’s deficit to 10 early in the final frame, but Nixa used a 10-3 run to pull away for good. Overall, the hosts closed the game on a 22-5 spurt.
Joplin hosts Ozark at 7:30 on Monday night. The Tigers are ranked eighth in Class 6.
NIXA BOYS 83, JOPLIN 50
Nixa’s boys showed why they’re ranked fourth in Class 6 by the MBCA. Nixa built a 22-point lead by halftime en route to a convincing COC win.
Joplin fell to 14-6 and 2-2 in the COC.
Always Wright scored 21 points to lead Joplin, while All Wright had 20 points. Both Wright brothers hit three 3-pointers.
Nixa improved to 18-3 and 4-0 in conference action.
Jaret Nelson scored 26 points for Nixa, while Kael Combs had 19 and Colin Ruffin added 16.
Nixa doubled up Joplin early at 18-9.
Brantley Morris drained a 3-pointer for the visitors, but Nixa’s Colten Berry scored inside just before the buzzer, giving the hosts a 20-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Nixa scored the first 11 points of the second quarter to take a 31-12 lead.
Joplin received free throws from All Wright and a hoop from Quin Renfro, but Nixa took a 38-18 lead after five points from Ruffin and a layup by Combs.
Always Wright hit a pair of jumpers late in the first half, but Nixa’s lead was 45-23 at the break.
Joplin put together a 10-2 run in the third period, but the visitors still trailed 64-39 heading into the fourth quarter. The final outcome was never in doubt during the final eight minutes.
Joplin hosts Ozark on Tuesday night.
CARL JUNCTION GIRLS 65, WILLARD 50
WILLARD, Mo. — The Carl Junction girls basketball team took control in the second quarter and pulled away further in the third period for a 65-50 win over Willard on Saturday in Central Ozark Conference action.
Carl Junction led 14-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Bulldogs then outscored the Tigers 16-9 in the second period to take a 30-17 lead at intermission.
Carl Junction won the third period 21-11 to go up 51-28 entering the fourth quarter.
With a fifth straight win, Carl Junction is now 16-5 overall and 3-1 in the COC.
Destiny Buerge poured in 31 points on 12 field goals and five free throws to lead the Bulldogs, while Kylie Scott added 20 points on nine buckets and two charities.
Brielle Adamson scored 18 points on six 3-pointers for the Tigers (11-11, 2-2 COC).
Carl Junction’s girls are at Webb City on Monday night.
Willard’s boys defeated Carl Junction 58-51. No other information on the game was available to SoMo Sports.
REPUBLIC GIRLS 76, CARTHAGE 44
REPUBLIC, Mo. — A slow start was too much to overcome for the Carthage girls basketball team.
Republic rode a big first quarter to a 76-44 win over Carthage on Saturday in Central Ozark Conference action.
In a clash between Tigers, Republic outscored Carthage 22-9 in the first period to take control.
Up 39-24 at halftime, the hosts outscored the visitors 18-9 in the third quarter to go up 57-33.
Kianna Yates scored 19 points to lead Carthage, while Lauren Choate added 12 points. Carthage slipped to 9-12 and 0-4 in the COC.
Missouri State recruit Kaemyn Bekemeier poured in 38 points for Republic (15-5, 4-0 COC), while Rilynn Finley added 13 for the Tigers, who are ranked 10th in Class 6.
Carthage is at Neosho on Monday.
REPUBLIC BOYS 57, CARTHAGE 40
REPUBLIC, Mo. — The third quarter proved crucial as Republic’s boys defeated Carthage 57-40 on Saturday.
Republic held a 25-20 lead at intermission, but the hosts outscored the visitors 22-9 in the game-changing third period to take a 47-29 advantage.
Carthage won the fourth period 11-10, but it was far from enough.
Carthage dropped to 15-5 overall and 1-3 in COC action.
Max Templeman scored 13 points to lead Carthage, while Joel Pugh added 12. Both players hit two treys. Clay Kinder added seven points for Carthage.
Republic is now 14-7 and 4-0 in the conference.
Avery Moody scored 15 points to lead Republic, while Devon McMillin had 13 and Ahlante Askew added 12.
Carthage travels to Neosho on Tuesday night.
