ANDERSON, Mo. — A lack of defensive stops doomed the Carl Junction boys basketball team in Monday’s 89-70 loss to McDonald County.
Up six at the break, the Mustangs erupted for 33 points in the key third quarter to pull away for good.
“We didn’t get out and guard,” Carl Junction coach Justin Pock said of the third quarter swing. “They got the ball inside and we didn’t put up much resistance. I didn’t think our defensive effort was there tonight. Giving up 89 points is way too many.”
“All year we’ve struggled in the middle two quarters,” McDonald County coach Brandon Joines said. “Tonight, we knew it was a new year and we had to be a new team. We wanted to play four quarters of basketball and we finally did. We put it together. Our kids stepped up and played their game. I’m proud of that one.”
Senior guard Sincere Williams led Carl Junction with 20 points, while classmate Isaiah Hefner added 10 on three treys and a free throw.
Three others scored nine points for Carl Junction—Alex Baker, Kyler Perry and Jaden Cherry. The Bulldogs went 8-of-19 at the foul line.
Five players scored in double figures for the Mustangs, who were able to pound the ball inside again and again.
Pierce Harmon and Teddy Reedybacon scored 18 points apiece to lead McDonald County, while Cross Dowd added 15 points. Eli McClain scored 13 points and Garrett Gricks added 12.
Harmon and Dowd buried three treys apiece, while Cole Martin hit two 3-pointers.
“Tonight they worked hard and they earned it,” Joines said of his team’s effort. “Offensively, our post players put up over 40 points and our guards put up over 40 points. That is a solid team effort in my opinion. If we play like that, we’re going to be tough to play. We just have to do it consistently.”
McDonald County led 16-12 at the end of the back and forth first quarter.
The Bulldogs put together a 10-0 burst in the second quarter and the non-conference clash was deadlocked at 31.
But the Mustangs finished the first half on a 7-1 run, with Dowd scoring all seven points.
The fired-up Mustangs got going in a big way in the third quarter, putting up 33 points to take a comfortable 71-55 lead into the fourth quarter.
During the third period, the hosts were able to get out in transition, get shots at point-blank range and also created turnovers.
“We had a lot of offensive opportunities, but we turned it over too much and gave it right back to them,” Pock said.
A 9-2 surge pushed McDonald County’s lead to 20 at 67-47. Hefner hit two 3-pointers late in the third period for CJ, but the Bulldogs still trailed by 16.
The final frame was nearly even, but the big deficit was too much to overcome for the Bulldogs.
Pock noted his team continued to play hard until the final horn.
“Our guys will always play hard,” Pock said. “I haven’t seen them give up at all. Our guys don’t put their heads down. They fight through. That’s what we have to continue to do.”
The Bulldogs will take on the host Joplin Eagles at 7:30 on Wednesday night at the Kaminsky Classic. McDonald County hosts Monett on Friday.
