ANDERSON, Mo. — Stellar guard play proved key as Carthage swept a non-conference prep basketball doubleheader from McDonald County on Thursday night.
Led by junior point guard Kianna Yates, the Carthage girls rolled to a 53-32 win over the Mustangs in the opener.
In the nightcap, Max Templeman and Joel Pugh propelled the Carthage boys to a convincing 66-43 win over the Mustangs.
CARTHAGE GIRLS 53, MCDONALD COUNTY 32
The Tigers scored the game’s first 12 points and never looked back.
“We exploded out of the gates with a 12-0 run to start the game,” Tigers coach Scott Moore said. “When we make baskets and get into our press package, we can hang some points on people. Our offense triggers our defense and we had some really good scoring runs tonight.”
The visitors failed to score in the final four minutes of the first period, but Carthage led 12-6 entering the second quarter.
The Tigers outscored the Mustangs 15-2 in the second quarter to take a comfortable 27-8 lead at the break.
“Our shots quit falling for a few minutes and allowed them back into the game,” Moore noted. “I’m immensely proud of our defense tonight, especially in the second quarter where we held them to just two points.”
Carthage was up 37-14 at the end of the third period en route to the lopsided win.
McDonald County outscored Carthage 18-16 in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers’ lead was never in jeopardy.
Carthage improved to 6-7 on the season.
Yates led Carthage with 22 points, with 11 in each half. Lauren Choate added 14 points with four treys for the Tigers, while Presley Probert chipped in seven points.
“It was good to get a lot of players major minutes tonight,” Moore said. “Kianna Yates is our constant catalyst every night. What we need is a consistent second and third scorer for us. Sometimes, that’s Sophie Shannon or Maggie Boyd. Tonight, freshman Lauren Choate found her groove and swished in four threes. She has that sniper mentality and she will become an even bigger threat as she gains more varsity experience.”
Addy Leach scored 11 points for the Mustangs and Samara Smith added nine.
Carthage will host Carl Junction on Tuesday in Central Ozark Conference action.
McDonald County (1-11) is at Reeds Spring on Monday.
CARTHAGE BOYS 66, MCDONALD COUNTY 43
Now receiving votes in the MBCA’s Class 6 poll, Carthage hiked its record to 10-2 with a solid road win.
Backcourt mates Templeman and Pugh combined to score 38 points for the Tigers. Templeman scored 20 points and Pugh added 18 points with four 3-pointers. Fellow guard Justin Ray added nine points for the visitors.
The Tigers used an early 12-0 run to take a 15-4 lead. By the end of the first quarter, Carthage held a 19-10 advantage.
A pair of hoops in transition from Templeman extended Carthage’s lead to 25-15.
Teddy Reedybacon, a 6-10 senior center, scored seven points in the second quarter to keep the Mustangs within striking distance.
But Britt Coy scored in the lane and Pugh drilled a 3-pointer just before the buzzer, giving Carthage a 30-18 halftime cushion. Pugh had 11 points in the opening half.
The Tigers began the second half on a 7-2 run to go up 17 at 37-20.
The Mustangs received treys from both Pierce Harmon and Cole Martin late in the third period, but the hosts trailed 50-33 entering the fourth quarter.
Templeman’s conventional 3-point play and five straight points from Pugh gave the Tigers a 58-33 lead early in the final frame.
Reedybacon scored 14 points to lead the Mustangs, who fell to 7-7 on the season. Also for the Mustangs, Eli McClain contributed seven points and Harmon had six.
Carthage will host Carl Junction on Tuesday in a COC ‘Super Night.’
McDonald County is at Providence Academy on Tuesday.
