Area squads suffered conference setbacks on Friday night. Below is tonight’s roundup.
REPUBLIC BOYS 69, JOPLIN 67
REPUBLIC, Mo. — A last-second heave was off the mark, and Joplin’s upset bid fell just short, as Republic stayed undefeated in Central Ozark Conference play with a hard-fought 69-67 boys basketball win over the Eagles on Friday night.
Republic is now 20-2 and 6-0 in the COC, while Joplin is 11-9 overall and 2-3 in the COC.
All Wright scored 28 points to lead Joplin, while Dante Washington added 15.
Drew McMillin poured in 39 points for the Tigers, while Ahlante Askew added 10.
Republic scored the first eight points of the game, but the Eagles used a 7-1 run to pull within two.
A last-second midrange jumper by McMillin gave Republic an 11-7 lead at the end of the opening frame.
All Wright’s 3-pointer tied the game at 16. The Tigers went up by eight at 27-19, but the Eagles closed the first half on a 10-2 run.
During the spurt, Joplin received a pair of treys from Washington and hoops from Dominick Simmons and All Wright.
The game was tied at 29 at intermission. Joplin played a large part of the second quarter without Always Wright, who picked up four fouls in the first half.
Joplin briefly took the lead early in the third period, but Republic used a 12-0 surge to pull ahead at 41-31.
The Eagles responded with eight straight points on treys from Simmons and Washington and two free throws from All Wright.
Republic led 49-44 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Eagles stayed within striking distance the rest of the way, as All Wright’s two free throws trimmed Joplin’s deficit to two with 41 seconds to play.
The Tigers turned the ball over, but the Eagles could not take advantage, as the visitors missed a shot in the lane and then turned the ball over with 20 seconds remaining.
Republic’s Askew hit two free throws with 11 seconds left to make it a two-possession game.
LT Atherton’s hoop in the paint with 3.4 seconds remaining once again cut Republic’s lead to two.
The Eagles had to foul, and Republic’s McMillin missed both free throws, but Joplin’s desperation shot at the buzzer was off the mark.
Joplin hosts Carl Junction at 7:30 on Tuesday night, weather permitting.
REPUBLIC GIRLS 72, JOPLIN 22
REPUBLIC, Mo. — Forcing the Eagles into a number of early turnovers with their full-court press, the Tigers jumped out to a 28-6 lead by the end of the first period en route to a lopsided COC win.
“We got absolutely dominated by a very good Republic team,” Joplin coach Luke Floyd said. “They are very well-coached and talented. I felt that our girls came out flat and with no energy. I was very disappointed in our effort. At some point, we have to change the way we play if we expect different results. We have to get better all around to not only compete the rest of this season, but in the future as well.”
Republic held a 30-point lead with five minutes left in the second quarter, and the Tigers led 50-10 at the break.
Kaemyn Bekemeier scored 14 in the first quarter and had 20 in the first half for the Tigers, who are receiving votes in the Class 6 poll.
The Tigers took a 63-18 lead into the fourth quarter.
Republic had 10 different players score in the game, led by Bekemeier’s 20 points.
Emma Floyd scored six points to lead Joplin, while Brynn Driver had four.
Joplin is scheduled to host Carl Junction at 6 on Tuesday night.
WILLARD GIRLS 60, CARTHAGE 43
WILLARD, Mo. — Taking control early, Willard hit 10 3-pointers in the first half, with seven in the opening frame alone.
“Willard shot the lights out in the first half and we couldn’t match their firepower,” Carthage coach Scott Moore said. “I’m really proud of how the girls battled in the second half. We played much more composed in the final 16 minutes of the game.”
Ranked first in Class 5 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, Willard improved to 18-1 overall and 5-0 in the Central Ozark Conference.
Carthage fell to 11-9 and 1-4 in the COC.
With four early treys, Willard took a 12-2 lead. The hosts were up 27-15 at the end of the first quarter and 45-24 at the half.
Carthage won the third period 14-10, but the visitors trailed 55-38 at the end of the third quarter. Willard’s lead was never in doubt in the fourth period.
Brielle Adamson scored 14 points to lead Willard, while Ariana Patillo had nine. Both players hit three treys apiece.
Brinna Ream scored 14 points to lead Carthage, while Hailey Fullerton and Landry Cochran added nine points apiece.
Carthage hosts Neosho at 5:30 on Saturday.
WILLARD BOYS 73, CARTHAGE 61
WILLARD, Mo. — The host Tigers knocked off the visiting Tigers to secure a COC win.
Willard hiked its record to 8-14 and 2-4 in the COC, while Carthage slipped to 6-15 and 0-5 in the COC.
The game was deadlocked at 15 at the end of the opening frame, but Willard used a strong second quarter to take a 36-27 lead at the break.
The two teams traded runs in the third period, and the hosts took a 54-46 lead into the final frame. Willard outscored Carthage 19-15 in the fourth quarter.
Max Templeman scored 26 points for Carthage, while Justin Ray added 13.
Hayden Brown scored 23 points for Willard and Trey Pulford had 18.
Carthage hosts Neosho at 7 on Saturday night.
NIXA BOYS 81, WEBB CITY 60
NIXA, Mo. — Ranked fourth in Class 6, Nixa hiked its record to 19-3 overall and 5-0 in the COC.
Ranked 10th in Class 5, Webb City fell to 14-7 overall and 2-3 in the COC.
Nixa led 9-8 at the end of the low-scoring first quarter, but the Eagles pulled away in the second period with a 13-0 run, eventually taking a 33-18 lead into the break.
Nixa led 57-36 at the end of the third quarter en route to victory.
Nickhai Howard scored 26 points to lead Webb City and Cohl Vaden added 16 points.
Nixa’s Kaleb Wofford scored 24 points on eight 3-pointers.
Webb City hosts Carl Junction at 6 on Saturday night.
BRANSON GIRLS 45, NEOSHO 39
BRANSON, Mo. — The Wildcats fell short in a COC road game.
The Wildcats slipped to 9-9 overall and 0-4 in the COC. Branson is 4-15 and 2-3 in the COC.
Neosho’s Reagan McInturff scored nine points, Michelle Lindsay and Karlee Ellick added eight points apiece and Olivia Hixson added seven.
OZARK BOYS 78, CARL JUNCTION 38
Ozark improved to 15-7 and 4-1 in the COC. Carl Junction fell to 4-16 and 1-4 in the COC.
Alex Baker scored 17 for the Bulldogs.
