WEBB CITY, Mo. — Webb City’s boys and girls basketball teams began the 2022 portion of their schedules with convincing non-conference victories on Tuesday night inside the Cardinal Dome.
Ignited by a fast start, Webb City’s boys rolled past McDonald County 84-53 in the nightcap.
In the opener, the Webb City girls handled Nevada 54-37.
WEBB CITY BOYS 84, MAC COUNTY 53
The Cardinals led from start to finish and built a 20-point cushion by halftime en route to the lopsided victory.
Webb City coach Jason Horn noted he was pleased with his team’s intensity on defense.
“I thought we were a step quicker to the ball defensively,” Horn said. “We were in the passing lanes and our on-ball defense was really good. We weren’t picking up cheap fouls. We’ve made progress as a team with our on-ball defense and I’m really proud of how we guarded. We had good help-side defense and made it tough for them to score. (Cross) Dowd and (Cole) Martin are elite shooters. I thought our guys did a good job of limiting their clean looks.”
In a clash between district opponents, Webb City stormed out of the gates, leading 11-3.
The hosts were up 20-13 at the end of the first quarter and the Cardinals separated for good in the game-changing second quarter.
Webb City outscored McDonald County 20-7 in the second period to take a comfortable 40-20 lead at the break. Webb City junior guard Dante Washington had 18 points in the first half.
The Cardinals began the second half in a big way, as Trey Roets threw down a breakaway dunk before Kaden Turner hammered home a slam after catching an alley-oop from Washington.
The Cardinals won the third period 25-15 and held a commanding 65-35 lead entering the final frame.
Both teams got their subs plenty of action in the fourth quarter. Webb City’s Barron Duda came off the bench and scored 14 points with four treys in the final period.
Washington finished with a game-high 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting. Turner made 6-of-11 shots for 14 points, while Roets and Cohl Vaden contributed nine points apiece.
A senior guard, Vaden handed out seven assists. Turner had 12 rebounds, while Roets added 11 boards.
The Cardinals made 49 percent of their field goal attempts (33-of-67). Webb City hit 11 3-pointers and out-rebounded the Mustangs 41-26.
“When we rebound like we did tonight it really helps us get out in transition,” Horn said. “And our guys share the ball really well. When we’re out in transition, we’re a load to stay in front of.”
McDonald County (7-6) made 21-of-55 shots (38 percent), but went just 4-of-19 from behind the arc.
Eli McClain scored 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting to lead the Mustangs, who were coming off an 85-50 win over Carl Junction. Martin and Sterling Woods added nine points apiece for McDonald County.
Webb City (7-2) begins play at Joplin High School’s Kaminsky Classic at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday against Poplar Bluff.
“We’re excited to play Poplar Bluff,” Horn said. “They’re a team we haven’t played since I’ve been here. I think it will be a good matchup and a good test for us.”
WEBB CITY GIRLS 54, NEVADA 37
With a solid overall performance, Webb City’s girls evened their record at 5-5 after a third straight win.
“Overall, I’m pleased with our effort, especially for our first game back,” Webb City coach Lance Robbins said. “We saw some positive things to build on. Offensively, I thought we had a nice inside-outside game. Nevada’s a very good basketball team. Those two guards (Clara) Swearingen and (Maddy) Majors are a handful. They both score the ball really well and we knew that coming in. I thought we did a pretty good job defensively. We lost them a few times, but I thought we were able to guard them pretty well.”
In what could be called a coming out party, Webb City freshman post player Sami Mancini scored a career-high 24 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds. The 6-4 Mancini made 12-of-18 shot attempts and also had three assists.
“I think we saw her grow up tonight,” Robbins said. “I thought she did a great job. We’ve changed up some things we’re doing offensively and I think she’s more comfortable on the floor.”
Also for the Cardinals, senior Kenzie Robbins scored nine points on three treys, junior Kate Brownfield scored six points, sophomore Malorie Stanley contributed five points and junior Izzy Lopez chipped in four.
The Cardinals made 49 percent of their shots (24-of-49).
“Our guards shot the ball well from the perimeter,” Robbins said. “We have a lot of different kids who can have a good night offensively. And it’s nice to have everybody back and everybody healthy. That’s really helped our depth and that makes us better in practice.”
A sophomore guard, Swearingen scored 19 points and hit four 3-pointers to lead Nevada, while junior guard Majors added 10 points. The Tigers (7-3) made 11-of-47 field goal attempts (23 percent).
In their first action since Dec. 20, the Cardinals put together a 17-2 run in the first half that allowed them to pull away for good.
Converting in the paint again and again, Mancini scored 10 of Webb City’s 13 points in the opening period.
The Cardinals received two 3-pointers from Kenzie Robbins and another from Stanley in the second quarter before points from Lopez and Brownfield gave Webb City a 32-17 halftime advantage.
Hoops from Mancini, Austyn Mickey and Kirra Long pushed Webb City’s lead to 20 at 44-24 in the third quarter. That lead was never in jeopardy in the fourth period.
Webb City (5-5) hosts Logan-Rogersville on Thursday night.
