The Joplin girls muddied the waters in the first quarter with a strong defensive effort before Carl Junction found its footing offensively in the second quarter, taking the momentum and never looking back in a 64-23 win in Central Ozark Conference action on Wednesday.
The Class 5 top-ranked Bulldogs (19-1, 3-0 COC) held an 8-5 lead after the first quarter before outscoring the Eagles (3-15, 0-3 COC) 21-12 in the second period to take a double-digit lead into the intermission. Carl Junction scored the final 21 points of the third quarter to force a running clock in the fourth quarter.
“I told the girls that we were getting some pretty good shots early, we were just missing them,” Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter said. “But that is what Joplin does to you. They play so hard defensively and get after you. Once some shots started to fall, we got some turnovers to get some quick, easy buckets and were able to stretch it out. We played more of our game after the first quarter, really.”
GAME ACTION
The Eagles used a staunch defensive effort in the opening eight minutes of action to trail just 8-5 heading into the second period. Carl Junction started to find life offensively in the second quarter and began to separate itself leading into the intermission.
The Bulldogs limited Joplin to three field goals in the second quarter, using a 15-4 run to build a 23-9 lead with 3:07 to play in the first half. Klohe Burk had a 3-pointer, while Destiny Buerge accounted for 10 points.
After Joplin got an inside score and a 3-pointer from Bailey Ledford, Carl Junction closed out the first half with baskets from Burk, Hali Shorter and Kylie Scott to go into the locker room with a 29-14 advantage.
Carl Junction put the game away in the third quarter, building a 36-18 lead thanks to three field goals and a free throw from Scott before going on a 21-0 run to close out the period with a 57-18 cushion and a running clock to start the fourth. Scott had nine points in the period to lead the Bulldogs, while Destiny Buerge and DeShaye Buerge each had six in the run. Burk finished with four, with Jadyn Howard adding three entering the final eight minutes of action.
“I thought we were moving the ball really well,” Shorter said of the third-quarter effort. “We came out and got some good, quality shots and the kids kind of locked in a little bit, focus-wise. We took care of the basketball much better, too.”
SCORING LEADERS
Destiny Buerge had a game-high 21 points, while Scott finished right behind with 20 points for Carl Junction. Burk closed the win out with nine points.
Joplin’s Izzy Yust had eight points, while Ledford finished with five to lead the Eagles in scoring.
UP NEXT
Carl Junction is at Willard on Friday.
Joplin is at Nixa on Thursday.
