Austin Grotts' short jumper with 55 seconds left before halftime gave the McDonald County Mustangs the lead for good in their 63-54 win Feb. 19 at MCHS. The game was originally scheduled for Feb. 16, but was postponed due to weather.
"It was a physical game and I thought we came out and matched the physicality they brought,"said coach Trent Barratt. "It was a good team win. I am proud of the kids of how they played. Lamar played a man-to-man in the first half and went to a triangle and two in the second half. We got some shooters in the game and they hit some shots, but the difference in the game was our defense."
McDonald County jumped out to a quick 9-4 lead before Lamar's Ben Kluhsman hit a three-pointer and a short jumper to tie the game. But Dagan Stites scored seven points in the final 2:45 of the first quarter to give the Mustangs a 20-16 lead at the end of the period despite a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Brett McDonald.
Lamar tied the game at 26-26 and 28-28 in the second quarter before Grotts' put the Mustangs ahead for good at 30-28 with 55 seconds left before halftime. Daton Aubrey added a pair of free throws to give the Mustangs a 32-28, but Lamar's Johnny Brooks hit another trey at the buzzer to cut the lead to 32-31 at intermission.
McDonald County's Drew Harmon opened the second half with a three-pointer, but Lamar's Tripp Tucker answered on the Tigers' ensuing possession. Aubrey gave McDonald County a 38-34 lead with an old-fashioned three point play before Harmon hit his second trey of the quarter. Aubrey followed with a short jumped and free throw before a basket by Max Dill gave McDonald County a 46-36 lead late in the quarter.
Lamar closed out the third quarter with six consecutive points to cut the margin to 46-42 entering the fourth quarter. Aubrey hit a jumper and Max Dill added a three-pointer to give the Mustangs a 51-43 lead early in the final stanza. Harmon made a layup, Aubrey hit a trey and Dill then stole the inbounds pass and scored to put the Mustangs up 58-48.
The Tigers got no closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Aubrey finished with 19 points, Harmon 17 and Dill 11 to lead the Mustangs. Rounding out the scoring for McDonald County were Stites with seven, Grotts four, Jake Wood three and Damian Monsalvo two.
Tucker scored 14 points and Trenton Mooney added 12 to lead Lamar.
McDonald County improves to 14-9 overall, 5-1 in the Big 8 conference, heading into the final week of the regular season. The Mustangs traveled to Aurora on Feb. 24 before returning home to face Carl Junction on Feb. 26.
Sports on 02/26/2015