After leading for virtually the entire game, it took a pair of late three-pointers for the McDonald County Mustangs to overcome a fourth-quarter rally by the Webb City Cardinals in order to pull out a 41-39 win Saturday in the seventh place game of the Kaminsky Classic at Joplin High School.
Except for briefly in the second quarter, McDonald County led until Webb City started off the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run to turn a 33-27 deficit into a 36-33 lead.
Drew Harmon made one of two free throws to get the Mustangs to within 36-34 with 3:14 left in the game, but Webb City's Kaden Roy hit a short jumper to give the Cardinals a 38-34 lead.
On McDonald County's ensuing possession, senior guard Damian Monsalvo hit a three-pointer from the left side of the top of the key to get McDonald County to within 38-37 at the 1:50 mark. Webb City then played keep away until McDonald County fouled with 33.5 seconds left, sending Tayler Aterburn to the line for a one-and-one. Aterburn made the first, but missed the second, leaving Webb City with a 39-37 lead.
After a McDonald County timeout, Drew Harmon found a wide open Dagan Stites at the top of the key, Stites never hesitated and his three-point attempt hit nothing but net to give the Mustangs a 40-39 lead with 17 seconds left.
Webb City's Trey Gibson missed a 15-foot jumper with six seconds left before the Cardinals fouled Max Dill with .8 seconds left. Dill made the the first and missed the second, but Webb City's desperation shot at the buzzer was not close.
"Three games in three days is always a test of your team's toughness," said coach Trent Barratt. "I thought on the third day we came out and executed well. We played much better defensively and guys stepped up and made plays today."
None was bigger than the shot Stites made. Barratt said during the timeout, he told his kids if they had an open look at a three-pointer, to go ahead and take it.
"We tried to put more shooters on the floor at the end of the game," Barratt said. "If they double Drew (Harmon), we have people to spot up. Dagan Stites played a heck of a game for us today. He stepped up on the offensive end and was a sound defender. We were playing for the win. Why not. When your in the seventh place game there's no reason to play for anything else."
McDonald County started hot, scoring the game's first 10 points, including five by Austin Grotts. The Mustangs led 12-3 at the end of the first quarter, but Webb City began the second quarter with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 12-11. McDonald County didn't get on the scoreboard in the second quarter until Grotts hit a free throw with 3:55 left.
Webb City then hit back-to-back baskets to take its first lead of the game at 15-13 before a Stites free throw and a short jumper by Harmon beat the buzzer to give McDonald County a 16-15 edge at intermission.
After Webb City's Tyson Roderique hit a trey to open the second half, the Mustangs scored seven straight points for a 23-18 lead. McDonald County led 33-27 at the end of the third quarter.
Stites and Harmon each scored 12 points to lead McDonald County. Grotts finished with six points and Monsalvo five. Rounding out the scoring were Dill with four points and Kole Keith with two.
McDonald County falls to 6-7 overall, 1-1 in the Big 8 Conference. The Mustangs were at Southwest High School Jan. 12 in its only game of the week. McDonald County hosts Webb City Jan. 18 in what is only the Mustangs second home game of the season.
Jefferson City
McDonald County lost a 38-37 decision to Jefferson City Jan. 8 in the tournament's opening round. McDonald County had chances at the end for the win, but a blocked shot by Division I signee OG Anunoby sealed the Jays win.
McDonald County led 8-5 after one before Jefferson City tied the game at 22-22 at halftime. The Jays led 31-30 entering the final period.
"We did a good job guarding Anunoby (six points)," Barratt said. "Our defensive effort was outstanding against a good team. Offensively, we just could make the plays down the stretch."
Keith led the Mustangs with 12 points while Stites and Grotts each chipped in eight. Jake Wood added five points, Dill three and Harmon one to round out the scoring.
Wichita Life
Wichita Life Prep Academy defeated the Mustangs 65-61 Jan. 9 in the consolation bracket. Wichita outscored McDonald County 18-13 in the third quarter after trailing 29-27 at halftime.
"The game that we had scouted was not the same team we saw when we played," Barratt said. "They went 11 of 15 from the three-point line, but we didn't do a good enough job on the defensive end to get some stops."
Stites scored 17 points and Harmon and Dill each had 11 for the Mustangs. Rounding out the scoring were Grotts with eight points, Keith seven, Monsalvo five and Wood two.
Mount Vernon
A two point third quarter spelled disaster for the Mustangs in a 57-48 loss Jan. 6 at Mount Vernon in a Big 8 Conference contest.
McDonald County led 27-24 at halftime, but the Mountaineers used a 16-2 advantage in the third quarter to take control of the game.
Grotts scored 16 points and Harmon 12 to lead McDonald County while Dill had eight, Wood six, Keith four and Stites two to round out the scoring.
Sports on 01/15/2015