An overflow crowd at McDonald County High School was rewarded Friday night when the Mustangs overcame a stubborn Neosho Wildcat team in the fourth quarter for a 57-54 homecoming win.
"You can't beat the atmosphere here at home at McDonald County High School," said coach Trent Barratt. "Both team's crowds were into it. Neosho came and played lights out in the first half. I was just really proud of how our seniors responded and came up with a big win in the second half."
White-hot Neosho scored the game's first eight points in under two minutes on the way to building a 19-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. Neosho's Connor Johnson scored the Wildcat's final 14 points of the first quarter, nine of those coming on three-pointers.
"We knew they had shooters," Barratt said. "We know Connor Johnson can hit the threes. Offensively they executed really well and defensively we weren't very tough in the first half. We got back to toughness and got some big stops in the second half."
The Wildcats kept the margin to near double figures throughout the second period before the Mustangs scored 9 of the quarter's final 11 points, including the final five of the half to cut the margin to 27-25 at intermission.
McDonald County got to within one early in the third quarter, but Neosho stretched the lead to 47-40 late in the period before Drew Harmon hit a jumper to bring the Mustangs to within five points at the end of the third quarter.
It took less than a minute into the fourth quarter for McDonald County to overcome the Wildcat's lead. Max Dill and Dagan Stites hit consecutive three-pointers to give McDonald County its first lead of the night at 48-47 with 7:03 left in the game.
Kole Keith's offensive rebound and follow stretched the lead to three, but Werneke's second trey of the second half tied the game at 50-50 with 4:21 left. Daton Aubrey scored the Mustangs' second consecutive basket off an offensive rebound to put McDonald County back on top, but Neosho's Coleman Scott hit a wide-open layup to tie the game at 52-52 with 2:30 remaining.
Dill's basket with 2:11 left gave the Mustangs the lead for good as the defense held the Wildcat's scoreless on its next three possessions while McDonald County hit three of five free throws down the stretch to seal the win. Neosho scored a meaningless basket at the buzzer to make the final score 57-54.
"I was just really proud of how the guys responded after a team came in here and gave us one of their best shots," Barratt said. "A lot of guys stepped up and hit crucial shots, but Kole Keith came up with huge play after huge play."
Aubrey led four Mustangs in double figures with 17 points. Keith added 14 points while Harmon and Dill finished with 10 each and Stites had six to round out the scoring for McDonald County.
Johnson finished with 20 points to lead the Wildcats while Werneke had 14.
"I tell the guys all the time we are blessed to have such a great community behind us to go with a great student section," Barratt said. "We always have good home crowds and we hope that continues because we are going to continue working hard to keep putting a good product on the floor."
Aubrey was crowned king and Esmeralda Guerra was crowned queen of the Mustangs' 2016 homecoming in ceremonies prior to the game.
McDonald County improves to 15-5 overall, 3-0 in the Big 8 Conference, heading into its Feb. 2 game at Cassville. The Mustangs travel to East Newton on Feb. 5.
Neosho won the junior varsity by a 42-33 score. The Wildcats stretched a 19-17 lead at halftime to a 33-22 advantage after three quarters to pull away for the win.
Peyton Barton scored 11 points to lead McDonald County. Rounding out the scoring were Noah Jones and Rustin Lett with six points each, Brandon McAdams with five, Devon Aubrey and Grant Cooper with two each and Cooper Reece with one.
Seneca
McDonald County remained unbeaten in the Big 8 Conference by picking up its third win against no losses with a 48-36 win on Jan. 28 at Seneca High School.
McDonald County took a 10-5 lead at the end of the first and maintained a 20-14 lead at intermission. Seneca cut the margin to 34-29 entering the fourth quarter before McDonald County outscored the Indians 14-7 in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Harmon scored 16 points while Stites, Keith and Aubrey all had nine and Dill five to account for the Mustang scoring.
Zach Dunnam scored 16 points and Cameron Brattin had 12 to lead Seneca.
McDonald County added a 44-24 win in the junior varsity contest. Seneca took a 5-3 after the first quarter, but McDonald County came back to take a 17-9 lead at halftime and stretched the margin to 28-15 entering the fourth quarter.
Reece scored 13 points to lead the Mustangs. Rounding out the scoring for McDonald County were Lett with seven points, Jones and Barton with five each, McAdams and Cooper four each and Cole DelosSantos and Devon Aubrey three each.
Carthage
McDonald County rallied from a six-point deficit with under five minutes left to pull out a 54-51 win over Carthage on Jan. 26 at MCHS.
"We are two opponents that know each other really well," Barratt said. "We were fortunate to get the win. Carthage really played at a high level tonight. They out-executed us for most of the game, but we were able to get stops and score enough at the end of the game."
Carthage jumped out to an early 7-2 lead before McDonald County scored 10 straight points to take a 12-7 lead midway through the period, but Carthage scored the final five points of the quarter to tie the game at 12-12.
Carthage took a 18-14 lead midway through the second quarter, but the Mustangs scored the final six points of the first half for a 20-18 lead at intermission.
The teams traded baskets throughout the third quarter with McDonald County taking a 33-32 lead entering the fourth quarter.
McDonald County stretched the lead to 40-35 to start the fourth quarter, but Carthage rallied to take a 47-41 advantage with 4:40 left in the game.
Keith began the rally with a short jumper before Harmon hit a pair of free throws and Aubrey made one of two charities and added a three-pointer to give the Mustangs a 49-47 lead with 2:28 left. Harmon hit one of two free throws with 1:35 and 48 seconds left before Keith clinched the win with a layup with 26 seconds remaining.
Harmon scored 18 points and Keith 16 to lead McDonald County. Rounding out the scoring for the Mustangs were Aubrey with 12 points, Dill with five and Stites with 3.
Alex Derryberry scored 17 points to top Carthage.
McDonald County claimed a 46-41 win in the junior varsity game.
Barton scored 13 points and Jones 12 to lead McDonald County. Rounding out the score were Devon Aubrey with seven points, Cooper with five, DelosSantos four, Sergio Dozal three and Reece two.
Carthage took a 48-37 decision in the freshman game. Blake Gravette led the Mustangs with 14 points. Dillon Aubrey added eight points, Zack Woods had seven, Boston Dowd six and Kirby Townsend two to round out the scoring.
Sports on 02/04/2016