Joplin Surges Doom Mustangs In Opener

RICK PECK SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS Peyton Barton (right) sets a screen on Joplin's Evan Guillory to allow Cooper Reece to drive to the basket during the Eagles' 56-47 win on Monday night at MCHS.
RICK PECK SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS Peyton Barton (right) sets a screen on Joplin's Evan Guillory to allow Cooper Reece to drive to the basket during the Eagles' 56-47 win on Monday night at MCHS.

Joplin used a 27-2 run midway through the first half and a 10-0 spurt to start the fourth quarter to spoil the McDonald County Mustangs 2017-2018 season opener by claiming a 56-47 win on Monday night at MCHS.

"I thought we played hard tonight, especially in the second half," said McDonald County coach Kyle Fields. "I thought we really got after it in the second half. The first half we got in foul trouble and had a hard time finding shots. Our offense wasn't very good tonight at all."

McDonald County jumped out to a 10-7 lead midway through the first period before foul trouble helped Joplin outscore the Mustangs, 27-2, over the next nine minutes. McDonald County lost 6-5 Cooper Reece in the first quarter with two early fouls. Then, leading scorer Blake Gravette went out with three fouls early in the second period.

Reece scored the game's first basket off an offensive rebound before Gravette hit back-to-back three-pointers to spark McDonald County to a 10-7 lead. But a basket by Cole DelosSantos' midway in the second quarter was the only points in the quarter other than three late free throws by Peyton Barton to end the half.

Joplin closed out the first quarter with nine consecutive points for a 16-10 lead before the Eagles used a 14-5 advantage in the second quarter to take a 30-15 lead at intermission.

"Their pressure kind of overwhelmed us," Fields said. "They are very athletic. They are really quick and play full court in your face defense. We haven't seen that at practice, but we got tougher tonight."

The first half was highlighted by a dunk by Joplin's Evan Guillory while being fouled by McDonald County's Cade Smith. Guillory was then assessed a technical for taunting Smith after he was fouled.

On Joplin's next possession, Barton was called for an intentional foul as he attempted to stop Joplin's Austin Higdon from recording the Eagles' second dunk.

Joplin stretched its lead to 32-15 to open the third quarter, but McDonald County answered with 10 consecutive points, including eight straight by Gravette. After Joplin scored to take a 34-25 lead, Boston Dowd and Reece hit treys before Barton banked in a layup at the buzzer to end the third quarter with the Mustangs trailing, 36-33.

Joplin took control of the game in the fourth quarter with a 10-run start. McDonald County closed to 49-42 with three minutes left, but the Eagles hit seven free throws down the stretch to come away with a 56-47 win.

"We gave ourselves a chance late when we cut the lead to three going into the fourth period," Fields said. "We just couldn't get over the hump. I was proud of the way the kids battled back."

Gravette finished with 18 points, including four three-pointers, and Reece added 10 to lead McDonald County. Dowd and DelosSantos chipped in six points each, while Barton had five and Tim Shields had two.

Guillory led the Eagles with 17 points.

Joplin claimed a 48-29 win in the junior varsity game. Smith led the Mustangs with 12 points, followed by Ben Mora, Colliar Gottfried and Tae-Shaun Alik with four points each. Kirby Townsend had three and Dylan Allison two.

Joplin made it a three-game sweep with a 45-31 win in the freshman game. Trayce McCool led McDonald County with 12 points. Rounding out the scoring for the Mustangs were Logan Renner and Jackson Clarkson with six points each, Kaiden Campbell, Irael Marcos and Parker Harris with two each and Grayson Farris with one.

McDonald County's next game is in the opening round of the 71st Annual Carthage Invitational against these same Joplin Eagles. The teams square off for the second time at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 27, at Carthage High School.

Sports on 11/23/2017