Sophomore Tanner Youngblood calmly stepped to the free throw line with 4.5 seconds left with the score tied and sank both free throw shots to give the East Newton Patriots a 60-58 win over the McDonald County Mustangs on Feb. 1 at East Newton High School.
Youngblood's charities spoiled a late McDonald County rally that saw the Mustangs overcome a 58-52 deficit in the final minute to forge a 58-58 tie. Boston Dowd's three-pointer with 1:12 left cut East Newton's lead to 58-55 before Cooper Reece's old-fashioned three-point play tied the score at 58-58 with 59.1 seconds left.
East Newton elected to hold the ball and go for one shot. The Patriots' Connor Killion's baseline jumper was off the mark, but Youngblood gathered up the rebound and was fouled on his attempted put back.
Following Youngblood's free throws, McDonald County got a good look at a chance for a tie, but Dowd's pressure layup rolled off the rim as the buzzer sounded.
East Newton hit three of their seven three-pointers on the night in the first quarter to jump out to a 15-11 lead. The Patriots led 29-23 at halftime and stretched the margin to 47-38 by scoring the last seven points of the third quarter.
Reece finished with 22 points and Dowd added 15 to lead the Mustangs. Rounding out the scoring for McDonald County were Pierce Harmon with 12 and Trent Alik with nine.
Lucas Kimbrough led four Patriots in double figures with 13 points while Davis Turner and Killion had 11 each and Youngblood had 10.
McDonald County claimed a 48-28 win in the junior varsity game, after jumping out to a 13-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Koby McClain and Cole Martin scored 11 points each to lead McDonald County followed by Harmon with eight points, Jackson Clarkson, Cale Adamson, Irael Marcos and Nevin Price four each and Parker Harris two.
East Newton added a 42-28 win in the freshman game, outscoring the Mustangs 27-8 in the second half.
McDonald County was led by Bo Leach and Garrett Gricks with six points each followed by Colton Ruddick with five points, Teddy Reedybacon and Matthew Mora four each and Kobe Montes with three.
McDonald County falls to 4-15 entering its Feb. 8 game at Nevada. Games begin at 4:30 p.m.
Strafford
Strafford made four three-pointers in a 29-point second quarter to key the Indians to a 75-42 win on Jan. 29 at Strafford High School.
Strafford led 17-9 at the end of the first period and then used its big second quarter to take a 46-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Reece scored 31 of the Mustangs' 42 points followed by Martin with three points and McAlister, Harmon, Alik and Saul Garcia with two each.
Strafford claimed a 61-50 win in the junior varsity game, outscoring McDonald County 23-10 in the fourth quarter.
McAlister led McDonald County with 14 points. Rounding out the scoring for the Mustangs were Clarkson with nine points, Ben Mora and Colliar Gottfried with six each, Adamson and Harris five each, Harmon three and Irael Marcos two.
Sports on 02/07/2019