Tiger Boys Overcome Ice Cold 3rd, Down Stanberry

Worth County's boys struggled through an ice cold 3rd quarter, allowed 17 offensive boards to Stanberry, and still found a way to beat them 53-45 last Tuesday to down the Bulldogs for the second time this year. Stanberry had quite a bit of size with Kevin Luke and several other players from 6'2" to 6'4" with Worth County not having anyone over six feet. Stanberry had plenty of speed as well. But once again, Stanberry came off the court shaking their heads over having lost to the squirts for Worth County.

It looked like it would be a different outcome this time as Stanberry sought to avenge their loss on their homecourt to Worth County as they got five offensive boards in the first three minutes of the game and Kevin Luke went off on Worth County, getting six of their nine points on putbacks. Tyler McQuinn added a steal and 3-point play and Worth County was down 9-2 right off the bat. Todd Harding then picked up his second foul as Trevor Johnson hit two free throws to make it 11-4. But Todd stayed in the game and caught a skip pass to make it 11-9 at the 3:34 mark as Worth County suddenly caught fire. Harding then hit a reverse layup after getting a backdoor pass from Wyatt McClain and then Bryce Ross, who had not scored yet, scored off an inbounds play to put Worth County in front for the first time at 16-15. Then, Eli Mullock knocked out a loose ball out to Alex Harmening who threw it to Ross for a layup; Alex threw another pass to Ross as Worth County went up 20-15.

Stanberry fought back as they used a baseline shot and an inside shot from Nathan Luke as well as an inside shot from Trevor Johnson and a fast break from Tyler McQuinn to go back up 23-20. Todd Harding picked up his third foul, but Brian Hall got a putback to break the run and Worth County fought back without Harding to go back in front as Bryce Ross was fouled on a jump shot and hit two free throws and later took an offensive board away from two defenders to convert a 3-point play to put Worth County up 27-25. Free throws from Bryce Ross, Alex Harmening following a steal, and Brian Hall put Worth County up 32-27 at the break. The Tigers played the last 2:40 without either Bryce Ross (resting) or Todd Harding (foul trouble), yet they led thanks to the strong play of Brian Hall, who got nine boards in the first half and took a charge on defense.

But then Worth County went ice cold in the third quarter and they didn't have an answer for Kevin Luke, who had six points in the period as Stanberry was racking up the second chance points while Worth County was one and done on their end. Brad Stoll added a bucket and Cole Bremer got a 3-point play as Stanberry went up 38-34 after three quarters. The only points Worth County managed were a fast break from Eli Mullock in the period.

The Tigers continued to shoot cold for the first minute and a half of the fourth quarter, but they were able to do a better job of keeping Stanberry off the boards. Finally, Alex Harmening hit s 3-pointer from the right wing and then Bryce Ross got a putback to put Worth County back in front 39-38. Kevin Luke scored from inside with 4:20 left and Stanberry got a stop on defense, but Alex Harmening jumped a pass and went in for a layup to make it 41-40 with 3:34 left. Cole Bremer's free throw tied it up with 2:52 left and Alex Harmening was called for a foul away from the ball with 2:40, giving Stanberry a chance to take the lead again but then Jordan Harding got a steal in the post as Stanberry tried to get it inside and that led to a driving layup from Bryce Ross to make it 43-41. Eli Mullock fouled on the press and Stanberry had a chance to tie with two free throws, but Tyler McQuinn missed the front end of a one and one and then Kevin Luke picked up his fifth foul jumping over Bryce Ross' back on a rebounding situation. Jordan Harding then channeled Kareem as his hook shot over the taller Stanberry players made it a two possession game with 1:33 left.

Stanberry missed on the offensive end and with the Bulldogs trying to press and get the ball back, Alex Harmening, knowing Tyler McQuinn had four fouls, ran him over when he was not set for his fifth. Jordan Harding then hit a 3-point play off an inbounds play as he went up strong and drew the foul to make it 48-41 with 55.2 seconds left. Eli Mullock picked up his fifth foul trying to jump a pass on the press but Stanberry missed the front end of a one and one as well as two putback tries and Bryce Ross hit two free throws with 48.8 seconds left to make it 50-41 as Stanberry had to foul. Stanberry got a free throw with 36 seconds left and a 3-pointer with 10.6 seconds left to make it 51-45 as Worth County started missing free throws, but then Todd Harding hit two with 7.9 seconds left for the win.