The Tigers jumped out on Jefferson early and led by as much as 21-8 in the second quarter. The game started out as a tight defensive struggle in the first quarter, with Jefferson making a concerted effort to lob it into prize center Caden Farnan, and Worth County countering with a pair of free throws and an inside shot from Mason Hawk to lead 7-4. Towards the end of the period, Caleb Parman scored off a backdoor look and drew a foul for a chance at a three-point play. He missed, but Cade Allee was there for the putback to make it 11-4 after one.
Isaac Alarcon got the hot hand for Worth County in the second, knocking down a couple of 3-pointers as Worth County extended its lead to 21-8 at the 5:25 mark. But Jefferson was not going to stay down forever; Michael Burch got red hot and started getting to the line, where he is automatic, and knocking down a 3-pointer. Jefferson changed the tempo of the game and pushed it up the floor a lot more, cutting Worth County’s lead to 27-21 at the break.
Ryan McClellan picked up his fourth foul right off the bat in the third quarter; without his ballhandling, Worth County was in disarray against Jefferson’s pressure defense, especially the pressure of Grant Meyer. Worth County lost the lead and fell behind 30-29 at one point, but a putback from Mason Hawk and an entry pass from Parman to Hawk, along with a Cade Allee putback put Worth County back in front at 35-30. But Burch’s banked 3-pointer tied it back up at 35 to go into the fourth.
The game was tied at 38 and Farnan’s backdoor look put Jefferson up 40-38 after a long possession, but Ryan McClellan hit a 3-pointer after Isaac Alarcon skipped it to him to put Worth County back in front. Ryan then cut inside and converted a 3-point play off an inbounds play to make it 44-40. Burch cut it to 44-42, but Hawk scored inside off a pass from Ryan McClellan, Cade Allee scored off a fast break, and Ryan McClellan’s free throw with 55 seconds left made it 49-42.
Jefferson came roaring back as Farnan scored from inside, Worth County missed a couple of one and one chances, and Burch hit from the top of the key with 16 seconds left to make it 49-47. Caleb Parman hit two free throws with 11.9 seconds left, but then Worth County fouled Burch attempting a 3-pointer and he was automatic, cutting it to one with 7 seconds left. Caleb Parman hit another free throw with five seconds left and Burch rushed up the floor for a chance at a win. But his contested shot was wide left as time expired.
Worth County had their chances against Stanberry as the game was tied at halftime at 22. It was tied twice in the fourth quarter as 34 and 36. But that was the last Worth County would score as Stanberry’s three go-to players, Cole Craig, Corey Luke, and Brad Hailey were too much as they were getting to the rim at will; Stanberry won 44-36.
Worth County opened the tournament by beating Pattonsburg 63-36. They scored the first ten points of the game and never looked back.
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