Tiger Boys Drop Braymer in Defensive Struggle

Worth County’s boys overcame two ice cold stretches against Braymer and beat the Bobcats 44-38 Friday thanks to a strong third quarter. Braymer came into the game with four wins , but three out of their last four games were decided by ten points or less. They included a one point loss to Stanberry and a two point loss to King City.

With the win, Worth County got their fourth win of the year. Defense has been the key for the Tiger boys this year; they have won three out of their four games when holding other teams to under 40. They have only won one game when allowing more than that.

Neither side could take control during the first quarter; Aydan Gladstone’s free throws gave Worth County an 11-8 lead with 1:46 left, only for sharpshooter Hunter Heussner to score five straight to put Braymer back on top 13-11. Four straight from Caleb Parman put Worth County on top 15-13 after one.

Jaxon Anderson drove and scored to start the second to give Worth County a two possession lead at 17-13; it was the first one by either side. But then Worth County got away from running their offense and started jacking up shots; on the other end, Braymer started driving at will and getting to the rim. Consequently, the Bobcats, behind the hand of Keaton O’Dell, scored the next 11 for the visitors to take a 24-17 lead with 1:54 left.

But then Worth County woke up and Alex Rinehart, who made a lot of hustle plays off the bench, got to the rim and Caleb Parman hit a free throw to cut Worth County’s deficit to 24-20 at the break.
Jaxon Anderson got the hot hand in the third, getting eight points in the period as Worth County finally got back to attacking the rim and getting on the line. Caleb Parman got eight as well, including a scramble play in which Jackson Runde saved a loose ball to him and he dropped a 3-pointer to put Worth County on top 36-29 going into the fourth.

Worth County went through another ice-cold stretch as they missed several point-blank looks to start the fourth and Heussner went off again for Braymer, scoring the next six for the Bobcats to bring his team back to within 36-35. Once again, it was Alex Rinehart who shot the Tigers out of their slump, hitting a 3-pointer from the right wing with 3:22 left to make it 39-35. Heussner hit a free throw, but Rinehart hit again, getting a pullup to make it 41-36 with 2:57 left.

Braymer threw up a prayer that went in and Aydan Gladstone missed a good look, giving the Bobcats a chance to tie late. But Heussner missed a contested look with 1:24 left. Jacob New missed a free throw, but Caleb Parman grabbed an offensive board and Worth County ran it all the way down to 42 seconds before Caleb Parman hit a free throw to make it two possessions at 42-38. Parman missed the second, but the ball went out of bounds off Braymer, and Jacob New hit two free throws with 41 seconds to clinch it.

Caleb Parman had 14 points to lead the Tigers. Alex Rinehart and Jaxon Anderson had 10, Jackson Runde 6, and Aydan Gladstone and Jacob New had 2.

Caleb Parman and Aydan Gladstone had 1 block each.

Caleb Parman had 8 rebounds for Worth County. Jacob New had 6, Jackson Runde 4, Alex Rinehart and Ethan Thomas 3, and Aydan Gladstone, Bryant McCord, and Jaxon Anderson 2.

Aydan Gladstone and Jackson Runde had 3 assists for Worth County. Jacob New had 2, and Alex Rinehart, Bryant McCord, and Caleb Parman 1 each.

Ethan Thomas had 4 tips for Worth County. Aydan Gladstone, Jacob New, Jackson Runde, Caleb Parman, and Alex Rinehart all had 3. Jaxon Anderson had 2.

Jackson Runde had 4 steals. Ethan Thomas, Bryant McCord, Alex Rinehart, and Caleb Parman all had 2, while Aydan Gladstone and Jacob New had 1.