Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Tiger Boys Avoid Trap Game, Hold Off King City

 Worth County's boys avoided a perfect trap game against King City, holding off the Wildkats 53-45 Tuesday night. The Tigers had every reason to expect an easy win; they had beaten King City by 50 before, and they were fresh off winning the Northwest Missouri Tournament. Also, King City had played a game the night before. But the King City squad that took the floor Tuesday was as different as night and day from the one back in December and gave Worth County everything they could handle before Worth County pulled off the win.

First, Parker Muff scored from inside; then, Corbin Taylor went backdoor, Chase Moss scored from inside, and sharpshooter Landon Wells hit a 3-pointer, and all of a sudden, it was King City who was out on top 9-2 on Worth County. Worth County fought back as Aydan Gladstone got a putback, Tyler New got loose in transition, and Aydan Gladstone got a free throw to bring the Tigers back to within 9-7. Muff hit a contested shot to make it 13-9, but Rinehart got loose inside and Grant Cameron hit a 3-pointer to put the Tigers in front 14-13 after one.

The Tigers locked down on defense and got five straight stops, propelling them in front as Grant Cameron hit Aydan Gladstone inside, Jackson Runde hit Cameron for three, and Aydan Gladstone scored off a drive to put the Tigers in front 21-13. But then King City threw up a prayer that went in, and Landon Wells, who torched North Harrison the night before from behind the arc in the second quarter, did so again, hitting back to back guarded threes to tie it at 21. 

Alex Rinehart jumpstarted the Tigers with a three point play and Aydan Gladstone added a 3-pointer off a Rinehart drive. Parker Muff countered with a drive, but Rinehart hit a free throw and Aydan Gladstone got a putback to make it 30-23 before Muff hit two free throws to cut it to 30-25 at the half.

But if Worth County had any hopes that King City would fade like they did in the second quarter of their December meeting or the third quarter of the North Harrison-King City game from the night before, it did not happen, as it was King City who fought back as Parker Muff hit two free throws, Kystin Aborn scored on a drive, and a defensive lapse left Aborn all alone to cut it to 32-31. It didn't help that Worth County missed two free throws during that stretch and went 0 for 4 in the quarter.

Jackson Runde, who was scoreless up to that point, finally got going with a backdoor pass from Alex Rinehart and a 3-pointer and Tyler New got loose after Alex Rinehart got a tip and Runde a steal to make it 39-31. But then King City fought back to within 39-36 before Rinehart hit a shot at the buzzer to make it 41-36.

The Tigers got a free possession to start the fourth, and Rinehart connected to start the fourth to put the Tigers up seven. Rinehart continued to carry the Tigers on his back as they pulled ahead to a 49-38 lead. But then Aydan Gladstone was called for a charge, and that sparked King City as Wells hit a 3-pointer and Moss scored from inside to make it 49-43 again. King City had a chance to cut it to four, but Aydan redeemed himself by taking a charge on defense. Worth County overcame some sloppy play down the stretch as Jackson Runde went backdoor for a layup and Grant Cameron hit two free throws to hold off King City.

Alex Rinehart had 18 for the Tigers. Aydan Gladstone had 16, Grant Cameron 8, Jackson Runde 7, and Tyler New 4.

Aydan Gladstone had 3 blocks.

Alex Rinehart had 10 boards to complete the double double. Aydan Gladstone had 9, Jackson Runde 6, Jackson Smith 4, and Brent Harris 1.

Grant Cameron and Aydan Gladstone had 6. Jackson Smith and Alex Rinehart had 3 each, Jackson Runde 2, and Tyler New 1.

Aydan Gladstone and Tyler New had 5 tips. Grant Cameron and Alex Rinehart had 3 each, while Brent Harris had 1. 

Aydan Gladstone had 3 steals. Tyler New and Jackson Runde had 2 each, and Alex Rinehart and Grant Cameron had 1.

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