JH Tiger Boys Heating Up, Win Three Out of Four

A suddenly red hot junior high Tiger boys squad won its rematch handily against Northeast Nodaway, taking a 39-23 win over the Bluejays in the first round of the NEN Junior High Tournament. After coming close last time against the Bluejays, they beat St. Gregory’s, then beat Pattonsburg, and lost to Platte Valley but played a good game.

The turnover battle was big this time, with Worth County forcing 13 turnovers compared to seven the last time the two teams met. The Tigers cut down on their turnovers, only surrendering the ball four times compared to six the last game between the two. And Worth County got seven players in the scoring column compared to four the last time. They were playing without Jordan Dannar (flu), but everybody else stepped up their game in his absence. “We’ve gotten to where they trust each other a lot more on the floor,” said Coach April Healy.

Worth County went to a box and one on Liam Cordell, who torched the Tigers with 15 points last time. Mason Hiatt held him to two points this time. The Bluejays got a big night from Jace Burns, who nearly had a double double, but nobody else had more than four.

Burns grabbed a third chance putback to start off the Bluejays, but Brock Healy answered with a 3-pointer and a drive and Cole Hardy added another to make it 7-2. Mason Hiatt scored off a steal. Burns scored his fourth point of the night, but Cole Hardy countered with two free throws to make it 11-4 after one.

Hudson Cameron scored off a drive to start the second quarter. Worth County’s ball handling was good enough that they did not commit their first turnover until the 4:27 mark of the second quarter, and didn’t commit their third until the 4:42 mark of the fourth quarter, when the Tigers were up double digits.

Bentin Roberts got on the board to stop the bleeding and cut the Bluejay deficit to 13-6, but Brock Healy countered with a drive and then a pullup three to make it 18-6. Jace Burns countered with a putback, but Brock got one of his own to put the Tigers up 20-8 at halftime.

Roberts scored to start the third quarter for the Bluejays, but then Maverick Cox suddenly stepped up and started playing his best game as a Tiger, getting backdoor looks twice. Brock Healy hit two free throws to make it 26-10.

Cox picked up his third foul trying to guard Burns, and the Bluejays were able to stop the bleeding for a time. Wyatt Scadden, who hit a last-second 3-pointer to beat Stanberry in the King City Tournament for Northeast’s lone win that week, got a putback. But everytime the Bluejays tried to get back in the game, Worth County would have an answer. Cole Hardy hit a 3-pointer and Bentley Frisch added a free throw before Burns’ putback cut it to 30-14 to end the third.

The Bluejays finally got some scores to start the fourth, with Wyatt Scadden, Jace Burns, and Liam Cordell getting in the column, but Maverick Cox carried the Tigers on his shoulders, answering every single time. Bentley Frisch came off the bench, grabbing four straight boards at one point to go along with his ballhandling. Hudson Cameron hit a free throw and Wesley Brown hit a free throw and cut inside for a pass from Jarrett Gilland to close it out for the Tigers.

Brock Healy had 14 points for the Tigers. Maverick Cox had 9, Cole Hardy 7, Hudson Cameron and Wes Brown 3, Mason Hiatt 2, and Bentley Frisch 1.

Wesley Brown had 1 block.

Brock Healy had 8 rebounds. Maverick Cox and Bentley Frisch had 4 each, Cole Hardy and Hudson Cameron 2, and Wesley Brown and Weston Hill 1 each.

Brock Healy had 5 assists. Cole Hardy had 3, Mason Hiatt 2, and Hudson Cameron and Jarrett Gilland 1.

Cole Hardy had 4 tips. Mason Hiatt and Wes Brown had 2, and Jarrett Gilland and Brock Healy had 1 each.

Brock Healy had 4 steals. Mason Hiatt and Wes Brown had 2, and Bentley Frisch and Owyn Wuillay 1.

For the Bluejays, Jace Burns had 12 points. Bentin Roberts and Wyatt Scadden had 4 each, Liam Cordell 2, and Brock Adwell 1.

Jace Burns had 9 boards. Wyatt Scadden had 6, Liam Cordell 4, Bentin Roberts 2, and Jaxon Taylor and Ryder Coslow 1.

Bentin Roberts had 3 assists. Brock Adwell, Liam Cordell, and Gracin Runde had 1 each.

Gracin Runde, Jace Burns, Bentin Roberts, and Brady O’Connell had 1 tip each. Bentin Roberts and Brock Adwell had 1 steal each.