Worth County, who had struggled in close games recently, finally pulled one out of the fire, beating Stanberry 51-42 Friday behind 25 points from Brock Healy. It came at a price, with Hayden Sanders’ ankle injury returning and Caleb New getting knocked out of the game after getting an elbow to the face and getting two of his teeth knocked backwards.
Caleb New, Cole Ruby, and Brock Healy put Worth County up in front 7-3 early, but Stanberry kept hanging around, getting scoring from four different people in the first quarter. Parker Ginther was a handful while Jake Holtzclaw, Pax Schieber, and Hudson Groomer also contributed. Aiden Graham, their 6’4” post player, clogged up the post, forcing Worth County to take some tough shots as Stanberry was following Maryville’s lead. Stanberry regained the lead at 8-7, but Caleb New hit two free throws and Brock Healy hit a 3-pointer to give Worth County some separation at 12-8. Ginther hit a guarded three and Groomer’s baseline shot put Stanberry up 13-12 before Brock Healy put Worth County back in front 15-13 with a triple after one.
But things threatened to snowball for Worth County in the second quarter as Ginther hit another guarded three and Stanberry built up a 21-17 lead midway through the second quarter.
With Worth County trailing by four, Caleb New caught an elbow to his face that forced him out of the game. But then, the Tigers pulled together as well as they had all year, using a 21-5 run to take control of the game.
Jordan Dannar got loose behind the Stanberry defense for two, Brock Healy converted a three-point play after a drive, and Ethan Lininger hit two free throws before Ginther’s free throw for Stanberry cut it to 24-22 at the half.
Brock Healy slashed to the basket, Ryder Smyser got a putback, and Healy added a free throw before Ginther’s free throws cut the Bulldog deficit to 29-24. Cole Ruby hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key, Brock Healy hit a pair of free throws and followed up with a driving layup, and Ethan Lininger scored from inside to make it 38-25 with 1:12 left in the third.
But then Stanberry followed the lead of Maryville and got their big man, Aiden Graham, going, and the tide began to turn again. Graham, Holtzclaw, Pax Schieber, and Jaren Stoll all contributed as the Bulldogs put together a frantic 10-0 rally that made it 38-34 with 5:25 left. At that point, Hayden Sanders came limping off the floor after he had reinjured his ankle.
Cole Ruby scored off a drive and Brock Healy scored off a steak to stop the bleeding and make it 42-34 with 4:50 left. Stanberry could afford to be very aggressive with no team fouls and plenty of fouls to give, but they never got closer than six.
Ryder Smyser got four points down the stretch to give the Tigers a 49-40 lead with 45 seconds left. Parker Ginther scored off a drive with 16 seconds left to make it 49-42, and there was a heartstopping moment as Stanberry nearly got a steal off their press, but they lost it out of bounds and Brock Healy hit two free throws at the end to seal it.
Brock Healy had 25 points for the Tigers. Cole Ruby had 10, Ryder Smyser 6, Caleb New and Ethan Lininger 4, and Jordan Dannar 2.
Ryder Smyser had 1 block.
Ryder Smyser had 9 boards. Brock Healy had 7, Ethan Lininger 5, Cole Ruby and Brayden Combs 3, Caleb New and Jordan Dannar 2, and Hayden Sanders 1.
Caleb New had 3 assists. Brock Healy, Hayden Sanders, Brayden Combs, Jordan Dannar, and Dylan Smith had 2 and Cole Ruby had 1.
Brock Healy had 4 tips. Caleb New had 3, Jordan Dannar, Cole Ruby, and Brayden Combs had 2, and Hayden Sanders, Ethan Lininger, and Ryder Smyser had 1.
Ethan Lininger and Cole Ruby had 4 steals. Brock Healy and Brayden Combs had 2 and Caleb New had 1.
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