BY LUCAS DAVIS

A dismal start put Webb City in too deep a hole to escape.

Rogersville opened the game with a 16-2 run and built a 22-point lead by the intermission. The Cardinals made a run in the second half to cut a 25-point deficit down to nine several times, but the Wildcats (23-6) held on for a 63-52 win on Tuesday in Class 4 sectional action.

"I thought our youth showed really early in the game," Webb City coach Jason Horn said. "We called two quick timeouts, and you could see the nerves. The moment was a little too big for us, particularly in those first two quarters."

"We knew Webb City's physicality on ball pressure and style of play was going to be a challenge for us," Wildcats coach John Schaefer said. "We wanted to utilize Luke (Vandersnick) and isolate him if they pressured us. Once that happened, we were able to open it up a bit."

Webb City ends its season with a 16-10 record as the District 12 champions. The Cardinals graduate lone senior Alex Gaskill, who closed the game as the leading scorer for the Cardinals with 20 points.

"We played a grueling schedule," Horn said. "We had a tough nonconference schedule, and there was never a night off in our conference games. We had some special moments that we can build on. I am really proud of the growth they made and the maturity they showed as a team this season."

"Alex is an aggressive kid and showed a lot of confidence in this game," Horn added about his senior. "He really kept us calmed down when things weren't falling early. He was doing a good job being a leader, and that is what kind of player he is. He is a walking double- double, and it's hard to replace that. We are going to miss him next year."

While Webb City was finding high-percentage looks early but having trouble converting them, Rogersville rode the back of senior Vandersnick, whose presence on the inside was an early difference maker.

Vandersnick scored eight of the Wildcats' first 11 points in the contest and finished with a team-high 27.

Webb City opened the second period with an inside score from Gaskill to trim the deficit to 13, but Rogersville answered with eight straight points to build a 27-6 lead.

Vandersnick accounted for the first five points, while Ryker Strong, who finished with 13 points, closed the run with a steal that went for a dunk on the break at the other end.

"All we talk about is sticking to the game plan and making sure we don't get comfortable," Schaefer said of his team's play in the second quarter. "We did exactly what we wanted to do, but I am still dumbfounded at how quickly it evaporated in the fourth quarter. I was really impressed by Webb City for not giving up because it would have been easy to do in this game."

Webb City cut a 55-30 deficit to nine points with 3:05 to play in the contest following a 16-0 run to start the fourth quarter. The surge wouldn't be enough, as the Cardinals moved no closer to the lead before time ran out.

"They have played hard all year, and we have seen this team fall down in a big deficit before only to make a run at it and make it a competitive game," Horn said. "I was confident the kids weren't going to quit and the shots would start falling, allowing their confidence to rise. This is a good group that will have a chance to do some special things in the future. I was really proud of the effort tonight."

Terrell Kabala finished with eight points, while Mekhi Garrard finished with seven for Webb City. Tanner Rogers and Jaystin Smith each contributed six.

Joplin Globe 3/6/2019 (Used by permission)