BY JASON PEAKE
The Carl Junction girls basketball team couldn't have picked a more opportune time to go on a run.
Clinging to a one-possession lead after three periods of play, Carl Junction scored the first 10 points of the final frame en route to a 49-39 victory over Webb City in Central Ozark Conference action on Tuesday night.
"That was good to see," Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter said of the spurt. "I challenged our kids to win the first five minutes. I just wanted to see a 4-0 or a 6-0 run at some point. We struggled to do that all game, but when we did that to start the fourth quarter, it was big. We stretched the lead out, and that was great to see."
Webb City coach Lance Robbins noted his squad had its chances.
"We didn't attack their zone very well in the second half," Robbins said. "That was the biggest thing. And we had too many turnovers in the second half. And Carl Junction is a good team and they're well-coached, and obviously, Katie Scott is a very good basketball player."
Robbins wasn't kidding. A standout junior forward, Scott poured in 33 points to lead Carl Junction (13-7, 4-1 COC). Scott made 14 2-point field goals and hit 5-of-9 free throws.
"Katie got some great looks. She was really hard to stop and I have to commend our girls for getting her the ball," Shorter said. "I thought Dani Wrensch had a fabulous game. She was phenomenal on defense."
Junior guard Shila Winder added 10 points for the Bulldogs.
Madeline Hayes and Darcy Darnell scored 10 points apiece to lead the Cardinals (9-11, 2-3 COC), while Ali Vanzant and Abby Brownfield chipped in nine points apiece.
Carl Junction held a seven- point lead early in the second period after Scott's bucket in the lane, but Webb City used a 15-4 burst to take a 26-22 lead. During the spurt, the Cardinals caught fire from the perimeter,
as both Hayes and Vanzant hit a pair of treys.
"We were playing with confidence there and when you see the ball go in the basket, it makes you play harder on the defensive end," Robbins said.
However, the Bulldogs scored the final five points of the first half, as Scott converted an old-fashioned three-point play and Winder swished a pair of free throws to give the hosts a 27-26 halftime advantage. Scott had 19 points in the first half.
A low-scoring third period ended with Carl Junction clinging to a 34-32 advantage. That's when the Bulldogs used a 10-0 burst to take a 44-32 advantage. Carl Junction outscored Webb City 15-7 in the fourth quarter.
Shorter noted he was proud his team was able to get it done in crunch time against a solid foe.
"Our kids battled and battled against a good basketball team," Shorter said. "Webb City's kids played very hard. It was a game of little battles here and there, and I'm proud of our girls."
Joplin Globe 2/6/19 (Used by permission)