Last-second shot carries McAuley

December 13, 2008 01:23 am

— From staff reports
sports@joplinglobe.com
WASHBURN, Mo. — Kevin O’Keefe’s basket with one second remaining lifted McAuley Catholic past Southwest 54-52 Friday night in an Ozark 7 Conference basketball game in the Trojans’ gymnasium.
O’Keefe and Rocky Spry tallied 20 and 19 points, respectively, for the Warriors (2-3, 1-1 Ozark 7), who led 31-23 at halftime. The Trojans whittled the deficit to 44-39 entering the final period and had the game tied at 52 before O’Keefe drove the baseline and hit his short, floating jumper.
Levi Roberts netted 19 points for Southwest (2-3, 0-1), and Austin Rettman popped in five 3-point goals while scoring 17.
Cavaliers win first
Despite a scoreless second quarter that left the Thomas Jefferson girls trailing 16-8 at halftime, the Cavaliers outscored visiting Golden City 9-4 in the third and fourth periods to seal a 26-24 win.
“We came out in the second half and turned up our defensive pressure,” said Thomas Jefferson coach Chris Myers. “The story of the game is free throws, as we hit 8 of 10 the second half and 10 of 12 for the game.”
The Cavaliers, winning their first game in four outings, took a one-point lead with about two minutes left and, then, leading 26-24 with 12 seconds remaining, turned the ball over.
“Our defense stopped them but they did get a long shot off,” Myers said.
Cheyenne Hill scored 14 points to lead Thomas Jefferson and was the only player for either team to score in double figures.
Cristin Shrum led Golden City with 9 points.
The Cavaliers will open conference play Tuesday when they host Wheaton at 6 p.m.
Freshman keys Cavs
Freshman Alex Oserowsky pumped in 27 points to spark the Thomas Jefferson boys to a 50-35 win against visiting Golden City.
Ethan Baker netted 11 points to lead Golden City, which trailed 21-10 at halftime.
Jordan Stauffer had nine rebounds to go with his nine points and also had five blocks to go with his five steals for the Cavaliers, who hiked their record to 3-2 and dropped Golden City to the same mark.
“We came out and played a lot better offensively the second half,” said Cleo Elbert, Thomas Jefferson coach. “Alex (Oserowsky) got 14 of his points in the fourth quarter.”
Webb City holds on
EMPORIA, Kan. — Webb City, staving off a fourth-quarter surge by Word of Life Prep, won 67-59 to reach today’s consolation final in the Paul Terry Boys Classic.
The Cardinals, led by Austin Lepper and Trey Laveroni with 13 points each, held a 40-29 halftime advantage.
Word of Life, topped by Alex Battle’s 22 points, outscored the Cardinals 18-13 in the final quarter.
Webb City takes on Junction City, Kan., at 11:45 a.m. today for consolation honors. The Cardinals lost 55-51 on Thursday to Bellevue East.
Marionville boys 55,
College Heights 18
Pressure defense carried Marionville past College Heights Christian.
“They’re as good a high school defensive team as I’ve seen play,” said CHC coach Charlie Williams. “Ted Young coaches a heck of a defensive game and his kids respond to it.”
Brandon Verfurth led Marionville, which was ahead 33-11 at halftime, with 19 points, and Chris Banks added 12.
Jeremy Jones, Patton Conroy and Paul Emery had five each for CHC, Emery had nine rebounds.
CHC, 2-4, entertains New Covenant in a 6 p.m., varsity-only game on Tuesday.