WILLARD, Mo. —
It didn’t take quite two minutes into the Class 4 quarterfinal at Willard for Hillcrest’s Dorial Green-Beckham to introduce himself to the McDonald County Mustangs with an alley-oop slam to give the Hornets an early lead.
The slam got noticed, but it was a rain of 3-pointers that helped fuel the Hornets to a 73-43 victory over the Mustangs.
Hillcrest (23-6) sank nine 3-pointers in the game, four in the first half, as they built a 22-13 advantage after the first quarter.
“We weren’t intimidated. We wouldn’t allow that,” said McDonald County coach Trent Barratt. “We were ready for the challenge. Things didn’t go our way early, but we battled. In the third quarter we had a little momentum and got their lead down to 11, but they made shots.”
The Mustangs (11-16) did have their best shot at cutting into the Hornet lead early in the third quarter, trailing 42-23. A jumper by Drey Fickle, a put back by Chance Buttram and a pair of runners in the lane on consecutive trips by point guard Miguel Morales cut the Hillcrest lead to 42-31 with 4:18 left in the period, but Roy Hardy, who led all scorers with 26 points, stopped the momentum with his fifth 3-pointer of the night to slow the McDonald County surge.
With 7:02 left to play in the game McDonald County senior Jordan Wells was called for his fifth foul as he attempted to draw a charge in the lane. Barratt’s ensuing discussion with the referees earned him a pair of technicals and an ejection from the game.
“I got a technical when I ran out on the floor and called a timeout (after the foul on Wells). I guess I might have bumped an official as I went out there,” said Barratt. “I said something about not getting the charge call and got my second technical. I wasn’t sure what was going on.”
After Barratt was escorted to the Mustang locker room, Hardy made all four of the technical free throws, and Green-Beckham hit a short jumper on the Hillcrest possession to put the Hornets ahead 66-35.
“Hillcrest is just an extremely athletic team. They made shots, and it didn’t seem like we could throw it in the ocean sometimes,” said Barratt. “They’ve got a great coaching staff, and a great club. You have to give them credit.”
Morales led the Mustangs with 18 points in defeat.
Green-Beckham, a 6-foot-6 senior who has signed to play football at the University of Missouri, scored 22 for the Hornets.
Hillcrest coach John Schaefer gave McDonald County, and specifically the speedy Morales, credit for their effort in the game.
“Their effort was outstanding from the tip to the buzzer,” said Schaefer. “We got a little sloppy there in the third quarter when they made that run and eight points in a row.”
Sports
March 1, 2012
Green-Beckham, plus treys, too much for Mustangs
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
- Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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