By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Joplin boys basketball coach Jeff Williams didn’t mince words on Monday about the importance of tonight’s home game against Springfield Hillcrest.
“It’s our biggest game of the season,” Williams emphatically said of the Ozark Conference contest. “Several things are riding on this game.
“All of the games remaining (four more after tonight in the regular season) are important, of course, in deciding the Ozark Conference,” Williams said. “The winner of this game could secure the No. 1 seeding for the upcoming Class 5 district at Carthage.”
Parkview invaded Joplin last Tuesday night and came away with a 51-48 victory. Joplin (16-4, 3-1) bounced back to win 62-44 on Saturday at Waynesville.
Hillcrest, paced by 6-foot-5 sophomore Dorial Green, is 14-7 overall and 4-1 after beating Jefferson City 57-39 on Jan. 30 in the MFA Oil/Break Time Shootout in Mizzou Arena at Columbia.
“Hillcrest is both physical and athletic,” Williams said. “Green is an exceptional talent.
“(Trey) Starks (Glendale transfer who recently became eligible) gives them another physical, athletic, player,” Williams said.
Starks, a senior guard, scored 24 points in a win against Waynesville.
“We know Hillcrest is a strong team,” Williams said. “We have to play a very solid game. The No. 1 goal is to outrebound them.”
Taylor Sade, a 6-2 senior, and Green are the returning starters from a team that finished 21-6 overall and runner-up in district.
Williams plans to go with the Eagles’ usual senior starters — 5-10 Zentrell Shannon, 6-4 Matt McCreary, 6-2 Nick Brown, 6-3 Derek Stokes and 6-6 Phillip Davis.
The varsity game in Kaminsky Gymnasium probably will tip off at about 7:15 following the 6 p.m. junior varsity contest.
Williams said the programs for both Friday at Springfield Kickapoo and Saturday against visiting Rolla — a makeup — will start at 5 p.m. with jayvee and freshman outings.
