By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
WEBB CITY, Mo. — Joplin High School’s veteran boys basketball team turned Webb City every which way but loose on Friday night.
The Eagles began pulling away in the second quarter and finished with an 82-55 nonconference victory.
Said Joplin coach Jeff Williams: “It was a very good Christmas present. For sure it was for the boys.”
Said Webb City coach Dave Sherer: “Joplin, although we were concerned about it, shot the ball better than I expected. They manhandled us on the boards.”
The nearly full gym seemed about 50-50 in fan support.
No Joplin shooter was more proficient than 6-foot-3 senior Derek Stokes. The left-hander scored 25 points and one chart him 10 of 11 from the field. He sank 5 of 6 treys.
Joplin, leading 17-15 after the first period, had the advantage to 38-28 by halftime. The 19-11 advantage by the Eagles in the third virtually sealed the win.
Joplin, leading 21-19 in the second, received baskets from Stokes, Nick Brown, Zentrell Shannon and two free throws by Matt McCreary for a 10-point lead. Maddy Johnson’s 3 for the Cardinals ended their drought with about 31/2 minutes left in the half.
The Cardinals rallied within six at 30-24 before the teams basically exchanged baskets in the closing minutes. Stokes’ bucket made it 10 at intermission.
The Eagles built the advantage to 66-46 about halfway through the fourth period.
The cold stretch for Webb City in the second quarter was the key, Sherer said.
“We became impatient,” Sherer said. “We took seven or eight possessions where we made two or less passes before shooting the ball. We were 0-for-8 or 0-for-9 during those possessions. We’re still learning about ourselves.”
Added Williams: “I don’t believe I was unhappy with the performance of any of our starters. Our players responded to the coaches all week.
“We played much better half-court defense,” Williams said. “Now, I’m pleased, but we can guard better. We’re doing a good job with our unselfishness.
“I was pleased, too, with the effort of our players off the bench,” Williams said. “Maybe they didn’t play that many minutes. But they contributed.”
Stokes was backed by 6-2 senior Brown (17 points), 6-6 senior Phillip Davis (13) and 5-10 senior Shannon (12). The 6-4 McCreary scored nine points and had several assists.
Webb City got 18 points from 6-3 senior Drake, who tallied nine in the third quarter, and 10 from 5-8 junior Johnson.
Class 5 Joplin (5-1) resumes on Jan. 5 by entertaining Bentonville (Ark.).
Class 4 Webb City (3-3) visits Springfield Central on Tuesday night before competing in the annual Neosho Christmas Holiday Tournament during the break.
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