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Joplin Globe

Posted by Patrick Dailey on Jan 10 2002 at 04:00PM PST
Click the Link Above! Joplin falls to top-seeded Chiefs Neosho moves to final match By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer Neosho, answering early and late comebacks with salvos of their own, knocked off Glendale 67-60 in a boys semifinal of the Class 4A District 12 Tournament on Thursday night in Kaminsky Gymnasium. Favored Kickapoo rolled past Joplin 98-49 in the first prep basketball semifinal at Joplin High School. Juniors Brandon Argo, working the inside, and Spencer Laurie, strafing from the ouside, scored 23 and 26 points, respectively, for the once-beaten Chiefs. Said Glendale coach Steve Hesser: “Give Neosho credit. Neosho was the most active team from the get-go. We fought back twice. But we didn’t stop them early in the game and I thought they beat us on the boards throughout the game.’’ Said Neosho coach Denny Chenoweth: “Give our kids credit for coming back and responding after they (the Falcons) had taken the lead in that fourth quarter. It didn’t seem to rattle our players. They knew, before the game, they had a tough assignment ahead of them.’’ Glendale, behind 23-9 and 25-11 early in the second quarter, battled back to trail just 32-29 at the half. The Wildcats then built a 49-38 lead — capped by Evan Griffith’s trey in the closing seconds of the third quarter — entering the fourth. Then the third-ranked Falcons, fueled by Tyler Hesser, son of the coach, and Ryan Luethy, came back to lead at 51-50 and 53-52. The Wildcats tied it at 53 on a free throw by Trent Barratt at 3:56 and moved ahead for good on Michael Anders’ power move inside at 3:44. Neosho baskets by Travis Wilfong and Trent Barratt kept the Wildcats in front before Tyler Chaney and Wilfong drilled two free throws apiece and Barratt one to allow them to start pulling safely away. Anders, 6-1 senior who was tagged with two early fouls, was relentless the last three periods and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Chaney, 6-4 junior who scored 10 in the first quarter, and 6-1 senior Wilfong scored 14 and 13, respectively. Chaney and Wilfong also combined for 13 boards. Luethy, a 6-2 senior, and 6-5 classmate Jason Bueker poured in 25 and 23 for the Falcons. Bueker also snared 11 rebounds. The Neosho win, of course, scratched plans to move the 4A boys final to Springfield’s Hammons Center. “Our kids were pumped up,’’ Chenoweth said. “Still, we wanted to play one game at a time. Our kids were a confident bunch. They played ‘lights out’ at the start.’’ Laurie, 6-1, drilled eight of 19 treys in scoring 26 for Kickapoo. Argo, 6-6, added nine rebounds. All-stater Deven Mitchell, 6-4 junior leaper, scored 18 and grabbed 13 rebounds. He also injured a wrist in the third quarter, according to coach Roy Green. Laurie boosted his season total of treys to 115 and 165 for his career. He also has steals records for the Chiefs. “I can’t complain about anything as far as our performance goes,’’ Green said. “I’m blessed to coach these guys. The reserves took pride in what they did in the fourth quarter.’’ Said Eagle coach Paul Colton: “Laurie was unconscious (six of 10 treys in the first half) in the beginning. He was feeling it. “I’m sure it was one of their better games. The separation came when we didn’t get any defensive stops or defensive rebounds.’’ It was 30-18 after one quarter and 50-26 at the half. Brian McTaggart, a 6-7 senior, scored 15 to pace the Eagles. Coach Colton graciously got the Eagles’ five uniformed seniors on the court at the same time in the fourth quarter — McTaggart, Stefan Gilmore, C.J. Ketchum, Ben Ramsour and Jeff Taylor. Eagles, Neosho to battle favorites By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer Joplin and Neosho have daunting assignments tonight in boys prep basketball. Joplin faces No. 1 seed Kickapoo and Neosho tests second-seeded Glendale in semifinals of the Class 4A District 12 Tournament in Kaminsky Gymnasium at JHS. Joplin (13-13) challenges Kickapoo (25-1) at 6 p.m. in Kaminsky Gymnasium. Neosho (21-5), which knocked off Glendale on Dec. 4 in Springfield, plays the Falcons (21-4) at 7:30. Third-seeded Neosho handled Parkview 52-40 and No. 4 Joplin nipped Carthage 46-45 in the first round on Tuesday night. Kickapoo and Glendale are 2-3 behind St. Louis Vashon in Class 4A in rankings compiled by the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. Kickapoo handed visiting Joplin an 84-56 spanking in their Ozark Conference meeting on Jan. 11. Kickapoo coach Roy Green insisted on Wednesday the Chiefs weren’t looking past Joplin. “It’s amazing how much difference 70 miles on a yellow bus can make,’’ Green said. “We’re on a one-game losing streak, too. “We got off to a good start in that first meeting. I don’t believe we saw the real Joplin. We’re expecting a much tougher game on their home court. “Our motto has been taking care of business that particular game and playing up to our standards. “But these kids have played enough away games in AAU competition as well as high school,’’ Green said. “They aren’t intimidated.’’ Said Joplin coach Paul Colton of the earlier meeting: “It was quick. Kickapoo is the best team — by far — that we’ve played this season. They have tons of athletes. “We need to slow down the pace. Still, we have to be aggressive because we have to beat their pressure. “The last four or five games we’ve done a good job handling defensive pressure. Our kids are looking forward to this game.’’ Coaches Denny Chenoweth of Neosho and Steve Hesser of Glendale said their first meeting was too long ago to draw much value as a scouting tool. “I do know we shot poorly — you have to credit their defense for some of that — and had critical breakdowns to give them easy baskets,’’ Hesser said. “We fell behind early and it was uphill the entire game,’’ Hesser said. “It was a balanced deal on their part.’’ Glendale played the game after being idle more than a week, Hesser said. Said Chenoweth: “It doesn’t mean a thing. That was a heck of a game, though. We’re hoping this one is, too. “A lot of things about them (the Falcons) worry me. First, they play extremely hard and play tough defense. They are a very solid all-around team. They are several reasons why they are No. 3.’’ Chenoweth believes his ballclub will perform with more crispness and execute better than it did against Parkview. “It was good to just get a game under our belts on that floor after being off since last Tuesday,’’ Chenoweth said. No. 3 Falcons struggle, nip JHS in league By Anvil Welch Globe Sports WriterIt was late in the fourth quarter before visiting Glendale could safely pull away from Joplin in an Ozark Conference boys prep basketball game on Tuesday night.The 69-58 win in Kaminsky Gymnasium boosted Glendale, Missouri’s third-ranked Class 4A team, to 20-4 overall and 6-1 in the Ozark.The Eagles fell to 12-12, 2-5 entering Friday’s regular season final at West Plains.Glendale, which returns to Joplin next week for the District 12 Tournament — the Falcons are seeded second to Kickapoo — visits Camdenton the same night.Said Joplin coach Paul Colton: “I was very pleased with the effort of all our kids. They played more aggressive and more physical.“We were able to enjoy ‘Seniors Night.’ Defensively, we played very well. We were a little out of sync on offense.“But we were playing the No. 3 team in the state. We might make some noise in the district if we can compete like that.’’The Falcons, leading 57-51 after a Jennings Sirmon basket for Joplin at 2:46 in the fourth, hit six straight free throws — the last pair after a technical on the Eagles’ bench — and cashed in two more charity tosses on the ensuing possession to lead 65-41 at 1:30.Said Falcon coach Steve Hesser: “We won the game because we were able to hit 3s (nine). We did a lot of things without focus.“I thought Joplin did a nice job. We didn’t play with a lot of energy on the offensive end. We just stood around.’’But the Glendale defensive pressure helped the Eagles commit 20 turnovers. Ten came in the first period to allow the Falcons, although hitting just four of 15 from the field, to lead 13-9.Senior guard Stefan Gilmore had all of Joplin’s points in the first quarter and 6-foot-7 classmate Brian McTaggart scored 10 in the second to leave the Eagles trailing 30-24 at the half.Four different Falcons had baskets as they opened the third quarter with a 9-4 run to lead 39-28 at 6:08.But Joplin again bounced back with sophomore guard Tyler Anderson rifling in seven points during the period.The Eagles’ Gilmore finished with 19 points and McTaggart 16. Both earned praise from Colton.“Sure, Stefan (Gilmore) makes mistakes. But the ball, when he’s in the game, is in his hands 85-90 percent of the time. He’s been unbelievable at times. He hit some clutch shots.’’Glendale received 23 points from 6-1 junior Brandon Kimbrough, 17 from 6-2 senior Ryan Luethy and 12 from 6-0 junior Tyler Hesser.Kimbrough, who recently returned from an injury, was perfect in six tries from the line in the fourth and finished 10 of 12.Hesser and Luethy each tossed in four treys. District title game location depends on participants By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer The boys basketball final in the Class 4A District 12 Tournament at Joplin, if it’s an all-Springfield affair between Glendale and Kickapoo, will be moved to Hammons Center at Springfield.Tournament director Doug Doss, also athletics director at JHS, said on Monday the boys championship game will be held at 1 p.m. on Feb. 23 in Kaminsky Gymansium at JHS if the pairing is anything but Glendale-Kickapoo.The game in Hammons on the Southwest Missouri State campus also would be held at 1 p.m., Doss said.The girls championship contest will be held on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. in Kaminsky, Doss said.“The original schedule for the first four nights of the tournament will stay the same,’’ Doss said.“We’ll move for Glendale-Kickapoo because of the anticipated large crowd,” Doss said. “The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center at Missouri Southern is unavailable.’’Kickapoo (24-1, 7-0) and Glendale (19-4, 6-1) are ranked in the top 10 in Missouri 4A by the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.They attracted more than 6,000 fans into Hammons on Jan. 25 when Kickapoo prevailed 50-43 in an Ozark Conference showdown. That game was moved from Glendale.“We don’t want to turn away fans,’’ Doss said. “We may have to pre-sell tickets even if it isn’t Glendale and Kickapoo in the finals. That decision will be announced later.’’All tickets — set by MSHSAA — are $3. Falcons visit Joplin tonight The Eagles finish the home portion of their regular season by entertaining Glendale in Kaminsky.The junior varsity contest at 6 opens the program.Joplin coach Paul Colton said the Eagles’ seniors and their parents will be recognized.Seniors are Stefan Gilmore, C.J. Ketchum, Brian McTaggart, Ben Ramsour, Darris Strickland and Jeff Taylor.Joplin (12-11, 2-4) visits West Plains on Friday night to wind up the regular campaign.Dawn Ellis’ Lady Eagles (10-14, 2-5) finish the regular season by playing host to powerful Kickapoo on Thursday night. Joplin falls in OT to Falcons From staff reports SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — After trailing most of the game, Glendale pulled even with 36 seconds left in regulation, then outscored Joplin 14-10 in overtime to nip the Eagles 65-61 Friday night in an Ozark Conference boys prep basketball game.Joplin (14-8, 1-2 Ozark Conference) led 25-16 at halftime and 38-29 after three quarters. But Glendale, ranked eighth in the Class 4A state poll, rallied to take a 48-47 lead with 2:03 left in the fourth quarter.Joplin’s Jason Fields, who made all four field-goal attempts in the second half, drove for a basket and was fouled, which also resulted in a technical foul on the Glendale bench.Fields added the free throw, and Kyle Wilson added one free throw for the technical, leaving Joplin with a 51-48 lead with 1:28 left.The Eagles inbounded and worked the clock down to 54 seconds before committing a turnover. Glendale’s Andrew Hendrickson was fouled as he scored in the lane and added the free throw for the 51-51 deadlock.Ryan Luethy, Glendale’s top scorer with 18 points, hit a 3-point goal early in overtime to put the Falcons ahead to stay. He later converted three of four free throws.Joey Hill and Fields combined for 44 points to lead Joplin. Hill tallied 23 points, including all Eagle points in overtime when he hit two treys and was 4 of 5 overall from the floor. He also had six blocked shots and five assists.Fields contributed 21 points, and Jeff Taylor grabbed nine rebounds before fouling out.“I thought Joey Hill and Jason Fields both played their best games of the year,’’ Joplin head coach Jeff Starkweather said.“We had some turnovers in the fourth quarter, and they started hitting. They didn’t shoot the ball well the first half, and I think our defense had a lot to do with that. We relaxed a little bit, and they went on a run.“I was extremely proud of our effort. The kids played hard, they played well together. We just came up a little short.’’The Eagles shot 49 percent (23 of 47) from the field but committed 24 turnovers.Jason Bueker, scoreless in the first half, sparked the comeback with eight fourth-quarter points and finished with 17 for the Falcons (20-3, 4-0). Hendrickson added 11 points.Joplin resumes league play Tuesday night at home against Hillcrest. *************************************************************** Joplin should find out more about its ability tonight when Springfield Glendale visits for a nonconference test in Kaminsky starting with a junior varsity contest at 6.Steve Hesser’s veteran Falcons, 7-0, are ranked No. 10 in Class 4A.Said Joplin assistant Jim Whitney: “Defense is what makes them a very good team. They trap everywhere and they are very aggressive.’’ *************************************************************** State-ranked Falcons next hurdle for JHS By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer It doesn’t get any easier for the Joplin High School boys basketball team.Tonight the Eagles, who derailed Missouri’s sixth-ranked Class 4A team on Tuesday night, visit No. 8 Springfield Glendale.The Falcons, 19-3 overall, moved atop the Ozark Conference at 3-0 by invading Parkview for a 71-56 win the same night Kickapoo lost 58-57 at Joplin (14-7, 1-1).Joplin coach Jeff Starkweather knows the Falcons, considering they lost 49-43 at Joplin on Dec. 21, will be smarting.“I’m sure they’ve improved,’’ Starkweather said of Steve Hesser’s Falcons on Thursday. “Hopefully, we have, too. The makings are there for an outstanding game.”Foremost among Joplin concerns, Starkweather said, is being able to handle the Glendale defensive pressure.“They flat out guard you and put a lot of pressure on you. We can’t be tentative,’’ Starkweather said. “We have to take care of the ball against their trapping defense at half-court or full-court.’’Said Hesser: “That (the previous meeting) was a long time ago. It seems like two years ago. I hope we’re better.’’Another coach suggested Wednesday the Falcons were playing the best of the Springfield teams.“We’re doing OK,’’ Hesser said. “But I don’t know if I’d say that.’’Glendale, in its second conference win, outscored Hillcrest 31-15 in the last period in a 64-57 decision last Friday.“We started aggressively attacking the basket and things started going our way,’’ Starkweather said of the earlier game against Glendale.The key to victory, Hesser said, is the same each game.“The winner is the team which executes the best and hits its shots,’’ Hesser said.Hesser, whose Falcons have won three tournaments this season, said probable starters are 6-foot-1 sophomore Brandon Kimbrough, 6-1 junior Ryan Luethy, 6-3 senior Andrew Hendrickson, 6-4 junior Jason Bueker (who scored 20 at Joplin) and 6-4 soph Chauncey Duke.Starkweather, with 6-1 senior Joey Hill slowed by an ailing knee, isn’t sure of the Joplin starters.The usual Joplin regulars are Hill, 5-10 senior Jason Fields, 6-3 senior Ryan Peterson, 6-4 senior Zac Sooter and 6-9 junior Jeff Taylor.Kyle Wilson, a 5-9 senior, probably would replace Hill, Starkweather said.Sooter and Taylor are averaging 15 and 11.3 points, respectively. Taylor is No. 1 among the regulars in rebounding (7.5), field goal percentage (60.3) and blocked shots (40). Sooter, a 54.5 shooter from the field, also is averaging six boards and is tied with Hill for total steals with 50.Hill, the assists leader with 72, Fields and Peterson have respective scoring averages of 8.8, 8.5 and 4.2.Wilson is No. 1 in shooting treys (41.5 percent) and free throws (85.7).Tonight’s program starts at 6 with the junior varsity game. *************************************************************** Eagles close out home schedule with Falcons By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer Joplin’s boys, in closing out their home basketball schedule, don’t lack incentives.Glendale visits Kaminsky Gymnasium in a meeting of 13-10 overall ballclubs.The Eagles, who hope to reverse their 75-69 loss in Springfield on Jan. 25, are 1-5 in the league to the Falcons’ 3-3.The program — Joplin seniors will be recognized — starts at 6 p.m. with the junior varsity contest.“It’s an important game,’’ Joplin coach Jeff Starkweather said Monday. “Every game is huge this late in the season. You want to be playing your best entering district competition.’’Falcon coach Steve Hesser echoed Starkweather.“Your concern isn’t with Joplin or Friday’s opponent (Parkview),’’ Hesser said. “My philosophy is to take care of yourself. We want to get guys playing as well as they can in preparation for the district.’’Glendale is seeded second and Joplin fourth in the Class 4A District 12 Tournament at Neosho.“And you can drop the ‘young’ tag when referring to our team,’’ Hesser said. “They’ve played enough games.’’The Falcons used a run — extending from the first quarter through the first half of the second — to take a 17-point lead in the first meeting.“We had several turnovers leading to easy baskets,’’ Starkweather said. “We had breakdowns on the offensive end, too, in that we took shots too quickly. We became a little rattled because of the defensive pressure.“We didn’t quit, however,’’ Starkweather said. “We battled back. I believe we cut it to one point a couple of times in the fourth quarter.’’Joplin has two seniors in 6-foot-4 Mitch Cooper and 6-5 Russell Harding.Cooper, according to Starkweather, will join 6-4 junior Zac Sooter, 6-9 sophomore Jeff Taylor, 6-1 junior Joey Hill and 5-10 junior Jason Fields.Probable starters for Glendale are 6-0 senior Matt Tinsley, 6-0 freshman Brandon Kimbrough, 6-2 junior Andrew Hendrickson, 6-3 sophomore Jason Bueker and 6-4 freshman Chauncey Duke.Tinsley, the Falcon returning with starting experience, is averaging 17 points.Respective scoring averages for Joplin are 14.1 for Sooter, 10.4 for Fields, 10.1 for Hill, 9.6 for Taylor and 4.5 for Cooper.Sooter also is the Eagles’ No. 1 rebounder (6.2). Hill is the overall leader in assists (85) and steals (50). Hill is tied with Taylor for the lead in blocked shots with 35.Taylor is shooting 58.2 percent from the field. Cooper is No. 1 among the regulars from the free throw line (68.4). *************************************************************** Glendale tops Joplin 60-40 By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer Glendale fended off a comeback in the third quarter and pulled away in the fourth in trimming Joplin 60-40 in a boys Ozark Conference prep basketball game in Kaminsky Gymnasium on Tuesday night.Glendale, winning its sixth straight, boosted its record to 16-6 overall and 5-2 in the Ozark entering Friday's home league showdown with Parkview.The Eagles, who fell to 4-17, 0-6 on a night in which their seniors and parents were recognized, continue in the league the same night at Hillcrest.The Eagles, who trailed 31-20 at the half, were keyed by 5-foot-10 junior Brian Strickland's two treys in the third period in cutting the deficit to five at 33-28. There was an exchange of baskets before the Falcons built the margin to 12 -- 45-33 -- entering the last period.``We didn't shoot the ball well enough to win,'' Eagle coach Jeff Starkweather said.The Eagles, with 6-2 senior Archie Jordan grabbing nine and 6-4 junior Travis Hicks and 6-1 classmate Mario Rodgers six apiece, battled the Falcons even on the boards at 32.But the Eagles led 15-10 in turnovers and hit only 29.6 percent from the field on 16 of 54. Glendale sank 20 of 49 for 40.8 percent.``We started the game the way we wanted it to go,'' Starkweather said. ``We spread the floor and tried to get to the basket. We had several good looks, too, but the shots just wouldn't drop.``It also bothered us when they switched to a zone defense,'' Starkweather said. ``It forced some turnovers out of the trap.``They put the game away at the free throw line (11 of 12 in the fourth period),'' Starkweather said.Cory Nibert, 6-4 junior who hit seven of his first 10 shots, scored 20 points to pace Glendale. Jack Thomas, a 6-3 junior, added 10, off the bench, and three more Falcons scored eight or more points.Thomas' two straight treys allowed the Falcons to open a 27-12 bulge in the second quarter.Joplin received 15 points and three steals from Rodgers. Tony Foglesong, a 5-9 junior, dished out five assists.But even Rodgers cooled off in the second half when the proverbial lid seemed atop the Joplin basket. He was 1 of 8 and the team 8 of 31.Said Glendale coach Mike Keltner: ``Both teams offensively struggled and it wasn't a very pretty game to watch. Both teams played hard.``In fact,'' Keltner added, ``I'd say Joplin played harder than we did and outhustled us. We were fortunate to get several baskets in bunches.``Joplin competed,'' Keltner said. ``They did several things better than they did in our previous meeting. They're improving.'' ************************************************************************ Joplin boys to meet streaking Falcons By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer It doesn't get any easier for the Joplin High School boys basketball team.The Eagles, seeking their first victory in the Ozark Conference, play host to second-place Glendale tonight in Kaminsky Gymnasium.The program is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. with the junior varsity game.Glendale, which has a five-game winning streak, is 15-6 overall and 4-2 in the league.Said Joplin coach Jeff Stark- weather on Monday: ``Glendale is tall, balanced, young but experi- enced and disciplined. They have good shooters and are well- coached.''Joplin, which lost 69-57 to the Falcons on Jan. 7 in Springfield, is 4-16 overall and 0-6 in the league.Parkview (6-0) visits Central (3-3) and Hillcrest (3-3) calls on Kicka- poo (2-4) in tonight's other league games.Added Starkweather: ``Glendale used a run at the end of the half in the first meeting to secure an 11-point halftime lead. They were able to maintain it throughout the second half.''Said Glendale coach Mike Kelt- ner: ``We're playing better. We're making better decisions. We're still young, however. We've had growing pains.``We still haven't strung together 32 minutes,'' Keltner said. ``You can't peak without doing that.''Probable Glendale starters are 5-foot-10 sophomore David Ross, 6-2 sophomore Wes Pickering, 6-3 ju- nior Carter Clark, 6-4 junior Cory Nibert and 6-5 sophomore Blake Will.Nibert and Pickering are scoring in double figures, Keltner said, with Pickering adding seven rebounds.Pickering scored 16 and Nibert 14 in the earlier meeting.Starkweather plans to counter with 5-10 junior Brian Strickland, 5-8 junior Preston Weathers, 6-1 junior Mario Rodgers, 6-2 senior Archie Jordan and 6-4 junior Travis Hicks.Rodgers solved the Falcons for 20 points in the first meeting. ************************************************************************ Joplin boys travel to meet Glendale By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer It doesn't get any easier in the Ozark Conference for the Joplin High School boys basketball team.The Eagles, who dropped their league opener to preseason favorite Parkview last Friday night, journey to Springfield tonight to challenge Glendale.The Falcons placed third in the coaches poll behind defending champion Kickapoo and the Vikings.Plus, noted Joplin coach Jeff Starkweather, the Falcons should be seething on the heels of their disappointing conference opener against Kickapoo on Friday. Glendale, on its floor, squandered an 11-point lead in the third period in losing 52-49 to the Chiefs.Kickapoo's 19-2 run left it leading 47-41 before the Falcons recovered to secure a tie. But 6-foot-2 junior Marc Mayer converted a three-point play with five seconds remaining to boost the Chiefs.``Glendale (7-5 overall) had been playing well and playing well together,'' Starkweather said. ``They were getting scoring from different players. They are a big, deep, balanced team. They took their lumps last season with a very young team.''Glendale coach Mike Keltner listed a probable lineup of 5-foot-10 sophomore David Ross, 6-2 sophomore Wes Pickering, 6-5 sophomore Blake Will, 6-3 junior Carter Clark and 6-4 junior Cory Nibert.Keltner also makes liberal use of 6-2 senior Ryan Moore, 6-6 junior Rob Will, 6-3 junior Jack Thomas (who scored 15 against Kickapoo) and 6-0 junior Jon Jenkins.Said Keltner: ``We've been very inconsistent. We play a good four or five minutes, or even a quarter, then it's been the reverse.''The loss of 6-1 junior B.J. Hauck, because of a knee injury, has hampered the Falcons, Keltner said.Likely Joplin starters, according to Starkweather, are 5-9 senior Brett Wilson, 5-9 junior Tony Foglesong, 6-2 senior Archie Jordan, 6-1 junior Mario Rodgers and 6-4 junior Travis Hicks.``Our effort remains great,'' Starkweather said. ``The kids have played extremely hard.``But we aren't executing very well,'' Starkweather said. ``We're turning the ball over too many times. We're struggling with some of the basic stuff.''The program is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. with the junior varsity contest. ************************************************************************ Joplin-Glendale Basketball By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer Superior shooting powered Glendale past Joplin 79-63 in an Ozark Conference boys basketball game in Kaminsky Gymnasium on Tuesday night."Credit Glendale for shooting the ball so well and making the extra pass,'' Joplin coach Jeff Starkweather said.Said Falcon coach Mike Keltner: "Our kids are very unselfish. They appreciate passing. We did a good job of it."I thought Joplin played well,'' Keltner said. "They didn't quit. They shot the ball pretty well.''Added Starkweather: "I liked our effort. We didn't quit. But we had to spend so much energy in the second half trying to get even."We were a little impatient on offense in the first half and they absolutely killed us on the boards,'' Starkweather said.Glendale buried 63.5 percent of its shots from the field, including nine of 14 treys, to keep Joplin — 21 of 45 from the floor — on the slide.The Eagles lost their sixth in a row to fall to 4-8 overall and 0-2 in the Ozark entering next Tuesday's league outing at Hillcrest.Glendale, which had lost its conference opener to favored Kickapoo, improved to 10-4, 1-1. The Falcons play host to defending champion Parkview next Tuesday.Joplin moved within 63-53 at 5:16 of the fourth quarter on junior guard Tierre Fields' fifth trey that capped an 11-2 run that included Glendale's help in the form of a cool 1-for-5 from the field.But the Falcons, after a timeout, struck for eight consecutive points to lead 71-53."We need to value the ball better,'' Keltner said. "But I thought overall we played well. This was a dandy game for the fans to watch. There was a lot of good offensive plays.''Cory Nibert, 6-foot-5 senior coming off a 31-point salvo against Kansas City East, paced the Falcons with 24. Wesley Pickering, a 6-2 junior, and 6-4 senior Carter Clark added 16 and 15, respectively.Clark and Pickering, who scored 14 in the second half, each sank seven of 10 shots from the field. Nibert was 10 of 15.Clark and 6-5 junior Blake Will scored seven points apiece — they were 6-for-6 from the floor — in keying the Falcons' 25-13 blitz in the second period for a 42-25 halftime lead.The 5-9 Fields finished with 17 to pace three Eagles in double figures. Brian Strickland, a 5-10 senior, and Zac Sooter, a 6-2 freshman, added 13 and 10.Mario Rodgers, a 6-1 senior, paced the Eagles in rebounds (4) and assists (4). Fields and Strickland each had three steals.Standouts in reserve for the teams were the Eagles' Dantley Harbin, 5-9 junior who scored nine points, and the Falcons' Matt Tinsley, 5-10 sophomore who tossed in three 3s. *************************************************************** Joplin Boys By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer Joplin's boys, reeling a bit, get no relief tonight from the schedule.Springfield Glendale's tall, talented Falcons visit for an Ozark Conference prep basketball game in Kaminsky Gymnasium.Glendale, 9-4 overall, opened its league schedule last week by losing 72-64 to unbeaten Kickapoo. The Eagles, whose five straight losses include their Ozark opener 72-55 at Parkview, are 4-7.The program is scheduled to tip off at 6 with the junior varsity contest.Glendale, in addition to Kickapoo, Missouri's second-ranked Class 4A team, has lost to No. 1 St. Louis Lafayette and Arkansas powers Jonesboro and Springdale.Said Joplin coach Jeff Starkweather: "They have experience, good shooters and good size. The Ozark Conference will be extremely tough. We'll see in Glendale one of the teams in the upper echelon."We're playing a tough schedule,'' Starkweather said. "We have to be ready mentally and physically each game. If we aren't, we could lose badly.''Joplin is coming off losses of 91-65 and 76-48 in the Tulsa Memorial Pepsi-Cola Interstate Classic to the host Chargers and Sapulpa."We played with intensity against Memorial,'' Starkweather said. "But we didn't match Sapulpa's intensity."We have to be solid defensively against Glendale,'' Starkweather said. "They are a good offensive team. That's evident by their scores."We also have to execute on the offensive end,'' Starkweather said. "We have to be more patient and secure a good shot each time. We've been too impatint.''Said Falcon coach Mike Keltner: "They (the Eagles) could present problems for us. We could have a hard time, for example, handling their defensive pressure. We were pressured some in early games this season and we were OK."We're both playing tough schedules,'' Keltner said. "Hopefully, it'll pay off down the road."We have to be tougher mentally for our team to continue making progress,'' Keltner said. "We have to realize there are possessions — those at the end of a game — that are more important than others.''Probable Glendale starters are 6-foot junior David Ross, 6-2 junior Wes Pickering, 6-4 senior Carter Clark, 6-5 senior Cory Nibert and 6-5 junior Blake Will.Nibert, Pickering and Will are averaging 17, 15 and 14 points, respectively. Clark is averaging five rebounds.Pickering was an all-conference performer for last season's 19-8 edition.Starkweather plans to counter with 5-9 junior Tierre Fields, 5-10 senior Brian Strickland, 6-1 senior Mario Rodgers, 6-2 freshman Zac Sooter and 6-6 junior Jeremy Robinson. *************************************************************** Joplin Boys By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer Joplin's boys may find an aroused Glendale when the prep basketball teams collide tonight in an Ozark Conference game in Springfield."Starters? I'm unsure. Starters will depend on today's practice.''That was Glendale coach Mike Keltner talking before Monday's practice."We were disappointed in our last game,'' Keltner said. "We mentally backed off from them for the second time.''Keltner was referring to Friday's 65-56 loss at home to league unbeaten Kickapoo."We played well the first quarter, poorly the second and about even after that,'' Keltner said.Still, Joplin coach Jeff Starkweather believes the Falcons, 16-5 overall and 4-2 in the Ozark, are one of Missouri's top Class 4A teams. They've gone 8-2 their last 10 games with the losses to Kickapoo.The Eagles, hoping to rebound from Friday's disappointing 67-47 home loss to Parkview, have records of 7-13, 1-5.Starkweather's unhappiness with the Eagles' effort against Parkview is reflected in practices held both Saturday and Sunday."We spent a lot of time on trying to execute our offense better and getting into it quicker,'' Starkweather said. "We worked defensively on blocking out."I believe the practices were good ones,'' Starkweather said. "The players realize the season is winding down. They want to finish strong.''Glendale triumphed 79-63 on Jan. 13 in Joplin.Said Starkweather: "They shot the ball extremely well. They played extremely well together. They were very balanced (five players scored nine or more points). It isn't an overly tall team. But they have several players in the 6-3, 6-5 range.''Keltner, in the first game against Glendale, started 6-foot-4 senior Carter Clark, 6-5 senior Cory Nibert (who scored 24), 6-5 junior Blake Will, 6-0 junior David Ross and 6-2 junior Wesley Pickering.Starkweather probably will start 5-9 juniors Tierre Fields and Dantley Harbin, 6-1 senior Mario Rodgers, 6-2 freshman Zac Sooter and 6-6 junior Jeremy Robinson.Regular Brian Strickland, a 5-10 senior, missed Monday's practice because of sickness.Rodgers and Strickland are the Eagles scoring in double figures with 13.1 and 12.2, respectively. Fields is averaging 8 points, Robinson 7.2 and Sooter 4.8.Rodgers and Robinson are averaging 5.7 and 4.3 rebounds. They're tied for the team lead in free throw percentage (70.8) and Robinson is shooting 64 percent from the field.Fields is the leader in total assists (52), Strickland in steals (40) and Robinson in blocked shots (32).The program starts at 6 p.m. with the junior varsity game. *************************************************************** Eagles draw favored Glendale By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer The Glendale High School boys basketball team decisively handled Joplin twice — at least on the scoreboard — in dominating the Ozark Conference.But Eagle coach Jeff Starkweather believes his team will enter tonight's test against the Falcons with confidence based on their last meeting."We had a chance in the last game,'' Starkweather said Wednesday before the Eagles' practice. "We gained some confidence. Hopefully, that'll help tomorrow night.''Top-seeded Glendale (24-2) and No. 4 Joplin (12-14) are scheduled to meet at 6 in the first semifinal of the Class 4A District 12 Tournament at Springfield Parkview.Second-seeded Kickapoo (17-7) and No. 3 Parkview (21-5) tangle at 7:30.Survivors will meet on Friday night at 7:30 for the title and a berth in the Missouri Class 4A Tournament.Neosho ousted Neosho 77-74 and Parkview eliminated Carthage 75-40 in the first round on Tuesday night. Glendale and Kickapoo had byes.Glendale, 10-0 in the Ozark under Mike Keltner, won 68-46 at Joplin on Jan. 26 before winning 64-47 in Springfield on Feb. 19 to clinch the title.Joplin, which scored the first seven points in the second game, fell behind 32-20 before rallying within 42-35 late in the third quarter. The senior-dominated Falcons responded by scoring the next 10 points."It's so important that we start quickly and play consistently,'' Starkweather said. "We have to get back in transition. We have to attack the basket on offense."Their transition game and matchup zone on defense probably have hurt us the most in the past,'' Starkweather said."Glendale is a very balanced team with any of the starters capable of leading them in scoring,'' Starkweather said. "They shoot the ball so well.''Wesley Pickering, a 6-foot-2 all-stater, scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds to pace the Falcons in the last game. David Ross, a 5-10 senior, and 5-10 junior Matt Tinsley scored 13 and 10, respectively. Pickering notched 21 points in the first game.Three more key seniors are 6-3 Ben Garwitz, 6-2 Austin Thompson and 6-6 Blake Will.Probable Joplin starters are 5-9 Dantley Harbin, 6-0 sophomore Joey Hill, 6-3 sophomore Zac Sooter, 6-2 junior Nathan Hughes and 6-6 senior Jeremy Robinson.Hill and Robinson are the Eagles' double-figure scorers at 12.3 and 11.3, respectively. Robinson, the leading rebounder at 6.6, also is shooting 58.2 percent from the field.Hill is No. 1 in total assists (92) and steals (51). Sooter, who's shooting 72.6 from the free throw line, is adding 8.1 points and five rebounds. More scoring averages: Harbin 6.3 and Hughes 3.4. *************************************************************** JHS falls to No. 1 ranked Glendale 68-46 By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer Excellent starts in the first and third quarters carried visiting Glendale past Joplin 68-46 in an Ozark Conference boys prep basketball game on Tuesday night.The Falcons, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association, improved to 17-2 overall and 3-0 in the league.Joplin, which entertains Lebanon tonight — the junior varsity game tips off at 6 in Kaminsky Gymnasium — in a makeup nonconference game, fell to 8-9, 1-3.Joplin simply didn't shoot well enough from the field — 35.4 percent on 17 of 48 — to allow itself much of a chance."Turnovers, poor shooting and failure to get back in transition,'' Eagle coach Jeff Starkweather said. "We gave up too many easy baskets in transition in the first half.''The Eagles missed all of their 14 treys and committed 18 turnovers."They didn't surprise us with anything,'' Starkweather said of the Falcons. "They're a good team."They play so well together,'' Starkweather said. "They make the extra pass. Several times we did a decent job rotating on defense, but they made the extra pass to get a layup or short jumper."We have to bounce back and mentally be ready,'' Starkweather said. "Lebanon is another solid team. We'll have to play well.''Said Glendale coach Mike Keltner: "We had a good start to open the game (to lead 8-0) and we came back in the third quarter. Our intensity at both ends of the floor was pretty good. We became more aggressive and active in the third.''Their guards were superb as the Falcons built a 51-29 lead with 1:44 left in the period. They didn't have a turnover during that stretch and sank seven of 13 field goals."Given the circumstances, we had some guys step up and do a nice job,'' Keltner said.Senior regulars Blake Will (6-foot-6) and Ben Garwitz (6-3) didn't play because of a broken finger and ankle sprain, respectively.The Falcons finished 20 of 37 from the field and 27 of 35 from the charity stripe.All-stater Wesley Pickering, a 6-2 senior, scored 21 to pace three Falcons in double figures. David Ross, a 5-11 senior, and 5-10 junior Matt Tinsley added 14 and 13.No Eagle scored in double figures. Jeremy Robinson, a 6-6 senior, had nine points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Joey Hill had 9 points, 4 steals and 3 assists. *************************************************************** Falcons next up for JHS By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer Joplin's boys resume their Ozark Conference basketball schedule tonight with a visit from Missouri's top-ranked Class 4A team.Springfield Glendale, 16-2 overall, is 2-0 in the Ozark.Joplin is 8-8, 1-2 after finishing second last week in the Webb City Classic.Tonight's program in Kaminsky Gymnasium starts at 6 with the junior varsity game.Parkview (3-0) is at Central (1-2) and Hillcrest (0-3) visits Kickapoo (1-2) in tonight's other league pairings.Glendale has lost two of three games — a 61-53 decision to St. Raymond's of the Bronx, N.Y., in the title game of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions and 60-49 to Jefferson City on Saturday in the MFA Shootout at Columbia."It was our poorest effort of the season,'' Falcon coach Mike Keltner said of the loss to the Jays. "I don't believe any of our kids were happy. Still, we had our chances to win it."We'd been awfully good until a week ago,'' Keltner said.Overcoming the loss of 6-foot-6 senior Blake Will with a broken finger — suffered early in the fourth quarter against St. Raymond's on Jan. 17 — confronts the Falcons."We don't have a glaring weakness,'' Keltner said. "But our depth will be tested.''Joplin coach Jeff Starkweather said the Glendale strength begins with its exceptional all-around balance."They're physical enough,'' Starkweather added. "This is the best Glendale team in my four years.''Likely Glendale starters are 6-2 all-stater Wesley Pickering (who's averaging about 14 points), 5-11 David Ross, 5-11 Matt Tinsley, 6-3 Ben Garwitz and 6-2 Austin Thompson. Tinsley, a junior, is the only non-senior.Starkweather plans to start 5-9 senior Dantley Harbin, 6-0 sophomore Joey Hill, 6-2 junior Nathan Hughes, 6-3 sophomore Zac Sooter and 6-6 senior Jeremy Robinson."We did some good things and are starting to play well together,'' Starkweather said of the Eagles' overall effort at Webb City. "We just need to continue."Glendale is a veteran team,'' Starkweather said. "They've played together a long time. They're patient until they get a good shot. They all can shoot the ball. Handling that patience will be a key.''Keltner watched the Eagles lose to visiting Central last Tusday night."They're playing young kids and they're gaining valuable experience,'' Keltner said. "Central (a six-point loser against Glendale) played very well against them.''Hill and Robinson are averaging 13.5 and 10.7 points, respectively, with Robinson the rebound leader at 6.6. Robinson also is shooting 57.3 percent from the field.Sooter and Harbin are averaging 7.6 and 7.4 points.

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