Joplin gets best of Nevada in semifinal
CARTHAGE, Mo. -- Second-seeded Joplin defeated Nevada, 51-44, in the semifinals of the Carthage Tournament here Friday night despite a 24-point effort from Tiger Jordan Kerbs.
The Tigers, 1-1, were set to take on McDonald County, the tournament's No. 8 seed, in Saturday's third-place game. Nevada will also play Tuesday night at Carl Junction, Mo., as the second half of a varsity doubleheader with the Tiger girls' squad.
Although Nevada outscored Joplin 23-16 in the fourth quarter, it wasn't enough to overcome a 35-21 deficit after scoring only 11 total points in the middle two periods.
"We let (Joplin) dictate things on both sides of the floor," Nevada head coach John McNeley told the Joplin Globe. "They scored (several points on) layups and uncontested shots from the perimeter."
Dan Lovinger added 10 points for Nevada.
McDonald County lost to Aurora in the other semifinal, 72-59. Josh Pottorff scored 18 to lead the Mustangs.
NEVADA: Hinkle 1, Davis 0, Splitter 0, Kerbs 24, Richardson 5, Lovinger 10, Domer 0, Cavener 3, Cherry 1, Hughes 0. TOTAL: 44.
JOPLIN: Harrison 7, Williams 11, Menke 10, Hackett 7, Taylor 2, Davis 6, McCreary 6, Nguyen 0, Britt 2, Stokes 0, Hudspeth 0, Alexander 0. TOTAL: 51.
Nevada........................ 10 6 5 23 -- 44
Joplin.......................... 16 9 10 16 -- 51
Three-point field goals: Nevada 5 (Kerbs 2, Lovinger 2, Cavener), Joplin 4 (Williams 3, McCreary).
Total fouls: Nevada 18, Joplin 19. Fouled out: none.