Nevada boys fall in triple overtime thriller
Herald-Tribune
ANDERSON, Mo. -- Nevada nearly spoiled it, but McDonald County's Miquel Morales made sure his Senior Night ended well. Morales scored seven points late in the game as his Mustangs earned a thrilling 52-46 win over Nevada in triple overtime on Friday night.
Morales made five of six free throws late in the game to hold off the visiting Tigers.
After two overtimes, the game was tied at 44 and went into a third OT.
Morales made a layup after a steal and his team never trailed again. Nevada missed shots on its next six possessions and had to foul again and again. The Mustangs hit six of 12 foul shots in the third OT to secure the win. Mac County outscored Nevada 8-2 in the third OT.
Nevada falls to 9-13, while Mac County improves to 7-14 on the season.
Junior guard Silas Smith led Nevada with 19 points and senior Drew Bryson added 11.
Morales and Jordan Wells scored 17 points apiece for Mac County.
The game was tied at 40 after one overtime. After both teams traded misses, Mac County's Wells hit one free throw for a 41-40 lead with 1:45 to play. Smith of Nevada made two foul shots to put his team in front.
But Morales of Mac County drained a three from the top of the key with 38 seconds left to give the Mustangs a 44-42 lead.
After a timeout, Nevada's Smith scored on a bank shot for the tie. Mac County missed a half-court shot at the buzzer.
In the first overtime, Nevada's Bryson hit a key three, but Mac County answered with a three of their own by Morales.
Moments later, Wells hit one free throw to give the Mustangs the lead.
Nevada missed two jumpers on the ensuing possession, Mac County secured the rebound and called timeout with 45 seconds left.
After a foul, Morales missed the one and one, but Wells got the board and drew a foul. He hit one of two for a 40-38 cushion.
But Morales then fouled Bryson. The point guard made both free throws with 26 seconds left to make it 40-40.
Morales missed a shot with 4.6 seconds left. Nevada had one last chance, but Smith missed just before the buzzer, sending the game into a second OT.
Neither team was able to score in bunches in this one.
A low-scoring first quarter saw Mac County take an 8-3 lead.
But Nevada got two free throws from Bryson and a three from Smith to tie the game at eight entering the second quarter.
The game was tied at 14 when Nevada got back-to-back hoops from Smith and Bryson to pull ahead.
After hoops from Bryson and Smith, Nevada led 22-19 at the half. Smith had 13 points by the break.
The Mustangs scored the first six points of the third quarter to take the lead.
But the Tigers ended the quarter with a 7-2 run, with free throws from Smith, a hoop inside by Bubba Banes and a trey from Joseph Ferry. Nevada led 30-29 as the fourth quarter began.
Ferry's three-pointer gave Nevada a 35-33 lead, but Mac County's Wells tied it up with a hoop inside with under four minutes to play.
Neither team could score over the next few minutes of regulation. Mac County had the ball with 30 seconds left, but a Morales jumper missed at the buzzer and the game went into a first overtime.
Notes: Nevada's boys host Springfield Central on Tuesday night. The varsity game should start at about 7:30 p.m.
In the JV boys game, Mac County won 51-47.
Nevada beat Mac County earlier this season, 61-53.
The Tigers played without Cory Kerbs, who has an ankle injury.
Mac County 52, Nevada 46, 3OT
NE 8 14 8 5 5 4 2 -- 44
MC 8 11 10 6 5 4 8 -- 52
Nevada: Drew Bryson 11, Silas Smith 19, Jamin Brandt 1, Bubba Banes 4, Isaiah Colopy 2, Lane Ketterman 0, Joe Ferry 9, Nathan Colopy 0, Chris Enriquez 0, Austin Gerling 0. Three-pointers: Smith 3, Ferry 2, Bryson 1.
McDonald County: Wells 17, Morales 17, Buttram 11, Fickle 2, Lett 5. Three-pointers: Morales 2.