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A tale of two halves
By Jason Peake
Daily Mail Sports Editor
NEVADA--John McNeley's halftime speech definitely worked.
After a poor first half, the Nevada High School boys basketball team turned things around in a hurry.
The Tigers erased an eight-point halftime deficit and pulled away with a big fourth quarter spurt to knock off Springfield Central 62-45 on Tuesday night at Wynn Gymnasium.
Nevada nearly had as many turnovers as points in the first half, which saw Central take a 25-17 lead into intermission.
But the Tigers looked like a different team after the break. They quickly took the lead and pulled away.
"We challenged them at halftime," McNeley said. "And we just tried to make corrections in the second half. And we just raised our energy level. We didn't do what we needed to do in the first half. We weren't fundamental in the first half. The little things and more energy changed the tide in the second half."
Nevada outscored Central 26-12 in the third quarter and led 43-37 as the fourth quarter began.
The Tigers later strung together a 14-0 run to turn a close one into a blowout.
Senior Joseph Ferry scored 15 points for the Tigers, who improve to 10-13 on the season. Three others reached double figures for NHS, as Isaiah Colopy scored 13, Bubba Banes added 12 and Silas Smith had 10. Drew Bryson just missed double digits, finishing with eight points.
Central, a team that has struggled all season, led 13-7 after one period of play. A 12-10 second quarter gave Central a 25-17 lead.
McNeley said his team just wasn't smart with the basketball in the first half.
"There's no doubt we're the better team," he said. "But in the first half, they were better than us. We breathed life into them."
Nevada cut down on its turnovers in the second half. The Tigers also picked apart Central's zone. The game was tied at 33 when Smith and Ferry scored for Nevada.
Late points from Banes and a three from Bryson made it 43-37 at the end of the third period.
Nevada was up 48-42 when they pulled away for good by scoring 14-straight points to make it 62-42 with 1:10 to play.
Senior Night is Friday
The Tigers will host El Dorado Springs on Friday in the final home date of the season.
"It's Senior Night, so it will be a big one for us," McNeley said. "We'll get their very best effort. They have some kids that are very capable. Our kids will be ready."
Nevada 62, S. Central 45
CEN 13 12 12 8 -- 45
NEV 7 10 26 19 -- 62
Nevada: Drew Bryson 8, Silas Smith 10, Joseph Ferry 15, Cory Kerbs 2, Isaiah Colopy 13, Jamin Brandt 3, Bubba Banes 12. Totals 16 (3) 21-30 62. Three-pointers: Bryson, Smith, I. Colopy 1 each. Fouls 16.
Springfield Central: Bedell 3, Robinson 13, Gentry 7, Dillon 4, Moseley 6, Shelton 2, Williams 6, Johnson 4. Totals 12 (5) 6-11 45. Three-pointers: Robinson 3, Gentry 2. Fouls 25.