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8th-grade Tigers edged by Webb City in season-opener
A furious fourth-quarter rally came up just short as the Nevada Tigers eighth-grade basketball team was defeated 42-37 in its season-opener against defending Tri-County Conference regular and post-season champion, Webb City Cardinals.
Trailing by 10 points late in the fourth quarter, the Tigers went on a 10-3 blitz to slice the Cardinals lead to 40-37. However, Nevada was unable to capitalize down the stretch at the free throw line.
"The boys gave a great effort tonight," Tigers head coach Lance Sargent said. "They were nervous in the first half. They have to believe, and I think they figured things out in the second half. Webb City is a good group of kids who played really hard."
Aside from shooting 7-of-17 from the charity stripe, including missing the front-end of four 1-and-1's, the Tigers were also off-target on some point-blank shots.
"We missed a lot of lay-ups in the first half," Sargent said. "But it was still a great team effort, and couldn't be more proud of them. The kids gain respect when they play hard."
First half
In front of a packed-house Monday night at Nevada Middle School, Austin Bash dropped in the first points of Nevada's season, handing the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Webb City proceeded to go on a 12-3 run, opening up a seven ppint lead.
A Dalton Gayman driving lay-up with 1:18 to play in the first quarter cut Webb's lead to five. Gayman however, was forced to the bench for the entire second quarter after picking up his second foul.
"I have a rule if you get the second one, you don't play again in the first half," Sargent said.
The teams exchanged baskets to open the second quarter, with Tyler Howard and Bash scoring to make the score 16-11.
The Webb lead was sliced to three when Gayman came up with an offensive rebound and put-back with 5:01 remaining in the half.
Late in the second quarter the Cardinals went on an 8-0 run capped by Terrell Kabala's driving lay-up from the right-wing, as Webb led 24-13. Trailing 26-14, Nevada's Noah Cheaney hit a long jumper beating the second half buzzer.
Trailing 37-27 with 3:45 remaining in regulation, Gayman knocked down a pair of free throws, followed by a Bash drive drive-and-bucket, trimming Webb's lead to six.
Nevada's Matthew Thorp closed the gap to four courtesy of an 8-foot jumper from the left-baseline. A Chavez Wilson offensive rebound and score pushed the Cardinals lead to 39-33 with 1:53 on the clock.
Back at the other end, Gayman threaded a pass to Thorp for the lay-up, as the Tigers shaved the lead to 39-35. Down by five, Gayman drove the length of the court, converting a lay-up, as Nevada trailed 40-37 with 32 seconds left in regulation.
After the Gayman basket, Webb was able to break Nevada's press as Howard's lay-up put the Cardinals on top 42-37 with 8 seconds on the clock.
For the Tigers Bash finished with a game-high 14 points.
"I challenged him to keep giving more effort," Sargent said of Bash. "And I'm going to continue to challenge him because the kid has a motor. When he goes full-speed, there's not many guys who can guard him. I thought he passed the ball well, rebounded well, and had a great game. And I thought we rebounded really well as a team."
Gayman finished with a double-double, tallying 13 and 11 rebounds. Sargent said losing Gayman in the first half was a big blow, but added that he was well-rested, and came out strong in the second half.
"Dalton helped carry the load in the second half," Sargent said.
Sargent also said he was impressed with Thorp's performance. Thorp scored seven points on the night.
"He played well tonight," Sargent said. "Especially defensively, holding possibly the top player in the Tri-County Conference, (Kabala) to a hard-earned 13 points."
Up next
The Tigers host Fort Scott Middle School, today, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Nevada Middle School.