HS Basketball Report by ALAN BRAKE

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R-2 BASKETBALL WILDCATS DEFEAT CLOPTON

The Montgomery County R-2 Wildcats Boys’ basketball team hosted Clopton on Tuesday, January 29, in an East Missouri (EMO) Conference game and won 56-39.  They also played against Wellsville-Middletown for the Montgomery County Trophy on Friday, February 1.  However, information on this game was not available when this report was written.  There will be a report on this game in next week’s issue of the Standard.

With this win the Wildcats have won 5 of their last 6 games and improved their overall record to 12 wins and 7 losses.  They also maintain an undefeated EMO Conference record of 5-0 heading into the last 2 weeks of the regular season, which includes 4 conference games.

Tuesday’s game was actually much closer than the score indicated, as Clopton took the lead early in the second half before the Wildcats put together six 4-0 runs and one 5-0 run to pull away to a 17-point victory.

In the first quarter the teams exchanged baskets and free throws, with the Wildcats leading 9-8 at the end of the quarter.  In a preview of things to come in the second half, R-2 started the second quarter with a 6-0 run to lead Clopton 15-8.  However, Clopton outscored the Wildcats 7-4 the rest of the quarter to close the score to 19-15 at halftime.

Clopton scored the first 5 points in the first 1:08 of the third quarter to take a 20-19 lead.  The Wildcats then made a 3-pointer to retake the lead at 22-20, only to have Clopton tie the game at 22-22 with 6:09 left in the period.  From that point the Wildcats had four 4-0 scoring runs (between Clopton baskets), to outscore Clopton 16-9 and lead 38-29 at the end of the quarter.

In the first 1:12 of the fourth quarter Clopton outscored R-2 4-3 to close the score to 41-33.  The Wildcats then put together three more scoring runs (4-0, 5-0 and 4-0) between Clopton baskets.  In so doing, they outscored Clopton 15-6 the rest of the way to win the game 56-39.

Cameron Parrish led the Wildcats in scoring with 15 points (5 field goals/FGs, 1 3-pointer, and 2 free throws/FTs).  He was followed in the scoring by Jerad Jordan with 14 points (2 FGs/1 3-pointers/7 FTs), Tim Kroll with 10 points (2 FGs/2 3-pointers), Jacob Davis and Justin Hall with 5 points each (2 FGs/1 FT each), Brian Davis with 4 points (2 FGs), and Dylan Skeens with 3 points (1 FG/1 FT).  Jackson Bishop also played but did not score.

In other key stats, Parrish led the Wildcats in rebounds with 11 and blocked shots with 5.  Kroll led the team in assists with 6, followed by Jordan with 4.  J. Davis led the team in steals with 2.

This week the Wildcats have 2 more EMO Conference games.  On Tuesday, February 5, they host North Callaway.  The Jr. Varsity game will be first at 6:00, followed by the Varsity game around 7:30.

On Friday, February 8, the Varsity Wildcats and Lady Wildcats will play at Elsberry.  This is a “make-up” game for both teams from games that were postponed in late December.  The Lady Wildcats will play first at 6:00, followed by the Wildcats’ game around 7:30.

The 2012-13 regular season comes to an end next week with 2 EMO Conference home games (State District Tournament starts February 18).  On Monday, February 11, the Wildcats will host Community R-VI.  On Friday, February 15, they will host Silex.  On both nights the Jr. Varsity game will be first at 6:00, followed by the Varsity game around 7:30.

The Wildcats encourage you to attend their games, to support them and cheer them on to victory.