Roundup: Clarkton rolls over Richland

DEERING, Mo. -- One of basketball's most common clichés is that free throws win ballgames.

For the Southland Rebels Friday, it was certainly true.

The Rebels made their last 13 free throws and 14 out of 15 after halftime to pull out a 61-53 overtime win over the Delta C7 Chargers here Friday.

In other local games Friday, it was South Pemiscot 62, Holcomb 44; Malden 94, Bernie 65; Campbell 70, Senath-Hornersville 42; and Clarkton 98, Richland 66.

Southland (3-16) connected on 19-of-22 from the foul stripe Friday to snap a five-game losing streak.

"Definitely huge. I didn't realize we shot it that well," Southland coach Gary Burnside said. "I know without that it would've been a different ballgame."

Delta (0-15) most of the game, but the Rebels used a 9-0 run to open the fourth quarter to go up 37-32 on Jason Cox's field goal with 6:35 left in regulation.

Southland led 46-40 after Michael George scored with 3:52 to go in the fourth, but a James Blanton drained a 3-pointer and Sloan Richardson scored after a steal to make it a one-point game (46-45) 27 seconds later.

George sank a pair of free throws to push the lead back to three, but Richardson's 3 tied it at 48-all, and his layup in traffic with 1:36 to go in regulation put Delta up 50-48.

However, George came through for Southland again, sinking a pair of foul shots with 1:03 left in the fourth to send the game to overtime.

After the two teams traded baskets in the opening minute of the extra session, Richardson gave the Chargers a 53-52 lead on a free throw with 2:41 remaining.

But it was George again coming through for the Rebels, completing a 3-point play with 2:05 to go to put Southland ahead to stay.

It may be a bit of an understatement to say George was clutch Friday, as he scored the Rebels' last eight points of the fourth quarter and 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and OT.

"He came up big down late," Burnside said. "When you go 8-for-9 from the free-throw line, it makes a big difference for us."

Southland was led in scoring by Justin Kersey, who pumped in 26 points and was 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

"He really picked it up intensity-wise and got some big stickbacks," Burnside said. "I thought he made a big difference with his defensive effort also."

Richardson led all scorers with 28 points, while Blanton added nine for Delta on three 3s.

Cox finished with 11 for the Rebels.

The two schools won't have to wait long for a rematch.

The Chargers and Southland will meet for the third time this season Monday at 7 p.m. in the Tri-County Conference Tournament at Gideon.

At Clarkton, the host Reindeer drained 10 3-pointers as they won their 10th in a row.

Clarkton (19-1) outscored the Rebels 30-10 in the second quarter to take a 51-33 to the intermission.

Tyler Criglar went off for a game-high 36 points, while Casey Redden added 23 on three 3s and Dustin Ferguson tossed in 19 on the strength of four triples.

Cameron Whittaker led Richland with 29 points, while Drew Thornton and Tommy Stafford each added 14.

At Bernie, the visiting Green Wave outscored the Mules 31-12 in the second quarter to take a 16-point lead to the locker room and steadily pulled away from there.

Malden (22-1) led 43-27 at the half and 61-42 entering the final period.

Quentin Gordon and Robbie Ison led the Green Wave (22-1) with 16 points each, while Quentin Franks added 13, Ryan Criglar 12 and Trey Porter finished with 11.

Silas Dill led Bernie (10-8) with 16 points, while Doug Johnson tossed in 15 and Zach Curry chipped in 14.

The Chaffee boys basketball team has won 50 percent more games than it did last season.

The Red Devils posted their sixth win Friday night, beating host Oak Ridge 60-48.

Andy Hendrix hit four 3-pointers and had a game-high 21 points for the Red Devils (6-13). Jerrod Steger added 16 points for the Red Devils.

Garrett Light led Oak Ridge (3-14) with 19 and Dustin Owens had 12.

Notre Dame improved to 7-1 in the SEMO Conference with a road win.

The Bulldogs (21-4) will end their season with a home conference game against Caruthersville on Tuesday, bidding for a share of the conference crown.

Charleston also is 7-1 in league play with a game against Poplar Bluff to go.

Ryan Willen led Notre Dame with 24 points, Austin Greer had 18 and John Unterreiner had 17.

Scott City 82,

Scott City came back from a four-point fourth-quarter deficit to win a home.

The Rams trailed 55-51 after three quarters, but outscored Bloomfield 31-22 in the fourth quarter.

Alex King led the Rams (15-7) with 29 points, Jay Simmons had 22, Caleb Estes added 14 points and Jamie Pinkston had 10 points. Pinkston added eight assists.

Bell City spurted late to shake off stubborn South Iron, as the host Cubs posted their 15th straight win.

The Cubs (19-4), who led 50-47 after three quarters, were paced by Nick Niemczyk with 26 points and Will Bogan with 15.

Bell City hit 23 of 35 free throws, compared to 11-for-19 for South Iron (16-4).

Advance held host Delta to seven points or less in each quarter.

Adam Baker led the Hornets (16-7) with 23 points. Cody Mitchell added 10.

Nathan Stroder had seven points for the Bobcats (3-14).

The Indians defeated New Madrid County Central on the road Friday in a SEMO Conference battle.

Jackson led 14-10 after one quarter and extended the lead to 27-21 by halftime.

The Indians put the game away in the second half, outscoring NMCC 32-21 the rest of the way.

NMCC was led by Lance Price's nine points. Leslie Williams followed up with eight points.

Jackson was led by Antonio Garritano and Spencer Goodman with 15 points apiece.

NMCC falls to 4-16 on the season.

Eagle Ridge 56,

Eagle Ridge knocked off rival New Salem for third place in the SLMCAA Conference tournament.

Ben Douglass led Eagle Ridge with 21 points, Aaron Shell had 17 and Daniel Cohen added 11 points and 17 rebounds.

Brett Jones scored 24 points for New Salem, including five 3-pointers.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Callie Kielhofner and Erica Michelsen scored 13 points apiece to lead Oran to a win.

Tiffany Glastetter added 11 points for the Eagles (13-8).

Perryville improved to 7-2 in the Jefferson County Conference with a road win.

Alyssa Bauwens led the Pirates (15-7) with 14 points, Alicia Kueker had 13 and Nicole Gremaud and Kendra Schilli added 10 points apiece.

Some information provided by the SEMO News Service and Standard Democrat staff reports.