Top-seeded Bloomfield rebounds after early exit with win over Doniphan

sports@standard-democrat.com

BLOOMFIELD -- Just because they were no longer in the hunt for their own Christmas Tournament championship, the top-seeded Bloomfield Wildcats didn't hang their heads.

As a matter of fact, they turned a few in the first eight minutes.

Bloomfield (8-1) used a dominant opening frame to defeat fourth-seeded Doniphan as they hung on for a 45-32 win on Tuesday during the fifth-place semifinals at Bloomfield High School.

The Wildcats scored the games first 14 points and withstood a rally by the Dons to secure a spot in fifth-place game after falling to eighth-seeded Dexter during an upset on Monday.

"We were a little bummed not being in the championship bracket," Bloomfield's Noah Vandiver said. "We just knew this was an important game if we want to play all four nights. We just came out and coach told us to just play our game. I thought we handled it pretty well."

A letdown from the Wildcats after their second round loss to Dexter wouldn't have been a surprise to see after hopes of bringing home their first Bloomfield Christmas Tournament title since 1966 were dashed in a tough, physical game just 24 hours prior.

The Wildcats, who looked determined not to let that loss effect them, opened its game against Doniphan with a 14-0 run and led 18-3 after the first quarter.

"A lot of that was defensive intensity," Bloomfield coach Jason Karnes said. "We were able to get some deflections, get some steals and we rebounded really well. That was a good thing to see after last night.

"We've got a motivated bunch, an experienced bunch of kids. After last night I think they still wanted to go out there and prove that we're still a good team."

Doniphan outscored Bloomfield by a margin of four the next two quarters and cut a once 19-point deficit to eight with 2:43 left in the third quarter.

"They're a good team," Karnes said about Doniphan. "Coach Carpenter does a great job with that program. We knew they weren't going to quit. We kind of weathered the storm for a little bit, got some big stops, big buckets."

Austin Bond was one player who stepped up for Bloomfield during that stretch. He scored seven of his team-high 11 points in the second half and went 3 for 4 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter. The senior scored seven-straight at one point to push a 34-25 lead to 39-25 with six minutes to go in the game. Doniphan never got closer.

"Austin Bond made a couple big buckets that were huge for us," Karnes said.

Aiding Doniphan's push was Bloomfield's trouble at the free throw line. They finished 16 for 34 as a team and went 8 for 20 in the second half.

"We got to get to where we make some of those free throws so we don't have those empty possessions," Karnes said.

Klay Barton led Doniphan with 13 points while Lucas Moe ended with nine.

Bloomfield will take on third-seeded South Pemiscot in the fifth-place game Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Doniphan 3 10 12 7 -- 32

Bloomfield 18 9 9 9 -- 45

DONIPHAN (32) -- Klay Barton 13, Brad Eddens 2, Austin Leroux 3, Lucas Moe 9, Trent Lippoldt 5. FG 11 FT 5-9 F 28. (3-pointers: Barton 3, Leroux 1, Moe 1. Fouled out: Moe.)

BLOOMFIELD (45) -- Tim Hector 3, Caleb Pulley 8, Peyton Bell 4, Nathan Newell 4, Austin Bond 11, Tyler Battles 4, Noah Vandiver 8, Alex Gibbs 3. FG 14 FT 16-34 F 16. (3-pointers: Pulley 1. Fouled out: none.)