BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
Southwest repeats district championship
Publisher’s Note: More photos from Southwest’s Class 3, District 12 championship may be found at: https://cassvilledemocrat.zenfoliosite.com/photo-galleries/baarry-county-boys-basketball
A sizable contingent of Southwest boys basketball fans collectively held their breath on Saturday as a Lamar 3-pointer sailed toward the basket as the game’s final buzzer sounded.
The shot missed, and that held breath escaped into screams of joy as the Trojans secured their second consecutive Class 3, District 12 championship.
“This is amazing,” said Charlie Pippin, who put up 14 points in the contest. “This is nothing like I have ever experienced before. It shows all our hard work and dedication this season has paid off. We practiced and worked with each other, and that’s showing at the end.”
Rusty Roe, Southwest boys basketball coach, said the feeling of winning a district title is something he again cannot explain.
“The feeling is the same,” he said. “Being able to see these guys celebrate all of their hard work with another district championship is great. Watching them celebrate with a community that has loved and supported us is the best, though.”
Roe said the Trojans had a gameplan and faced challenges, and he was proud to see those overcome.
“We wanted to be aggressive and play, and when the kids started playing to not lose, that’s when we got in bad foul trouble and had to be more selective,” he said. “Lamar is an athletic team and that increased pressure made the ball tough to take care of.”
Southwest opened the scoring with a Kasen Holder 3-pointer, which Lamar immediately matched with two 3s. A 9-0 run by the Trojans put them up by 6, and Lamar got as close as 2 twice throughout the first half, but Southwest maintained a 40-32 lead at the break.
Still up 8 at the end of the third, fighting off each Lamar run with a run of their own, the Trojans saw trouble headed their way midway through the fourth.
A 7-2 Tigers run brought the lead to 3, and after trading runs again, Lamar tied the game at 64 with under 90 seconds to play.
Lamar had been pressing Southwest for most of the game, and the Trojans had frequently found ways around the defense and to easy transition points. That happened again late in the fourth, with Tyler Meek — not long after having missed two layups in a frenzied string of turnovers — put Southwest up 66-64 and cap his 8-point night.
“We prepared for the press and knew what we needed to do,” Roe said. “We did a great job in the first half and got a lot of transition points. We were patient in what we did and got into the gaps and windows.
“Tyler is also way more comfortable as an outside shooter, so that says a tremendous amount about him to be able to have that mistake and still want the ball and to go get it. I think he grew a lot as a player from that series.”
Pippin said when Lamar began pressing, the Trojans were ready.
“I’m so glad they pressed us because that’s the stuff we prepped for,” he said. “We’re excited to see the press because that’s where we shine.”
A free throw on an intentional Lamar foul put Southwest up 3, but the Tigers managed a field goal to bring it to 67-66. After a timeout and play call, Brendyn Paulsen, who scored 15 points and led with 15 rebounds and 6 assists, inbounded the ball to Holder, who led in scoring with 21, and though it came loose, Meek scooped it up and darted to mid-court before being fouled.
He hit the second of two free throws to put the Trojans up 2, and on the ensuing possession, Paulsen swatted away a Lamar shot with only 2.3 seconds to go.
“That kid drove and got to the basket, and Brendyn did a good job dropping and covering that,” Roe said. “Him playing it like that made me look smart as a coach.”
The Tigers inbounded from the end line, and a deep 3-pointer found only air as the buzzer sounded and Southwest secured the win.
Pippin said though the offense was in sync, it was the defense that deserves the most credit for the win.
“The defense was the key,” he said. “We put all we had into the defense and just trusted each other with shots on offense.”
Last year’s 56-42 victory over Stockton at Diamond was the Trojans’ first district title in 57 years, and Pippin said he hopes the streak goes on.
“I hope they all stay with it and have another great season and work to their best next year,” he said. “Go Trojans!”
Southwest is 22-6 this season — winning 10 of its last 11 — and hosted Greenwood (24-3) in sectional (state round of 16) action at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Results were not available as of presstime.
Additional stats from Saturday’s win include: Brady Brinkman, 8 points; and Caleb Ayer, 2 points, 5 assists.
