By Jeff Kessinger (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
For all the well-deserved attention Greenwood gets for scoring the basketball, it was their defensive commitment that helped them win their second straight Blue & Gold Tournament championship.
Greenwood held Republic without a point for nearly five minutes in the fourth quarter to seal a 57-54 Gold Division win over Republic Thursday at JQH Arena.
“Defense wins championships. Thatʼs something weʼre trying to live by,” Greenwood senior Grant Harper said.
“We ended up playing some good defense and coming out with a win. … This being our home court, weʼre just happy to come out with a win. It may not be the prettiest win, but then you look back and see a Class 2 school win back-to-back. Weʼre happy with that for sure.”
Republic, the second seed, gave No. 1 Greenwood fits all afternoon, rallying back after a sluggish start. The Tigers trailed just 30-29 at the break and took their first lead of the afternoon with an 8-0 run.
Carson Neff started the rally with a 3- pointer from the left wing. He followed that bucket with a pair of free throws and Avery Moodyʼs bucket in the lane put Republic on top 36-32.
Ahlante Askewʼs 3 from the top of the key gave the Tigers a 45-44 edge heading into the fourth quarter. It was also the last bucket Republic could manage until late in the fourth quarter.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Greenwood turned back the Tigers on six straight possessions and retook the lead on a Nic Burri 3-pointer. Aminu Mohammed later sank a jumper from the left baseline to make it a 49-45 Blue Jays lead with 4:23 to play.
It turns out, that lead was just big enough. Drew McMillin, a senior guard, kept the Tigers within striking distance, driving the lane for 2, hitting his free throws and knocking down a 3-pointer from the top of the key to pull Republic within 54-52 with 19 seconds to play.
“We were just trying to stop Drew and Ahlante,” junior Tommy Pinegar said. “Theyʼre very good players and we had to get it done.”
Pinegar put things on ice at the foul line. He went 3-for-4 at the stripe in the final 12 seconds and McMillinʼs last-gasp 3-pointer hit the rim and bounced off to end the game.
Mohammed led all scorers with 24 points. Pinegar ended his afternoon with 9, while Burri and Victory Naboya added 8 each. McMillinʼs 20 points lead Republic. Askew joined him in double figures, with 11 and Carson Neff chipped in 8.
“I missed some big ones last night, but (Naboya) saved me,” Pinegar said. “I just knew I had to come more confident in those last few free throws and I sank them.”
The Blue Jays smiled through the postgame trophy presentation and picture, but their attitudes when they left the locker room made it clear: theyʼre not done.
Greenwood will try to ride this momentum into the second half of the season as they chase a state championship.
“Last year was our first time ever getting a championship. Weʼve still got a long ways to go,” Pinegar said. “We want to win state this year and weʼre not trying to lose any games this year.”
Box Score
Republic 9 20 16 9 — 54
Greenwood 18 12 14 13 — 57
Republic — Drew McMillin 20, Ahlante Askew 11, Carson Neff 8, Avery Moody 6 Oliver Welch 4, Tyson Young 3, Devon McMillin 2
Greenwood — Aminu Mohammed 24, Tommy Pinegar 9, Nic Burri 8, Victory Naboya 8, Grant Harper 6, Tanner Jones 2
