Nevada boys hold on late, win season-opener

Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Silas Smith shoots a three-pointer for Nevada on Tuesday night vs. Monett at the Carthage Invitational. Smith scored 18 for the Tigers. Jason Peake/ Daily Mail

By Jason Peake

Daily Mail Sports Editor

CARTHAGE-- Nevada's new run and gun style of play gave them a big halftime lead.

Isaiah Colopy handles the ball for the Tigers against Monett's Tyler Webb.

But it took a more traditional style of play down the stretch to secure a win.

Nevada got it done in crunch time in an 83-75 win over Monett in a first round game of the 65th Annual Carthage Invitational on Tuesday night in the 2011-12 season-opener.

Using a fast-paced offense and subbing players in and out constantly, the Tigers raced out to a 15-point lead by intermission.

"I liked the way we played in the first half," Nevada Coach John McNeley said. "The first half pretty much went the way we wanted it to. We shot the ball real well in the first half and played pretty solid."

Nevada hit eight three-pointers in the first half, and Silas Smith's buzzer-beater gave the Tigers a 51-36 advantage at halftime.

The Tigers looked a bit flat in the third quarter, allowing Monett to pull closer.

"I can't explain why," McNeley said.

The Cubs handled Nevada's press in the second half, and the game was suddenly close.

"We just fouled too much," McNeley said. "And that allowed them to recover. We didn't wear them out like we wanted to because we kept putting them on the line."

Nevada led 68-59 entering the fourth quarter, but the Cubs kept coming.

Led by guards Kyle Woods and Tyler Green, Monett used a 13-6 run to pull within two at 74-72 with 2:41 remaining.

Nevada's Isaiah Colopy made one free throw, Monett missed a three on the other end and NHS senior Bubba Banes came down with a huge rebound on the miss.

The Tigers then went away from their run and gun style and slowed things down to run clock. Monett eventually was forced to foul as the Tigers played keep away.

Nevada senior Cory Kerbs connected on two key free throws with just under two minutes to play to extend the lead to 77-72.

Monett hit one of two foul shots, but the Tigers broke the Cubs' press and once again drew a foul. The Tigers missed a front end of a one-and-one, and Monett's Woods scored in transition, making it 77-75 with 43 seconds left.

Next, the Tigers broke the press and Isaiah Colopy converted an old-fashioned three-point play with a hoop and a free throw, making it 80-75, all but securing the win.

Monett turned the ball over on its next possession and then had to foul. Late free throws by Drew Bryson and Colopy sealed the win.

"I was proud of us," McNeley said. "We stepped up at the end. We hit some free throws late.

"The team was ready to play. They were really excited. But when you're playing your first game, your emotions can zap you. And I think that's what happened to them in the second half."

A 6-3 junior, Smith led the Tigers with 18 points, including three three-pointers. A 6-4 senior, Joseph Ferry added 17 for Nevada. Ferry hit three from three-point range.

A senior guard, Kerbs added 10 for Nevada. In all, 10 different players scored for the Tigers, who played 13 players regularly.

The Tigers made nine of 22 three-pointers.

Monett's Woods scored a game-high 29 points.

Nevada will play on Friday night at 7:30 against either Joplin or Seneca.

Nevada 83, Monett 75

NEV 29 22 17 15 -- 83

MON 21 15 23 16 -- 75

Nevada: Grant Wolfe 5, Cory Kerbs 10, Lane Ketterman 4, Isaiah Colopy 7, Chris Enriquez 2, Bubba Banes 4, Nathan Colopy 8, Drew Bryson 8, Silas Smith 18, Joseph Ferry 17, Austin Herdliska 0, Austin Gerling 0, Alex Payne 0. Three-pointers: Smith 4, Ferry 3, Wolfe 1, I. Colopy 1.

Monett: Thompson 4, Woods 29, Webb 12, Green 18, Fair 3, Witt 4, Freudenthal 1.

Carthage Invitational

Monday's scores

Carthage 76, Spr. Central 32

Heritage 65, Neosho 35

Tuesday's scores

Nevada 83, Monett 75

Joplin vs. Seneca, late

Thursday's games

Central vs. Neosho, 6

Monett vs. JOP-SEN loser, 7:30

Friday's games

Carthage vs. Heritage, 6

Nevada vs. JOP-SEN winner, 7:30

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