Bronaugh edged by Jasper

Sunday, February 29, 2004
ralph pokorny/nevada herald Bronaugh seniors John Whitworth (No. 24, top photo) and Jack Daniels (No. 15, below photo) narrowly missed upset in final home game with 50-47 loss to Jasper.

By Larry Lewis

BRONAUGH, Mo. -- The Bronaugh Wildcats wrapped up the regular season with a narrow 50-47 loss to the Jasper Eagles on Friday.

Bronaugh, losers by double-digit margins in two previous encounters with Jasper, kept the outcome in doubt until the final horn this time.

"This game will help us be battle hardened and ready for district," said Bronaugh coach Tim Judd, whose Wildcats are the second seed in the Class 1, District 12 Tournament. "We competed hard and we can't be ashamed of our effort against a very talented team."

Jasper (20-5) enters next week's Class 2, District 12 Tournament as the No. 1 seed.

Bronaugh (17-7) fought back from a five-point halftime deficit to knot the score at 38 going into the fourth quarter.

Six-foot senior Jack Daniels, normally an inside threat, moved outside against the taller Eagles and hit two big 3-pointers during the third-quarter comeback.

Daniels, in his final home game, led the Wildcats with 20 points.

Bronaugh turnovers hurt their chances in the fourth quarter.

"We shot ourselves in the foot," said Judd. "We had one stretch in the fourth quarter where we turned the ball over on five straight possessions. You can't do that against a good team and expect to win."

Jasper's superior size began to create problems, also, as they pounded inside for easy baskets on the way to a 48-41 lead with about 1:40 to go.

Daniels' lay-up and his trey sandwiched around two Jasper free throws pulled the Wildcats to within four, 50-46, at the 35-second mark. A Daniels' free throw cut the lead to three with 13 seconds remaining. Then a last-gasp shot to tie went astray with .2 seconds left.

Bronaugh's prolific season-scoring leader, Tyler Judd, was shadowed constantly by Jasper defenders and limited to 11 points. Alex Gordon added eight, all in the first quarter.

Jasper was led by Kyle Royer with 12, followed by Craig Tubaugh and Evan Wright with nine and eight, respectively.

The Wildcats open the district tourney against Miami, the seventh seed on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Bronaugh girls lose

The Lady Wildcats dropped a 46-34 decision to the Jasper Lady Eagles.

Trailing by only three, 18-15, at halftime, Bronaugh fell behind 32-22 as the third period expired. But a 7-0 run to open the fourth quarter narrowed the gap to 32-29.

The Lady Eagles (10-16) answered with a 7-0 run of their own to again extend the margin to 10 at the midway point, then cruised to victory.

Senior Sara Shaw led Bronaugh with 13 points, while Brittany Mart added eight. Jessie Rawlings had six.

Mary Waring paced Jasper with 19.

The No. 8-seeded Lady Wildcats open districts against No. 1 Drexel on Monday at 4:30 p.m.

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