Senior forward Will Brandt delivered a game-high 21 points Friday night to spark the surging South Callaway Bulldogs to a 60-40 MMC romp over the North Callaway Thunderbirds.
South Callaway took charge from the outset, crafting a 17-6 lead after one quarter. The Bulldogs then outscored North Callaway 19-9 in the second quarter to stretch their lead to 36-15 at halftime.
"Offensively, our ball movement was the best it's been all year; multiple guys were touching it on every possession," South Callaway head coach Tony Brandt said. "We were also taking the high-percentage shots that we could make and we were attacking the paint.
"Defensively, we tried to run some traps in the halfcourt and we rotated really well on the back. We pressured the ball hard and we rebounded really well; we didn't give (North Callaway) a whole lot of second opportunities."
Senior guard Bryan Lechner added 16 points for South Callaway, which took a 44-27 advantage into the fourth quarter. The win was the third in a row and seventh in the last eight games for the Bulldogs, who improved to 11-8 overall and are in first place in the Mid-Missouri Conference at 4-1.
"We're definitely playing better," Tony Brandt said. "Our energy and effort in guarding people, that's what has been winning games for us. I'm also starting to see better offensive execution."
South Callaway won both of its regular-season meetings against North Callaway. The Bulldogs held off the Thunderbirds 52-50 on Dec. 14 at Mokane.
Senior forward Jacob Stafford - finishing with 12 points - was the only player to reach double figures Friday night for North Callaway, which shot just 32 percent (14-of-44) as a team and committed 19 turnovers.
Senior forward Andrew Attebery also contributed eight points for the Thunderbirds, who dropped to 5-13 on the season and 1-4 in the MMC.
"We need a day off, even after all the snow days we've had off," North Callaway head coach Tim Turlington said. "We played so hard and we've practiced so hard that we didn't have anything left (Friday night)."
South Callaway (9-6) - led by junior forward Cody Waterson's 10 points - prevailed in the junior varsity game 41-34. Sophomore guard Justin Murphy topped North Callaway (7-5) with a game-high 11 points.
The Bulldogs played a makeup game at Community R-6 on Saturday. Results were not available at press time.
South Callaway then travels to Harrisburg for an MMC matchup between Bulldogs at 6 p.m. Tuesday. South Callaway will be looking to avenge a 74-52 loss to Harrisburg on Dec. 17 at Mokane.
"We have to defend their dribble penetration better and focus on keeping their guards out of the paint," Tony Brandt said. "We also have to match their energy."
Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds have added a game to their schedule and will host Fulton at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
N. Bloomfield basketball (VB).....65
Douglass......................................64
NEW BLOOMFIELD - Senior guard Aaron Bedsworth knocked down both ends of a 1-and-1 free-throw opportunity with 7 seconds to play Friday night, lifting the Wildcats to the dramatic victory.
New Bloomfield was down 19-15 after one quarter and 30-29 at halftime, but outscored Douglass 15-8 in the third quarter to take a 44-38 lead.
Aaron Bedsworth and his cousin, sophomore forward Greg Bedsworth, compiled 19 points apiece to direct the Wildcats, who made 14-of-16 free throws overall. Senior guard Daniel Berry connected for 14 points, while senior guard Kolby O'Dowd finished with seven points and distributed 10 assists.
"We shared the ball and were unselfish," New Bloomfield head coach Tyler Clark said. "We also played good defense. We trusted our zones, we made them make tough shots and we limited them to one-shot possessions."
Darion Polk countered with 19 points to lead three players in double figures for Douglass. James Hughes was next with 16 points and Antoine Harris contributed 12.
The Wildcats travel to Russellville at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
William Woods basketball (M)....74
Hannibal-LaGrange University....72
HANNIBAL - The Owls ended a three-game losing streak by holding off the Trojans in American Midwest Conference play Thursday night.
Sophomore forward Elliott Black tallied 18 points to pace four players in double figures for William Woods University (10-15, 4-6 American Midwest Conference), which took a 37-30 lead into halftime. Black was 6-of-8 from the field and 6-of-6 at the free-throw line.
Sophomore guard Logan Decker - who hit three 3-pointers - added 14 points for the Owls, who shot 51 percent (25-of-49) as a team and committed 17 turnovers. Senior guard Dan Anderson contributed 12 points and freshman guard Jonathon Nutt had 11.
Nutt also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds as William Woods edged Hannibal-LaGrange 27-25 on the boards.
Fernando Fernandez topped the Trojans (6-16, 2-7) with a game-high 20 points. Brock Webber, who made four 3-pointers, followed with 18 points and Chris Smith chipped in with 16.
Hannibal-LaGrange shot 48 percent (26-of-54) from the field and ended up with 17 turnovers.
The Owls won both regular-season meetings against the Trojans. William Woods upended Hannibal-LaGrange 88-76 on Jan. 13 in Fulton.
The Owls play an AMC home game against Williams Baptist (Ark.) College at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Anderson Arena. William Woods downed Williams Baptist 87-72 on Jan. 15 at Walnut Ridge, Ark.
William Woods softball team
signs Rock Bridge recruit
Lady Owls head softball coach Tracy Gastineau has announced the signing of Columbia Rock Bridge senior Caroline Sicht to a letter of intent for the 2012 season.
Sicht - a 5-foot-5 infielder - was a four-time all-district selection and a two-time all-region choice at Rock Bridge. She was elected "Best Teammate" and received the Varsity Leadership Award with the Lady Bruins.
"Caroline is a hard working and enthusiastic softball player," Gastineau said. "Defensively, she has good hands at third base with a strong arm; and offensively, she has the ability to hit for power.
"Caroline is also a good student that will be a great addition to our program and our university. We are very pleased she has chosen William Woods for her future."
William Woods athletes
collect AMC track honors
William Woods University's Cheryl Held, Whitney Burton, Anthony Stockton and Ryan Meyer have been named the AMC's indoor track and field athletes of the week, the school announced Friday.
Held was selected the American Midwest Conference's female track athlete of the week, while Burton was chosen the conference's female field athlete of the week. Stockton was picked as the AMC's male field athlete of the week and Meyer was named the conference's male track athlete of the week.
Held - a junior from Wildwood - qualified for the NAIA indoor national championships after finishing second in the 5,000 meters with a time of 18 minutes, 18.15 seconds at the Illinois Wesleyan University Invitational on Feb. 5.
Burton, a freshman from St. Louis, set a school record in the high jump with her fourth-place effort of 5 feet, 3 1/4 inches at Illinois Wesleyan. She surpassed her previous record of 5-1.
Stockton - a sophomore from Franklin, Ky. - came in second in the weight throw with a toss of 60-6 1/2 at Illinois Wesleyan. He also placed 19th in the shot put with a throw of 44-8.
Meyer, a sophomore from Bonnots Mill, won the 5,000 meters in 15:20.85 at Illinois Wesleyan. He just missed qualifying for the NAIA indoor national championships by a second.
Both the William Woods men's and women's teams compete in the AMC indoor championships at the University of Missouri in Columbia on Friday.