Last second jump shot lifts New Bloomfield over South Callaway

Senior guard Kolby O'Dowd might not have been the first choice, but he proved to be a fine alternative.

O'Dowd - fighting the flu - bounced in a 17-foot jumper from the corner with 1 second to play Friday night, lifting the New Bloomfield Wildcats to a stirring 62-61 win over the South Callaway Bulldogs.

During a timeout with :07 left, New Bloomfield head coach Tyler Clark drew up a play designed for senior guard Aaron Bedsworth to take the last shot. Bedsworth finished with 25 points, including four 3-pointers.

"We ran a play for Aaron, but our second option was Kolby," Clark said. "I told the players, "This is what it's all about, this is why we play basketball. Go make a play.'

"Kolby drove and hit a nice shot."

O'Dowd ended up with 14 points as the Wildcats stopped a two-game losing streak to even their season record at 2-2.

"This is a good confidence-builder; we needed it," Clark said. "I had told the players that we need to learn how to win these games."

New Bloomfield extended a 17-14 lead after one quarter to 33-24 at halftime. However, South Callaway - sparked by senior guard Will Brandt's 13 points - outscored the Wildcats 20-9 in the third quarter to go in front 44-42.

"We've got to execute better," Clark said. "We didn't run our stuff (in the third quarter) and kind of got caught up in the moment."

Brandt matched Bedsworth by finishing with 25 points to guide three players in double figures for the Bulldogs (2-3). Senior guard Bryan Lechner followed with 20 points and senior forward Jacob Wolfe added 10.

"I have to give South Callaway credit," Clark said. "(Head coach) Tony Brandt does a great job with those guys; they're disciplined and they play hard."

Directed by sophomore forward Trent Ellerman's game-high 13 points, the Bulldogs easily triumphed in the junior varsity game 59-25. Freshman center Joe Morfin paced the Wildcats with seven points.

New Bloomfield, receiving the fourth seed, faces No. 5 Cuba at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the first round of the 50th-annual Linn Invitational Tournament.

South Callaway hosts North Callaway in the Mid-Missouri Conference opener for both schools at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Fatima.............................................................52

South Callaway basketball (G)........................19

FATIMA - The Lady Bulldogs got torched for 24 first quarter points and were down 40-9 at halftime of Saturday's game. Freshman guard Taylor Howard led South Callaway with eight points.

"We have got to find a way to learn from this and move on from it at the same time," head coach Doug Sain said. "We got North Callaway coming up on Monday so we got to be ready."

The Lady Bulldogs host MMC-rival North Callaway at 6 p.m. on Monday.

Southern Boone..............................................62

North Callaway basketball (B)........................37

CENTRALIA - The T-Birds dropped to 1-4 with this loss in the consolation tournament semifinals of the Centralia Tournament on Thursday. Senior forward Andrew Attebury came off the bench and led North Callaway with nine points an six rebounds.

Southern Boone (3-1) got 18 points from Nick Carlos and 16 points from Trey Lacey. The T-Birds play at South Callaway in the MMC opener at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Fulton Middle School basketball (B)...............47

Centralia.........................................................32

CENTRALIA - The Hornets improved to 2-4 on the season with the win at Centralia on Saturday. Ricky Dawson led the team with 13 points to help Fulton snap a three game losing streak.

Sam Christensen had eight points, seven rebounds and seven blocks and James Pittman dished out six assists and had three steals. The Hornets will next play Kirksville at home Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Centralia....................................................33

Fulton Middle School basketball (G).........30

CENTRALIA - Guard Sloane Totta led the Lady Hornets with nine points, four rebounds and four steals in Saturday's loss. Forward NaShayla Brandt had six points and four steals and guard Rachel Guse had six points.

Fulton (4-2) hosts Kirksville Tuesday at 7 p.m.

N. Callaway basketball (8th/G).......................24

Montgomery County.......................................12

MONTGOMERY CITY - Danielle Cassidy and Brittany Vaughn put up eight points apiece Thursday night to spur the Ladybirds to the 12-point victory over the Lady Wildcats.

North Callaway travels to South Callaway at 6 p.m. Monday.

South Callaway 7th grade basketball (B)........40

Montgomery County.......................................20

KINGDOM CITY - The Bulldogs were victorious in the third place game of the North Callaway Tournament on Friday night. South Callaway never trailed and had two players in double figures.

Brandon Ward led the way with 13 points, Mason Shoemaker pitched in with 12 and Logan Taylor had nine points for the Bulldogs (6-7)

They'll close out their season on Wednesday with a game at Southern Boone.

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(Editor's note: Josh Mosley ([email protected]) contributed to this story.