By JASON VIOX\Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Thursday, February 02, 2006
Updated: Thursday, February 2, 2006 11:15 AM CST

PARK HILLS - The last time the Mineral Area Cardinals and the West Plains Grizzlies met, Mineral Area won the game in four overtimes. Although Wednesday's rematch only had two overtimes, the game still had its fair share of drama. Mineral Area picked up several good leads throughout the game, but the Grizzlies just wouldn't go away so easily. The Cardinals got a big lay-up from a steal near the end of double overtime, and Mineral Area pulled away for a 108-104 win.

West Plains took a 7-4 lead on a lay-up from David Collins and a three by Chuck Love. After both teams traded three baskets, Mineral Area's Chad Henderson knocked down a three and a jump shot for two, and T.J. Britton slammed down a dunk to take a 17-13 edge. The lead quickly disappeared on a three pointer by Charles Robinson and a field goal from Ronald White and Tyrone Brazelton.

The Cardinals worked the ball inside and came through with a 14-1 scoring run to take a 31-21 advantage. Tremaine Wilkerson had three lay-ups, and Darryl Butterfield added four points during the run. The Grizzlies made five free throws before Tony Webb came through with a jump shot and Rickey Claitt added a lay-up.

West Plains finished the half on a positive note with a 7-2 run for a 37-33 contest at the half. Love drained a three and Ryan Boyd finished the half with a dunk.

White sank a three at the beginning of the second half, but Mineral Area extended their lead on a 9-2 scoring drive for a 50-39 contest. Claitt kicked off the run with a free throw and a triple, and Willie Hassell and Britton both chipped in a lay-up. The Cardinals' lead quickly shrank due to an 11-2 run from the Grizzlies. Boyd and Stephen Williams both recorded a three-point shot during the drive.

Boyd later knocked down another trey to tie the game at 55-55, and the contest was deadlocked again at 62 apiece on a three by Williams. West Plains took a 69-65 edge with 3:30 left in the game on a three from Brazelton, but a field goal by Webb and two free throws from Butterfield tied the game again. Butterfield later knocked down a three pointer, and free throws from Webb and Hassell gave Mineral Area a 77-74 lead with 20 seconds to go.

The Grizzlies had enough time for one more play. Brazelton drained a three with only two seconds on the clock for the tie, and both teams headed for overtime.

Webb sank a three and later set up Butterfield for an alley oop play, and Claitt came through with a field goal for a quick 84-77 advantage. Brazelton countered with a lay-up and a free throw, and Boyd picked off a pass and converted on a lay-up to narrow the Cardinals' lead to two points. Brazelton later made it a one-point game on another three-point shot.

Butterfield later sank a free throw to give Mineral Area a 91-89 lead, but with 0.2 seconds left in the contest, Collins stepped up to the charity stripe. Collins made both free throws to force double overtime.

The Cardinals took a 94-93 edge when Butterfield posted a putback, and Brazelton made only one of his free throws. A powerful dunk from Curtis Muse, two free throws by De'Alan Hicks, and a lay-up from Webb handed Mineral Area a 100-95 edge. West Plains wouldn't let the game go as Boyd drained another three pointer.

Butterfield came through with a free throw, but Hassell stole the ball and finished with an important lay-up for a 105-100 lead. The Grizzlies pulled to within two points on a jump shot from Love, but Hassell drained two free throws with 16.9 seconds left for a four-point edge. West Plains attempted another three pointer at the buzzer, but the shot didn't go in.

“They (West Plains) never quit,” commented MAC coach Corey Tate about the Grizzlies and Region XVI teams. “That's this region, though. Every game we play, every team that play each other, they never quit. There's just great teams in this region. That makes our region look good.”

Butterfield led the Cardinals in scoring with 19 points, and Webb added 18. Claitt finished with 13 points, Wilkerson posted 12, and Hassell and Henderson ended the night with 10 points each. Mineral Area struggled from the line making ony 25-44 free throws.

Brazelton finished with an outstanding game-high 36 points. Boyd chipped in 17 points, Love added 13, and Collins and White both contributed 11 points. West Plains ballooned their score with 11 three-pointers in the game.

Mineral Area, now 18-4 and 5-0 in region play, will be home against John Wood on Saturday.

West Plains - 33 44 14 13 - 104

Mineral Area - 37 40 14 17 - 108

SCORING:

West Plains - T Brazelton 33, R Boyd 17, C Love 13, D Collins 11, S Williams 11, R White 9, C Robinson 6, J Samuels 2.

Mineral Area - D Butterfield 19, T Webb 18, R Claitt 13, T Wilkerson 12, W Hassell 10, C Henderson 10, D Hicks 8, C Muse 8, T Britton 6, R Mata 3, E Stuckey 2.

3-Pointers - T Brazelton 4, R Boyd 3, C Love 2, S Williams 2, C Henderson 2, D Butterfield, T Webb, R Claitt, R White, C Robinson.