Bulldogs escape with big conference win
By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer
Daily Journal Sports Writer
Dec 12, 2007 - 10:21:56 CST
LEADWOOD — The premier boys basketball rivalry in the MAAA Small-School division featured one of its closest battles in recent years on Tuesday night, despite leaving both teams perplexed at times.
With West County and Arcadia Valley each mired in recurring offensive struggles, the Bulldogs managed to escape their home opener with a hard-fought 46-43 victory, defeating the Tigers for the 12th consecutive time.
West County committed an uncharacteristic 22 turnovers against an active Arcadia Valley defense, and shot a dismal 4-for-13 at the free-throw line. However, the Tigers were an equally futile 3-for-24 from three-point range, and failed to record a made field goal in the third quarter.
Junior Tyler Stacy knocked down a trio of three-pointers and scored 14 points to lead West County (3-3), which ended a three-game losing skid. Torey Watson tallied nine points, and Corey Whelehon added eight points with 11 rebounds.
Whelehon scored after catching a long inbounds pass, then converted a second putback late in the first quarter. The Bulldogs gathered six offensive rebounds in the period, and surged ahead 16-10 when Jake Gidden buried a three-pointer at the buzzer.
The Arcadia Valley (3-3) deficit reached seven points, but was quickly erased while Whelehon and point guard Terry Moore were stationed at the West County bench with two fouls apiece.
Eric Lindsey followed a missed shot and Dereck Wilson nailed two jumpers off quick pivot moves before the break. Stacy buried a timely three for the Bulldogs after Arcadia Valley grabbed a momentary lead, and the teams entered halftime tied at 27-27.
Arcadia Valley missed several open shots during the ensuing minutes, but another series of turnovers prevented West County from pulling away. Trevor Morgan would convert a hustling rebound into a pivotal three-point play that helped the Bulldogs carry a 37-30 advantage into the final stanza.
A Watson layup completed a patient West County possession with 2:50 remaining, moments after Wilson broke a long-range drought for Arcadia Valley with a three-pointer that made it 41-37.
However, the Bulldogs missed three consecutive free throws under 1-and-1 situations, leaving the Tigers an excellent chance to rally. Carlton Minor connected from the deep left wing with 37 seconds remaining, trimming the deficit to 45-43.
After Moore split two attempts from the line, Arcadia Valley was fortunate to retain possession on a jump ball with four seconds left. The Tigers inbounded the ball from the West County baseline, but misfired twice from three-point range before time expired.
Wilson paced all scorers with 22 points, making 8-of-9 free throws along the way. Lindsey posted 10 rebounds with eight points, and Thomas Jackson contributed six points with nine boards for the Tigers.
The contest marked the conference opener for both squads. West County previously defeated Arcadia Valley, 48-39 in tournament action on November 19.
Arcadia Valley 10 17 3 13 - 43
West County 16 11 10 9 - 46
SCORING:
Arcadia Valley - Wilson 22, Lindsey 8, Jackson 6, Minor 5, Robbs 2.
3-point FG - Wilson 2, Minor.
West County - Stacy 14, Watson 9, Whelehon 8, Moore 5, Gidden 5, Morgan 3, Priest 2.
3-point FG - Stacy 3, Gidden.
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With West County and Arcadia Valley each mired in recurring offensive struggles, the Bulldogs managed to escape their home opener with a hard-fought 46-43 victory, defeating the Tigers for the 12th consecutive time.
West County committed an uncharacteristic 22 turnovers against an active Arcadia Valley defense, and shot a dismal 4-for-13 at the free-throw line. However, the Tigers were an equally futile 3-for-24 from three-point range, and failed to record a made field goal in the third quarter.
Junior Tyler Stacy knocked down a trio of three-pointers and scored 14 points to lead West County (3-3), which ended a three-game losing skid. Torey Watson tallied nine points, and Corey Whelehon added eight points with 11 rebounds.
Whelehon scored after catching a long inbounds pass, then converted a second putback late in the first quarter. The Bulldogs gathered six offensive rebounds in the period, and surged ahead 16-10 when Jake Gidden buried a three-pointer at the buzzer.
The Arcadia Valley (3-3) deficit reached seven points, but was quickly erased while Whelehon and point guard Terry Moore were stationed at the West County bench with two fouls apiece.
Eric Lindsey followed a missed shot and Dereck Wilson nailed two jumpers off quick pivot moves before the break. Stacy buried a timely three for the Bulldogs after Arcadia Valley grabbed a momentary lead, and the teams entered halftime tied at 27-27.
Arcadia Valley missed several open shots during the ensuing minutes, but another series of turnovers prevented West County from pulling away. Trevor Morgan would convert a hustling rebound into a pivotal three-point play that helped the Bulldogs carry a 37-30 advantage into the final stanza.
A Watson layup completed a patient West County possession with 2:50 remaining, moments after Wilson broke a long-range drought for Arcadia Valley with a three-pointer that made it 41-37.
However, the Bulldogs missed three consecutive free throws under 1-and-1 situations, leaving the Tigers an excellent chance to rally. Carlton Minor connected from the deep left wing with 37 seconds remaining, trimming the deficit to 45-43.
After Moore split two attempts from the line, Arcadia Valley was fortunate to retain possession on a jump ball with four seconds left. The Tigers inbounded the ball from the West County baseline, but misfired twice from three-point range before time expired.
Wilson paced all scorers with 22 points, making 8-of-9 free throws along the way. Lindsey posted 10 rebounds with eight points, and Thomas Jackson contributed six points with nine boards for the Tigers.
The contest marked the conference opener for both squads. West County previously defeated Arcadia Valley, 48-39 in tournament action on November 19.
Arcadia Valley 10 17 3 13 - 43
West County 16 11 10 9 - 46
SCORING:
Arcadia Valley - Wilson 22, Lindsey 8, Jackson 6, Minor 5, Robbs 2.
3-point FG - Wilson 2, Minor.
West County - Stacy 14, Watson 9, Whelehon 8, Moore 5, Gidden 5, Morgan 3, Priest 2.
3-point FG - Stacy 3, Gidden.