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By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Strafford, Mo. — Strafford head coach Mike Wilson entered Friday night’s game against Conway sitting on 499 victories.
The Indians made certain 500 was never in doubt, running away for a dominant, 76-40 victory.
Strafford overwhelmed Conway’s ball-handlers from the opening tip, turning transition opportunities into quick points at the other end of the court.
Senior Weston Boswell was the primary benefactor, pouring in a career-high 27 points, including five 3-pointers.
“My teammates just kept feeding me the ball and I was getting open shots,” Boswell said. “I made the first two shots, and then just started feeling it. They kept getting me open, and I got into a rhythm.”
Wilson attributed Boswell’s success this season in part to a recent growth spurt.
“[Weston] shot it really well, so that helps,” Wilson said. “He rebounds well, and he’s grown five or six inches since about this time last year — it’s unreal — and he’s gotten stronger, which they usually don’t do that. He breaks defenses down and gets good shots for everybody else.”
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Boswell was joined in double figures by sophomore Mason Foley and junior Riley Oberbeck, who scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Oberbeck set the tone early on both ends of the court, scoring 7 points in the opening frame and causing all kinds of havoc for Conway’s guards.
“I think we got after the ball and got our hands on a lot of passes and got tips,” Oberbeck said. “We rebounded and ran the floor really well and then got open buckets. Our ability to just run and spread out the floor helps us a lot.”
While the 28-10 run in the first quarter put the visiting Bears in a significant hole early, Strafford’s defensive effort in the second might have been even better, as the Indians yielded only four points and a single basket.
While Wilson’s teams have always stressed a defense-first mentality, even he was a bit taken aback by his team’s first-half effort.
“I was surprised, but we’ve been getting better,” Wilson said. “We’ve put a lot more emphasis on our defense here lately, and tonight we played really well on both ends of the floor; best game we’ve played this year, hands down.”
Calling the first two quarters disappointing would be an understatement for Conway and head coach Jeff Cope, but they Bears didn’t take the easy route in the second half.
Down 42-14 at the break, Conway responded with a spirited, 20-point third quarter, thanks in part to a barrage of 3-point baskets from senior Gunner Berger, senior Cody Delacour and sophomore Colby Vavruska.
The 6-foot-3 Berger scored 10 of his team-high 14 points in the quarter. He was joined in double figures by senior Tanner Pippens, who netted 14 points, as well.
“It’s easy for kids to come out of the locker room in the second half and just play ho-hum basketball, get it over with and go home,” Cope said. “I challenged our kids to find something in the second half that we could build upon, because we’ve got to turn around and go to practice on Monday, we have a game on Tuesday and this doesn’t end the world.”
Strafford (5-2) is back in action Saturday, Dec. 16, with a trip to Harrison, Ark., to play Omaha, Ark. Conway (3-2) will attempt to get back on the winning track Tuesday, Dec. 19, against Willow Springs.
Varsity final: Strafford – 76, Conway – 40
Strafford 28 14 22 12 — 76
Conway 10 04 20 06 — 40
Strafford scoring: Weston Boswell – 27, Mason Foley – 11, Riley Oberbeck – 10, Jordan Choate – 8, Trayson Lawler – 6, Trenton Roebke – 5, Dillon Hester – 4, Wyatt Maples – 3, Kensen White – 2
Conway scoring: Gunner Berger – 14, Tanner Pippens – 14, Cody Delcour – 6, Hunter Wissbaum – 3, Colby Vavruska – 3
JV Final: Strafford – 68, Conway – 33
(Zakary Lutgen – 15 points)
Frosh Final: Stratford – 21, Conway – 13 (2Q)
(Vance Mullins & Toure Parks – 8 points)
