By Stephen Buus (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Stockton Tigers came into the championship game of their own tournament Saturday with two easy victories in their pocket and the confidence of having already defeated Buffalo right before the holidays.
A much different Bison team took the floor in the rematch, and a strong third quarter was the key as Buffalo won the title, 58-50.
“We started going to a 3-2 zone a couple of weeks ago, and the guys really started to buy into it,” said Buffalo coach Kyle Gawlowski. “Offensively, we did just enough to get shots off against Stockton, who’s a really good defensive team.”
The game was tied at the half 27-27, and Buffalo opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run, highlighted by three inside buckets from 6-foot-8 senior Graden Ragland. Stockton tried to fight back with 3-pointers from senior Gannon Kenney and junior Drew Wheeler, but the Bison countered two shots each from Layton Moody and Jamen Smith, not to mention four free throws by Coltin Henderson.
Buffalo stretched its zone in the final period, keeping Stockton’s top scorer Clayton Hubbard from attacking the paint. The Tigers were frustrated on offense as they struggled to find open shots.
Smith ended up with 16 points to lead the Bison, followed closely by Moody with 15 and Henderson with 13. Henderson was 11 of 13 from the foul line.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Wheeler hit five treys among his game-high 23 points as he broke out of a recent shooting slump. Kenney added 15 and Hubbard had 8 before fouling out.
“We just didn’t get much of a rhythm,” Tiger coach Derald Henderson said. “You’ve got give a lot of credit to their defense. I was worried about it, and I should be because it was good. We didn’t get a lot of inside scoring. We dominated this tournament inside, and we couldn’t get our pieces in good enough position to make plays at the rim, which prevented us from getting to the free-throw line and made us settle for jumpers.”
Both teams are back in action on Tuesday as Buffalo hosts Billings while Stockton entertains Lamar.
Buffalo 18 9 23 8—58
Stockton 17 8 10 13—50
Buffalo: Jamen Smith 16, Layton Moody 15, Coltin Henderson 13, Graden Ragland 8, Bode Abraham 6.
Stockton: Drew Wheeler 23, Gannon Kenney 15, Clayton Hubbard 8, Jacob Greenlee 4.
Other scores: Third, Harrisonville 77, Butler 74; Consolation, Greenfield 54, Lockwood 38. Sportsmanship award: Pleasant Hope.
