By Denise Tucker (For the Ozarks SportsZone)
MORRISVILLE –The championship game in the 51st Annual Morrisville Tournament was a battle – one that both teams expected – but the Ash Grove Pirates found a way to capture their second-straight title with a 47-37 victory over Chadwick on Saturday night.
Chadwick raced out to a 5-0 lead to open the game and went up 8-2 before Ash Grove got things going offensively.
“They’re a really good team and we knew they’d come out with a lot of energy,” Ash Grove coach Grant Williamson said. “They made a few shots early, and credit to our guys – that’s kind of been our thing all year up to this point, just battling back, finding ways to just get a lead and then do what it takes to hang on to it and win.”
To cap off the back-and-forth battle of the first quarter, junior Brady Nicholson hit a 3-pointer, from almost half-court, at the buzzer to tie the game at 12.
“That one really kind of sparked us and kind of gave us a little springboard into the second quarter with some momentum to go and win the game,” Williamson said.
Chadwick’s three-man-weave in the half-court set was a challenge to guard, but one that his Pirates were up for, Williamson said.
“That’s their thing and we knew they were going to do it; they’re just really good at it,” Williamson said. “It’s hard to guard and I thought our guys did a really good job for the most part of keeping their man in front and trying to make them take tough shots. And sometimes good offense just beats good defense, so they did a good job of that.”
Clayton Garrison’s 3-pointer at the buzzer going into halftime pulled the Cardinals within four (24-20).
“We try to get some space and let our guards do some work, but Ash Grove guards really well,” Chadwick coach Shawn Guerin said. “They defend well, they shoot the ball well and they’re well-coached. It was fun. I knew we’d have our hands full with them tonight, but we gave them a shot.”
Garrison and Nicholson traded 3-pointers to open the third quarter, but the Pirates, who are ranked No. 3 in Class 2, used a 4-0 run to create some space of their own for a 34-25 lead late in the third.
The Cardinals closed the gap to four points (39-35) early in the fourth quarter, but the Pirates’ defense held Chadwick scoreless until the 1:48 mark and then the rest of the way to secure the victory.
“We kind of pride ourselves on our defense and I know Chadwick does the same,” Williamson said. “Both teams played really, really hard and guarded really, really well and we were fortunate enough to make a few more shots.”
Nicholson scored a game-high 24 points, including four 3-pointers, and was named tournament MVP. Six other Pirates joined him in the scoring column.
“Chadwick was tough,” Nicholson said. “They’re big and athletic, and they guarded us well. “They are long, they all can get steals and they pressured as well. But I’m proud of everybody that we handled the ball well, and we handled (the Cardinals).
“The MVP is awesome, especially doing it while winning first place two years in a row. It’s awesome for everybody, so I’m just happy that we’re starting off the season so good.”
ASH GROVE 47, CHADWICK 37
51st Annual Morrisville Tournament
CHADWICK 12-8-13-4—37
ASH GROVE 12-12-15-8—47
CHADWICK (4-1) – Clayton Rains 6, Clayton Garrison 18, Tristan Smith 8, Grady Preston 5.
ASH GROVE (4-0) – Asher Rust 4, Brady Nicholson 24, Tyler Tummons 4, Nate Trammel 4, Brock Mooneyham 5, Elijah Morrison 3, Bryce Davis 3.
Third place: Macks Creek 60, Morrisville 52
Fifth place: Pleasant Hope 42, New Covenant 38
Seventh place: Greenfield 46, Walnut Grove 38
All-Tournament Team: Ryder LaBee, Pleasant Hope; Jacob Presley, Marion C. Early; Tristan Smith, Chadwick; Chase Whitworth, Macks Creek; Landen Burrow, Marion C. Early; Brock Mooneyham, Ash Grove; Clayton Rains, Chadwick; Logan Gallamore, Macks Creek; Tyler Tummons, Ash Grove; Clayton Garrison, Chadwick; MVP – Brady Nicholson, Ash Grove.
