By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
To win in the postseason, you need dudes.
As the Weaubleau Tigers showed this week, they have a lineup of dudes who do not crack under pressure.
Weaubleau capped an unforgettable week with another heart-stopping victory, finally exhaling as Ash Grove’s potential game-winner at the buzzer was off the mark.
The Tigers rushed to mid-court in celebration after winning 52-51 over Ash Grove in Friday night’s Class 2 District 13 championship game.
“We just have some dudes,” said Weaubleau coach Blake Allen. “We got some good dudes. Every time they lace ‘em up, they’re expecting to win.”
Tight finishes are nothing new for the Tigers.
In Wednesday night’s district semifinals, Weaubleau trailed Marion C. Early (Morrisville) by five with 15 seconds remaining. The Tigers rallied and won 54-53 on a buzzer-beating putback by sophomore Clayton Ginnings.
“We found a way to win on Wednesday,” Allen said. “That’s what we talked about in that last huddle tonight: That moment on Wednesday, we found a way to win. We just got to find it one more time.”
Weaubleau’s fate, though, was in Ash Grove’s hands at the end.
The Tigers botched an in-bounds pass with less than 10 seconds remaining, giving Ash Grove a chance to take the lead.
On the ensuing play, Ash Grove got the ball into the hands of leading scorer Brady Nicholson. Weaubleau double-teamed Nicholson, who then passed to an open teammate at the top of the key.
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“We run that play throughout the season,” said Ash Grove coach Grant Williamson. “A lot of teams know it’s coming, and it’s still hard to stop because (Nicholson) is such a good player. We were hoping he could get the ball in his hands, get downhill and score. If they double-teamed him, be ready to make the pass to an open guy. And he did. He made the right play. The guy who took the shot, we have a lot of confidence in.”
As he watched the shot go up, Weaubleau junior Dawson Stewart did not feel optimistic.
“I thought (the shot) was going to go in,” Stewart said. “The way it hit the rim, I thought, ‘Oh crap, no way.’ When it missed, I just screamed at the top of my lungs.”
Junior Blane Durnell led Weaubleau with 16 points. Nicholson scored a game-high 30.
It’s the second straight district championship for the Tigers, who have no seniors on this year’s team.
“It’s awesome, we’re 2-for-2,” Stewart said. “We lost some good players last year, it’s hard to do it without them, but we got it done.”
Weaubleau (23-6 overall) will play Wellington-Napoleon (16-12 overall) at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27 at Harrisonville High School in the Class 2 sectional round. The Tigers fell to Lakeland in last year’s sectional matchup.
“This (district championship) feels totally different than last year’s,” Allen said. “From beginning to end tonight, it was a roller coaster of emotions. Our guys, they’re exhausted. I’m exhausted. I’m glad we got this far last year to get that experience.
“We’re here to make a deeper run, hopefully, and just keep this train rolling.”
Weaubleau came out like a team hungry to get back in the state tournament. The Tigers led 30-18 by halftime on Friday night.
“I thought tonight could go one of two ways,” Allen said. “The emotional high we got from (Wednesday night), we could ride it. Or, the high could bring on a lull.”
Ash Grove came to life in the third quarter, outscoring Weaubleau 19-5. Weaubleau retook the lead for good with 2:30 remaining, and the game turned into a battle of free throws down the stretch.
“Disappointed with how the score ended, but as far as how the game played out, I was super proud of our guys,” Williamson said. “Very pleased with the position they put themselves in to have a chance at the end.”
Weaubleau’s leading scorer, junior guard Gage Johnson, fouled out with 1:30 remaining and the Tigers clinging to a 50-47 lead.
“I wasn’t surprised that Ash Grove came back,” Allen said. “I was just proud that when we got hit in the mouth like that in the third quarter, we were able to keep pushing back.”
Nicholson scored 19 in the second half, leading Ash Grove from a 12-point halftime deficit to a small lead late in the third quarter.
“He loves to win. That’s why you saw him after the game when he’s disappointed and upset that we lost,” Williamson said. “He knows he played well. He has that competitive fire in him. Part of that comeback is because of him. He brings a lot to the team. He’s a special player and I’m glad he’s an Ash Grove Pirate and doesn’t play for someone else.”
Ash Grove (20-7 overall), which was also seeking a repeat district championship, graduates a five-player senior class. Most of them saw varsity action early in their careers.
“I can’t say enough about what they’ve brought to our program,” Williamson said. “Their freshmen years, they were thrown into the fire. They grinded and battled and really set the tone for what it takes to be successful.”
Weaubleau 52, Ash Grove 51
Weaubleau 17 13 5 17 — 52
Ash Grove 12 6 19 14 — 51
Ash Grove (20-7 overall) – Brady Nicholson 30, Asher Rust 8, Tyler Tummons 6, Brock Mooneyham 4, Elijah Morrison 3
Weaubleau (23-6 overall) – Blane Durnell 16, Gage Johnson 12, Clayton Ginnings 10, Dawson Stewart 9, Gunner Freeman 5
