By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
SPRINGFIELD – Regardless of the final outcome, the Blue & Gold Tournament quarterfinal match between Sparta and Ozark was guaranteed to be historic.
Jacob Lafferty ensured it would be a particularly memorable one, too.
The Sparta junior scored 24 points — including a three-quarter court buzzer-beater at the end of the third quarter — to lead the Trojans to a 60-57 victory over the Tigers on Tuesday at Great Southern Bank Arena.
Although the two Christian County schools are separated by just 10 miles along Highway 14, roughly the same distance between Ozark and its archrival Nixa, the Tigers play the Trojans far less frequently.
This was believed to be the first boys basketball game between the schools – on any court – since 1989, Trojans coach Deric Link said.
The Trojans are also making their first appearance in the Blue & Gold Tournament since 2000, another span that started well before this year’s players were even born.
Lafferty ensured this one would be worth the wait, adding a defensive stop in the final minute that propelled the Trojans (8-2) to the Blue Division semifinals. They will face top-seeded Bolivar (6-2), the defending Gold Division champions, at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Great Southern Bank Arena.
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“This is all about making memories for our kids that will last a lifetime,” Link said. “That’s what we got them the chance to do. That’s why we got in this tournament. Our kids getting to be able to go and play in both (GSB Arena and Hammons Student Center) and make great memories, that’s what it’s all about. We just want to celebrate in the locker room just to enjoy those moments.”
None of the moments were bigger than Lafferty’s heave, which gave the Trojans a 47-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Tigers thrice cut the deficit to a single point, but never led again.
“We won by three,” Lafferty explained. “So if you really think about it, if I didn’t hit that, we might have lost. It was a big shot. Honestly, no one thought it was going in because it was such a long shot.”
Link will be the first to admit that he was on the list of doubters, albeit momentarily.
“I didn’t even see it,” the coach said. “I turned around and looked at our bench and said ‘That’s short.’ And then it goes in and everyone went nuts. That was huge. It turned out to be the winning bucket. We only won by three, so it turned out to be the winning one. I can’t say enough about that kid.”
Lafferty, a 6-foot-5 junior, has been a major reason the Trojans are off to one of the best starts in recent memory. After winning just six games two seasons ago, they improved to 18-11 last winter and have already scored big wins over Norwood and Ash Grove this year, handing each team their first loss of the season.
“He does so many things well,” Link said. “He rebounds it well. He defends the rim. He’s developed his game so much in three years and he’s still got a ways to go. He’s a kid who is at the gym all the time. I told him this summer he needs to take a break and he said ‘Coach, I don’t care about breaks. I want to be good.’ That’s the type of kid he is. He loves working.”
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The upset win over Class 6 Ozark is yet another signature win for Laffery and the Trojans, who are ranked ninth in the latest statewide Class 3 poll.
“It’s like beating up your bigger brother,” Laffery said. “It feels great.”
Kavan Walker added 12 points – all on 3-pointers – for the Trojans, who trailed by as many as six points in the first half before rallying for a 33-32 lead at the break.
Sparta opened the second half on a 7-2 run to take a 40-34 advantage, but the Tigers responded with a 10-4 run of their own to tie the score at 44 – setting the stage for Lafferty’s buzzer-beater.
Ozark kept the momentum swing to a minimum and traded blows with Sparta throughout the fourth quarter, and had a chance to tie the score or take the lead when the Trojans split a pair of free throws with 24.2 seconds remaining.
But the Tigers came up empty on the possession, as Lafferty blocked the potential game-tying shot. Dexter Loveland (11 points) went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final seconds to seal the win.
Sparta’s only losses this season are a two-point defeat against Strafford – the No. 2 team in Class 3 – and an overtime loss to undefeated Marionville.
“We’ve gotten a little tougher – just a little bit,” Link said. “We still have a long ways to go. We’re making strides in the right direction, but we still have to get a little bit better rebounding-wise. We still have to get a little better taking care of the ball.”
Jace Whatley scored 23 points to lead Ozark (3-7), which fell to the consolation bracket and will face Ash Grove (8-2) at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hammons Student Center.
SPARTA 14 19 14 13 — 60
OZARK 14 18 12 13 — 57
