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The Ozark Mountain Shootout has become one of the area’s best events for producing intriguing matchups among teams that may not otherwise play.
That tradition continued this year highlighted by Catholic, a quarterfinalist in Class 3 last season, facing defending Class 1 state champion Eminence. Eminence is ranked No. 1 in Class 1 while Catholic is ranked No. 3 in Class 3.
The game was close throughout, but Catholic would use a big fourth quarter to pull away for a 74-60 win.
“We knew they (Eminence) were going to be a handful. We have a lot of respect for what they have done,” Catholic head coach Dustin Larson said. “We weren’t taking them lightly. We were expecting a battle with them coming into Springfield; we knew they were going to be ready to play. We were excited for the opportunity to play a state championship team.”
Eminence has the reigning Class 1 Player of the Year in Trent McBride, but it was Grant Dyer that put the Redwings on his back. Dyer scored Eminence’s first 10 points of the game while Catholic bottled up McBride and held him scoreless in the first quarter.
“It (Dyer’s performance) wasn’t a surprise. He has been dominating practice. He played like he has been practicing to be honest with you,” Eminence coach Pete McBride said.
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Dyer finished with a game-high 32 points.
Eminence trailed 35-34 at the half, and had a 47-45 lead going into the final frame.
The final quarter was when Catholic’s depth took over.
“We were just trying to get some better execution. We had taken some quick shots early in the first half and even early in the second half and dug ourselves a little bit of a hole,” Larson said. “We knew if we could just be patient and get a little better shot selection it would give us more energy. Defensively we just had to become more solid and physical.”
Catholic executed its game plan on both ends in the final quarter on the way to a 29-13 fourth-quarter advantage to make the final score 74-60.
“I think their depth, which we were worried about, paid off for them. They rested guys in the third quarter and came in real fresh defensively (in the fourth quarter). We aren’t as deep as they are, and their depth played a factor late,” McBride said.
That depth was evident in the box score with three players in double figures for Catholic and six different players scoring at least six points.
“Each night we are playing usually 10 guys,” Larson said. “We don’t want to be easily guarded. We want to find that balance.”
Charlie O’Reilly and Will Morrison led the scoring for Catholic with 17 points each. Jake Branham was just behind them at 15 points. That group combined to shoot 17-for-28 from the field. Zack Howell (9), Ben Galligos (8), Tyson Riley (6) and Michael Manzardo (2) all scored for Catholic as well.
McBride scored 10 points for Eminence. Reece Parrish (9) and Dakota Pulliam (3) also scored for Eminence.
For Catholic, this game will serve as good experience with a big goals still ahead this season with the Blue & Gold Tournament, Bass Pro Tournament of Champions and hopes for a deep postseason run still to come.
“Those games are critical for you. You have to be in those types of games if you want to have success down the road, so anytime you can find those types of games to be in it just makes you better. It is priceless really,” Larson said.
Eminence, who had a state-best 33-game winning streak snapped, also knows the lessons of this game will help come late February and March.
“It is good for our kids. We were on a 33-game winning streak. That came to an end tonight, which isn’t a bad thing. We are confident in our program, and we felt like we were going to come in and compete. We are disappointed to lose, but they are a great team. It helps our team down the road which is why we are here,” McBride said.
