By Pat Dailey (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
FORSYTH — Cade Rear picked a perfect time and place to turn in a breakout performance Saturday.
Rear delivered in the clutch at both ends of the court in Strafford’s 48-43 triumph over Forsyth in the Forsyth Tournament championship game. The Indians repeated as tourney champs by rallying from an eight-point first-half deficit.
Rear hit a 3-pointer and a layup, in addition to drawing drew a decisive charge, all in the fourth quarter. With Strafford leading 44-43 and :27 remaining, he drew a charge. He followed up with a layup on the Indians’ ensuing possession with :14 to play.
Strafford clinched its win by forcing a Forsyth turnover and hitting free throws.
Rear’s heroics delighted his personal cheering section made up of his relatives, many of them from Branson. His grandfather, Dale Russell, and uncle, Mike Russell, both played for the Pirates in the Forsyth Tournament during their glory days and are generally regarded among the best players in Branson’s hardwood history.
Dale Russell was in attendance Saturday.
“This was Cade’s best game,” Dale said while beaming with pride.
“I’ve heard stories about my family’s rich tradition in basketball, so I’m trying to keep the standard high,” Rear said. “You’ve got to work hard and show out. You don’t want to disappoint.
“My uncle Mike talks to me about basketball all the time at family reunions and at Thanksgiving and Christmas. He’ll give me tips about posting up and rebounding. He talks rebounding all the time.”
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Rear was somewhat of an unlikely hero. He had just four points entering the fourth quarter and scored only two points in Strafford’s semifinal-round win over Berryville, Arkansas, on Friday.
“My teammates are telling me they want me to shoot more,” Rear said. “I told myself, ‘I’m going to have to shoot it, they want me to shoot it if I’m open,’ so I did.”
“Cade battled foul trouble this entire tournament,” Strafford coach Tyler Ryerson said. “He had two fouls in the first half of every game and struggled to stay on the floor. So, this was really good for him. He’s probably the best passer we have, so if we can get the ball to him against the type of zone Forsyth ran, he will make smart decisions and we will get good shots.”
Strafford hit a trio of 3-pointers in its 17-point fourth quarter.
“We’re a fourth quarter team,” Tournament MVP Gabe Mahon said. “Every practice we work hard to be able to play hard in the fourth quarter.”
In addition to Rear’s nine points, Zak Lutgen scored a team-high 13, Mahon added nine and A.K. Rael eight.
“We’re selfless,” Mahon said. “Whenever you’re selfless, it creates opportunities for open shots.”
Forsyth controlled the first half and outscored Strafford 17-3 during one stretch. But the Indians never lost faith.
“They punched us in the mouth. It took everything we had to box out because they hit the boards so hard,” Ryerson said. “Forsyth is so aggressive and plays very hard. If you don’t match them, they’re going to kick your tail. We had to match them.”
“I had a lot of confidence we would make a run because we’re Strafford — that’s who we are. We fight back,” Rear said.
“We feel their physicality,” Panthers coach Eric Rogers aid. “They pushed us back a little bit. It’s a tough loss, but it’s to a good team and good program.”
Forsyth was paced by Buck Sanders’ nine points. He received clearance to play earlier in the week, after suffering a broken arm during football season while playing against Strafford.
“He’s getting back in the flow of things and getting used to using that arm, after having it in a cast for six weeks,” Rogers said.
Joining Mahon on the All-Tournament Team were Strafford’ Vance Mullins School of the Ozark’s Ethan Lander, Monett’s Trevon Price, Hollister’s Presley David, Reeds Spring’s Ty Cooper, Berryville’s Landons Chester, Blue Eye’s Nathan Garnett and Forysth’s Gavin Lux.
FORSYTH (43) — Sanders 11, Deroo 9, Lux 9, Turner 2, Lumley 4, Letterman 8.
STRAFFORD (48) — Lutgen 13, Mullins 5, Lawson 2, Lumley 2, Rear 9, Mahon 9, Rael 8.
Forsyth 10 15 7 11 – 43
Strafford 7 12 7 17 – 48
3-point goals – Lutgen 2, Rael 2, Mullins, Rear, Mahon, Sanders, Deroo.
