’Cats capture big COC win

On paper it would’ve been very easy to look at the records of the Ozark and Neosho boys basketball team and pick a favorite.
Ozark entered with a 18-3 record and Neosho sported a 12-8 record.

It was the underdog, on paper anyways, that pulled through as Neosho pulled out a 56-55 win in Central Ozark Conference play

As of late, the Wildcats are turning into giant killers. According to the area rankings, Neosho has defeated state-ranked Republic and now has beaten two teams in Ozark and Parkview that sported very impressive records prior to the game.

In beating Republic, Neosho went into overtime. Against Parkview, it was a late run in the final minute. This latest win, it was a couple of clutch free throws in the final seconds.

Neosho’s Alex Wise hit two free throws with 2.6 seconds left and that help the team overcome a 1-point deficit.

A game-winning shot attempt by Ozark at the buzzer came up short. The Tigers never could overcome how Wise and the Wildcats played in the final four minutes of the game.

Ozark (18-4, 1-2 in COC Large play) held a 10-point lead with six minutes to play (49-39) and led by nine (51-42) with 4 minutes, 35 seconds left.

But, in the final minutes of the game, Neosho got to the free throw line and converted. Particularly, Wise who was 10-for-11 in the fourth quarter.

Neosho (13-8, 2-1) got within a possession, 51-48, with 2:22 left when Corey Crandall scored on a layup inside the paint.

Ozark edged its lead up to four points when Seth Arnold hit a free throw with 2:09 left, making it 52-48.

Neosho then got within a point, 52-21, after a Wise hit 3-of-4 free throws in a minute span.
The Wildcats took the lead with 26 seconds – the first lead since the first quarter – when Michael Lowe hit a 3-pointer. Up 54-53, the lead was short-lived.

Ozark’s Isaiah Monroe hit a pair of free throws with 10.4 seconds on the clock, giving Ozark the lead back, 55-54.

With 6.7 seconds left, Neosho called a timeout to set up the final play.

It was the same play called many times in the fourth quarter – give the ball to Wise. And, with 2.6 seconds left, Wise stepped to the line and hit two free throws, despite many roaring jeers from the capacity crowd.

“My legs were shaking,” Wise said. “I heard them yelling at me and I just prayed I would make them.”

On paper it would’ve been very easy to look at the records of the Ozark and Neosho boys basketball team and pick a favorite.
Ozark entered with a 18-3 record and Neosho sported a 12-8 record.

It was the underdog, on paper anyways, that pulled through as Neosho pulled out a 56-55 win in Central Ozark Conference play

As of late, the Wildcats are turning into giant killers. According to the area rankings, Neosho has defeated state-ranked Republic and now has beaten two teams in Ozark and Parkview that sported very impressive records prior to the game.

In beating Republic, Neosho went into overtime. Against Parkview, it was a late run in the final minute. This latest win, it was a couple of clutch free throws in the final seconds.

Neosho’s Alex Wise hit two free throws with 2.6 seconds left and that help the team overcome a 1-point deficit.

A game-winning shot attempt by Ozark at the buzzer came up short. The Tigers never could overcome how Wise and the Wildcats played in the final four minutes of the game.

Ozark (18-4, 1-2 in COC Large play) held a 10-point lead with six minutes to play (49-39) and led by nine (51-42) with 4 minutes, 35 seconds left.

But, in the final minutes of the game, Neosho got to the free throw line and converted. Particularly, Wise who was 10-for-11 in the fourth quarter.

Neosho (13-8, 2-1) got within a possession, 51-48, with 2:22 left when Corey Crandall scored on a layup inside the paint.

Ozark edged its lead up to four points when Seth Arnold hit a free throw with 2:09 left, making it 52-48.

Neosho then got within a point, 52-21, after a Wise hit 3-of-4 free throws in a minute span.
The Wildcats took the lead with 26 seconds – the first lead since the first quarter – when Michael Lowe hit a 3-pointer. Up 54-53, the lead was short-lived.

Ozark’s Isaiah Monroe hit a pair of free throws with 10.4 seconds on the clock, giving Ozark the lead back, 55-54.

With 6.7 seconds left, Neosho called a timeout to set up the final play.

It was the same play called many times in the fourth quarter – give the ball to Wise. And, with 2.6 seconds left, Wise stepped to the line and hit two free throws, despite many roaring jeers from the capacity crowd.

“My legs were shaking,” Wise said. “I heard them yelling at me and I just prayed I would make them.”

And the play?
“I was suppose to get to the basket, but I knew I could hit Mike (Lowe) on the pop out, but I was trying to get to the hole.”

Perhaps the biggest crutch for Ozark in the final part of the game was the free throw, just the opposite of Neosho. Ozark hit 5-of-10 free throws, but three of the five conversions came in the final 30 seconds.

“It was mostly Neosho the last four minutes,” said Ozark coach Steve Hunter. “We turned the ball over and we missed free throws. Mr. Wise beat us single-handily, except for that 3-pointer by No. 23. He made 10 free throws in the fourth quarter. We didn’t have an answer for him.”

Wise scored a game-high 21 points, while Crandall added 19. Lowe finished with 10 points for Neosho.

Austin Holtzclaw scored 19 points to pace Ozark’s offense. Dylan Hord scored 13 points and Monroe had 10 points.

Ozark won the JV and freshmen game earlier on the day. In the JV game, the Tigers prevailed 81-49.

Ethan Murray sparked Neosho’s offense in the loss, tallying 28 points. Ozark had four players score in double figures, led by Shawn Shaefer’s 16 points.