C2D3: Puxico puts Meadow Heights away - eventually

BLOOMFIELD – There were times throughout Puxico’s varsity boy’s basketball game on Monday in which the Indians looked to be on their way to a somewhat comfortable win over Meadow Heights in the opening round of the MSHSAA Class 2 District 3 Tournament at Bloomfield.

But the Panthers continually interrupted those plans.

“They did a good job of hanging around,” second-year Puxico coach Bryant Fernetti said of Meadow Heights. “We had opportunities, if we would have just hit a couple of shots here and there, maybe put them away.”

Eventually, the Indians, who led by 12 points with less than three minutes left in the game, were able to do that by hitting six free throws in the final period and winning 65-58.

“They did a good job of hanging around,” Fernetti continued. “We didn’t hit those shots and they’d come down and score.”

The Panthers (15-12) led early 20-17, but the Indians began to press the length of the court, which overwhelmed Meadow Heights at times.

Puxico took a 36-33 lead at halftime and led big early in the third period before Meadow Heights began to claw back.

The Panthers trailed by just six (49-43) early in the final period, but Puxico was able to stretch that margin back out.

With less than a minute remaining, Meadow Heights had – again – fought back to make the game a one-possession battle.

“We just couldn’t get that one rebound,” first-year Panthers coach Mitch Nanney said, “or get that one shot. We got some great looks around the basket and some great looks from our seniors (Koby Cook and William Green).

“Great looks from guys who like to shoot the ball in Braeden Hays and Ranson Grindstaff, kids who have shot the ball well for us all year. But we just couldn’t knock down that one big one.”

The Indians held a 17 to 6 free throw attempt advantage, which came into play late, as well as had a much more balanced offensive attack.

Seven Puxico players produced offensively, with three (Landan Burchard, Jaydon Mitchell, and Cole Barnfield) reaching double figures.

Conversely, Cook and Green had to carry much of the load offensively for the Panthers, who only had one other player, aside from the two seniors, who score more than two points.

“They are a good team,” Fernetti said, “especially those two seniors.”

Mitchell paced Puxico with 15 points, including eight in the final quarter, while freshman guard Burchard had 14.

Barnfield added 11 points, while Duncan Crabb chipped in eight, Thomas Burch had seven points, and Skyler Zimmerman totaled six in the win.

Cook led Meadow Heights with 22 points and scored his 1,000th career point during the game.

Green sank four 3-pointers and had 19 points.

Puxico will now face top-seed Greenville (21-1) on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

The Bears spanked the Indians 64-35 last month in Greenville.

“The first time that we played (Greenville),” Fernetti said, “I felt like, mentally, we didn’t handle it very well. They are big and physical and athletic. It’s hard, you kind of pick your poison on how you are going to play.”