Mules take second at Kaminsky Classic

JOPLIN, Mo. — Slow and steady was the game plan for the Poplar Bluff Mules boys basketball team as it punched its ticket Friday night to the 2024 Kaminsky Classic championship game.

After landing a solid 24-point win over Neosho in the first round, the Mules went head-to-head against the Union Wildcats in the semifinals to secure a spot as the final two.

The Mules stayed neck-and-neck with the Wildcats and were pushed to their limits for most of the game, but they executed enough baskets to walk away with a 63-49 victory. The Mules improved the record to 10-6 on the season.

Mules' head coach Will Durden said it was a good win and he was happy for the opportunity to play for the championship.

“I think we played well,” Durden said. “We shared the ball well, and I think we played well. We stayed solid on defense and closed out during many defensive possessions while securing the rebounds. Overall, we played a solid game.”

It was a different story in Saturday's championship game, as Francis Howell pulled away in the second half for a 68-42 win over the Mules.

Last Friday, Poplar Bluff and Union each kicked off the game locked in by trading a series of baskets. While the Wildcats aimed to capture a quick lead, the Mules stayed consistent with their shot selection and remained on the heels of Union with their hard-nosed defense.

Union managed to execute many brackets inside the post in the second half, but each time they started to go on a run, the Mules were there to halt them in their tracks with a few baskets of their own.

After trailing for most of the second quarter, the Mules would land their first lead after a long-range dagger three from junior Brendan Durden. The momentum would heavily be on the Mules’ side as they went into halftime with a 30-26 lead after a close-out layup from Brendan Durden, who collected 11 points at the half.

The Mules would not take their lead for granted in the third. They came out firing on all cylinders and collected enough baskets to pull away from Union to end the third with a 45-39 lead. Though the Mules had a comfortable lead heading into the fourth, they would need to have a near-perfect quarter to ease past the Wildcats.

Poplar Bluff then used a strong fourth quarter to coast to victory and capture a spot in the championship final.

Brendan Durden led the Mules with 15 points, Darius Graham had 14, Mar'Lon Hickman Roberson added 13, Preston Moore chipped in 11 while Isaiah Nevel had eight.

Saturday's championship

After two days of battling through tough competition, the Mules had the opportunity to bring home another tournament championship, but they would have to battle past a tough Francis Howell team.

While holding a steady pace in the first half of the game, a burst of offensive plays from Howell in the second cost the Mules as the Vikings pulled away for the 26-point win.

The Mules started the game with a lot of energy. Though undersized inside the post, they managed to stay even with Howell for as long as they could. Howell saw a weakness within the Mules’ rebounding and took full advantage by pulling down 46 rebounds to the Mules' 31.

Despite holding a 26-23 lead midway through the second quarter, the Vikings took complete control by expanding the lead to coast to victory.

Ledon Webb led the Mules with 11 points and three rebounds, while Moore added nine points and five rebounds, Graham had seven points and four rebounds, while Brendan Durden and Hickman-Roberson chipped in with five points each.