SCAA: Puxico survives slow start vs. Advance

BLOOMFIELD - The Puxico High School varsity boy’s basketball squad came into this week’s Stoddard County Athletic Association Tournament with a state ranking (Class 3 No. 8), a great record (13-1), and a lot of awe from its peers (the top seed in the tourney).

And none of it mattered when the ball was tipped in its opening game on Monday at Bloomfield High School against Advance.

For 16 minutes, the No. 8-seed Hornets scared the bejesus out of Indian followers, but Puxico eventually got its act together and earned an 84-66 victory.

“I thought our defensive effort wasn’t very good,” third-year Puxico coach Bryant Fernetti said following the win. “We gave up 35 points in the first half and we weren’t flying around like we have all year.”

Advance (2-14) wasn’t thought to have much of a chance, but it utilized great ball movement, good spacing, and a phenomenal first quarter from senior forward Braylen Carlton to lead 35-33 at halftime.

“To be honest,” first-year Advance coach Dalton Wilson said afterward, “we are really young. None of these guys played varsity minutes (last year) except for (Carlton).”

That didn’t show in the opening half.

Carlton was knocking down shots on the baseline and powering up offensive putbacks, as he totaled 10 of his game-high 21 points in the first quarter.

“His strength is that he can score anywhere inside if he gets it down there,” Wilson said. “He is going to score and it doesn’t matter if he’s double-teamed or not.”

The Hornets led 17-11 at the end of the opening period, but Puxico (14-1) took Fernetti’s message to heart at the intermission and exploded for 25 points in the third period to pull away.

“I just don’t understand why we came out and played like that,” Fernetti said. “If you’re the high seed in a tournament, everybody is going to want to try to beat us.”

Puxico junior forward Scyler Zimmerman, who recently returned from an ankle injury suffered on the same court during the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament last month, knocked down mid-range jumpers in the third period and tallied eight of his team-best 19 points in that period.

“He looked good,” Fernetti said.

The momentum continued late for the Indians, as they got offense from eight different players in the final period.

Indian sophomore guard Landan Burchard and junior guard Jerrett Powell each finished with 14 points while sophomore guard Jett Hancock hit for 12 points.

Puxico buried seven 3-pointers but misfired on eight of its 17 free throws.

Advance had four players in double figures, including sophomore Hunter Rodgers (15 points), senior Ayden Fleming (12 points), and junior Brison Winchester (10 points).

“We’ve had a lot of moments (this season),” Wilson said, “where we could have won games. We have made young mistakes. We are growing right now.”

Advance moves on to face Bernie (6-7) in the consolation semifinal on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The Hornets lost to the Mules 37-34 earlier this month at Bernie.

Bernie fell to Bloomfield 65-44 in the opening round on Tuesday.

Puxico will take on the Wildcats (7-8) on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the championship semifinal.