By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Had Anthony Jones listened to Cardinal Ritter coach Marvin Neals, the second-ranked (Class 3) Lions probably would have lost at 15-7 Jennings Tuesday. Instead, Jones shot his way out of a 3-for-18 slump, and pulled the trigger on Ritter’s 64-57 win over the Warriors.
After struggling to just seven points after three periods, Jones fired away for eight points in the fourth frame, and 10 more in the overtime period.
“Coach kept telling me to stop shooting,” Jones told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I’m a shooter.
“That was the second game in a row. The game before I was 0-for-9 from the 3-point line. I figured it would come around sooner or later.”
After telling Jones to discontinue firing away, Neals appeared appreciative that his request fell on deaf ears.
“He’s a money player,” Neals told the Dispatch. “He’s a money player that nobody knew before this year. This kid is one of the best players in the area. He’s done it against everybody he’s played.”
Jones, who was averaging just under 20 points a game going into the contest, finished with 25 points on 10-of-29 shooting. But more importantly, the Lions got the win. Darian Jones added 13 points for Ritter, while Chris Simmons chipped in 10 points and 13 rebounds. Eric Clark scored eight points and pulled down 12 boards.
Tristen Bradford had a double-double for Jennings with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Martin had 16 points and Brian McGee was good for 11 points, six blocked shots and eight boards.
Girls Basketball: Combs Nets 1,000th Point
Kelsey Combs has made a living helping other players score points during her four years as a point guard for Branson. During Thursday’s 84-31 win over Reeds Spring, Combs’ teammates were the ones assisting her.
Thanks to a little help from her friends, Combs was able to score the 1,000th point of her career on a lay-up. Although she had no idea how close she was to the milestone, those close to her made the senior wonder if something was amiss.
“People were acting weird,” Combs told the Branson Daily News following her 23-point effort in the win. “Before I left the house, my Mom said, ‘Play good tonight.’” Kyndal kept saying stuff to me, and I couldn’t understand why she and Cailynn were passing up open shots and getting me the ball.
“So, I didn’t know, but because they were saying stuff I had a suspicion.”
Combs now holds single-game and single-season assist records at Branson, and joins her sister Kayli as the only Pirates believed to have scored 1,000 points in a career.
Football: May Returns to Perryville as Head Coach
After delving through about 10 applications for its new football coach, the Perryville high school administration opted to go with a familiar face.
James H. May III has been hired to replace former Pirate coach Rick Chastain, who stepped down in December. The Chaffee assistant football coach held that same role for Perryville during the 2004-2005 season. Now May moves into the driver’s seat.
“I was looking for an opportunity to be a head coach, and that opportunity came open,” May told the Southeast Missourian of his decision to come back to Perryville. “I didn’t think there would be a better opportunity out there for me than that one.”
For Perryville assistant superintendent Russell Leek the hiring was an opportunity for the Pirate football program to get established.
“We’re excited [about the hire] for a lot of different reasons,” Leek told the Missourian. “One, the sooner, you can get something like this established, the sooner you can start the excitement for the next year. And, the sooner you can stop people asking, ‘When are you going to hire a football coach.’”
Another Rebuilding Project Awaits Moler
When Aurora and Reeds Spring clashed last season, little did Hound Dawgs football coach Brian Moler know that he was getting a first hand glance of his new rebuilding project.
Moler served as an assistant coach in Aurora for one season before being promoted to head coach for the 2001 season, and he has maintained that position through the 2007 season. When Moler first grabbed the reins, the Hound Dawgs had suffered through an 0-10 season.
During the 2001 and 2002 seasons, Moler led Aurora to district championships. Moler hopes to equal or better that feat during the 2008 season and beyond.
“There’s a lot of work in turning something around,” Moler told the Branson Daily News. “I think the program is on the cusp of getting out of the slump its been in. (Outgoing coach Jeremy Hays) has laid a good foundation, getting the kids in the weight room. Things are set up where you can come in and make a big difference. I’m going to reap the benefits of that, hopefully.”
Moler had coached his way to a 28-25 record, at Aurora, going into last season. But a 3-7 mark a year ago dropped his seven-year record to 31-32. Moler earned head coaching experience at Strafford, as well.
