The Smith-Cotton Tigers made crucial free throws down the stretch to seal a 58-53 win over Butler on Thursday night in the S-C McDonald’s Boys Basketball Classic.
S-C went 8-for-8 from the line in the last 38 seconds. The Bears’ Zach Burch, who finished with 18 points, kept Butler in the game with four free throws of his own over that stretch, but a three-pointer by The Bears’ Kaleb Kauffman missed the mark with 4 seconds left.
The Tigers got out to a 10-0 lead behind five points each by Gavin Jones and Dante Scroggins, before the Bears got on the board with 2:17 left in the opening quarter on a jumper by Trevor Fritts. The Bears battled back to tie the game at 14-14 at the 4 minute mark of the second quarter, but Zion Buckner drained a three-pointer to push the Tigers back into the lead. S-C held a 20-14 advantage at the half.
S-C had success with its press to start the second half, and a three-pointer by Tanner Powell and a steal and score by Zion Buckner pushed the Tigers’ led to 10 points at 44-34 with 6:20 left to play. Kauffman and Burch scored a combined nine consecutive points to get the Bears back in the hunt.
Scroggins led S-C with 16 points. Jones added 14, while Powell and Buckner each had 12.
In other tournament play:
Rock Bridge 80, Moberly 57
Webster Groves 69, Warrensburg 49
Parkview 53, KC East 47