LIBERAL, Mo. — Crest High’s boys basketball team opened the Tony Dubray Tournament with a 75-67 loss to Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School (Joplin) on Monday.
“We were out of sync all night long,” coach Travis Hermreck said. “Defensively we played very soft and let them get whatever they wanted.”
The Lancers (6-3) were down by as much as 20 in the fourth quarter but stormed back to make it a three-possession game behind stellar scoring performances from Hunter Frazell and Evan Godderz.
“I was happy with the fact that we were able to cut a 20-point fourth quarter deficit to 7,” Hermreck said. “Even though we weren’t at our best, the boys continued to battle.”
The senior duo of Frazell and Godderz combined for 59 of the team’s 67 points.
Frazell finished the game with 30 points on 10-for-29 shooting from the field and 4-for-7 shooting from the free-throw line.
Godderz was close behind with 29 points on 11-for-25 shooting from the field and 3-for-4 shooting from the free-throw line.
As a team, Crest shot 24-for-73, including 10-for-40 from beyond the three-point arc. Although the Lancers were able to make up some ground behind Frazell and Godderz’s three-pointers, Hermreck said his team needed to have his offense remain patient and run its usual schemes rather than simply attempt a hasty shot.
“Offensively we didn’t execute our sets and often settled for quick threes,” Hermreck said.
Gage Adams was the squad’s third leading scorer with 4 points. Seniors Garrett Sipe and Kellen Ramsey rounded out the scoring with 2 points each.
Crest was originally scheduled to play in the losers bracket today, but poor weather in the area on Tuesday forced the tournament to push back the games by one day. So the Lancers should take the court Thursday.
“We know we have to play well in this tournament to get a win,” Hermreck said. “I’m excited to see how we bounce back.”
Crest falls in first-round game
