Bernie, Missouri - With both teams coming off of a disappointing previous week, both the Bloomfield Wildcats and the Bernie Mules were hopeful to run their streaks around to the winning side.  The contest between these two teams was postponed due to inclement weather this past Tuesday and rescheduled for Thursday night. 

Bernie came out on top in the first half to post a 20-point lead at one point early in the contest.  It proved to be more than the Wildcats could endure and Bernie won the game by a score of 73 to 67.


Unfortunately for Bloomfield, it was too little too late as the Mules jumped on the Wildcats early with the hot 3-point shot by Troy Kirkpatrick.  Kirkpatrick hit four 3-point shots in the first quarter, adding another and a field goal in the second quarter for his total of 17-points of the night.  Joey Walker and Sam Turner both contributed points in the opening quarter giving the Mules a 27 to 15 start.

Bloomfield battled back with excellent play by Thomas Sanders, Caleb Baker and Brett Ruch.  Sanders was able to hit two 3-point shots and a couple of free throws in the 2nd quarter, while Baker was able to keep the Wildcats close in the first quarter with 9-points.  Ruch had one field goal in the opening quarter but aggressively battled in the paint to 8-points in the 2nd quarter. 

With a 9-point halftime lead, the Mules were set to maintain the tempo of the game and settle in for the win.  But things turned cold for the Mules in the third quarter.  The Mules were only able to score 8-points while defensively holding the Wildcats to 10-points.

"I thought we really lost focus at times tonight," commented Mules Head Coach, Brad Botsch. 

Bloomfield showed signs of life in the fourth quarter as Brett Ruch was able to penetrate and add 8-points.  Tim Fox was quiet until the fourth quarter when he nailed a 3-pointer.  In the end, Bloomfield was able to shave another point from the Bernie Mules lead but not enough to crawl back into the contest.

"I really thought we came out with a lot of energy and intensity in the first half.  We finally got some shots to fall and really were in a groove," noted Bernie Coach Brad Botsch.  "I think we were finally playing like we are capable."

"Bloomfield really stormed back on us at the end of the second quarter and into the third quarter," added Botsch.  "Coach Karnes does a great job up there and his kids didn't quit."

A basketball fan certainly would not have been disappointed with the competitiveness of this game against two local teams.  Both are very talented groups of athletes that will offer a challenge to each other again very soon as we approach the Stoddard County Athletic Association Tournament January 21-25.  With Bernie's number one seed, they could possibly have to get past the #4 seed Wildcats again in the second round of the tournament.

"We gutted it out in the end, and we're glad to secure the win against a very good Bloomfield team," closed Botsch.

It's easy to feel a strong mutual respect between these two coaches.  Both were respectful and complimentary of both teams.

"I'm really proud of our effort to keep battling, but it's hard to spend so much energy making a come back against a really good Bernie team and still not have enough left in the tank to get it done in the end," said Coach Karnes.  "We have to bounce back quick as we go on the road tomorrow against Woodland."

The Bernie Mules will also be on the road tonight against the Puxico Indians.

Junior Varsity:

In junior varsity action, Bernie improved their 2012-13 record to 14-1 riding the offensive strength of Caleb Ellenburg's 32-points.  The Mules were victorious by a score of 55 to 45 over the JV Wildcats. 

Bernie's Sparks and Trammel each added 8-points and Vernon with 7-poins.  Bloomfield was led in scoring by Noah Vandiver with 14-points. 

Bloomfield's junior varsity dropped their season record to 10-5.

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