Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Bloomfield, Missouri – The Green Wave of Malden took the court as the home team in a bid for the 5th place position at the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament against the host team, the Wildcats.
Defensively each team was able to prevent the other from scoring. At the end of the 1st quarter it was tied 7 – 7. Both Malden and Bloomfield defense prevented the other from hitting the buckets.
With just 4 minutes left in the first half it was tied again 15 all. Malden was able to pull ahead and score 12 points while Bloomfield was held to just five. Half time score Malden 27 – Bloomfield 20.
By the end of the fourth quarter and only 4:11 left on the clock it was tied again at 41 all. Malden’s #23 Cortez Dobbins hit a basket to retake the lead.
Malden took the lead when #23 Tim Fox fouled #3 Shaeen Perkins of Malden and got both of this free throws, 43 – 42.
Just under one minute of play left in the game things got real interesting for the Bloomfield squad. Malden was ahead by 2 when Tim Fox of Bloomfield fouled #23 Cortez Dobbins of Malden. He sunk both making it a 49 – 45 game.
With just 8 seconds left, #23 Tim Fox hit a 3-pointer making it 51 – 49 Malden. The Green Wave could not get the ball inbound giving the Wildcats an opportunity to tie the game and they did with just 4.1 seconds left.
It was the first overtime game of the tournament.
Overtime play is 4 minutes in high school basketball. #33 Noah Vandiver for Bloomfield scores first for Bloomfield with a 3-pointer. Bloomfield fans jumped to their feet cheering!
Then Tristan Mitchell #34 scores two for Bloomfield. Malden fouls giving Nathan Newell #21 an opportunity for two at the charity stripe.
It’s 58 – 51 Bloomfield.
Malden returned with one point from the charity stripe making it 58 – 52, but #23 Tim Fox scores again for Bloomfield. Fox goes to the charity stripe two times in a row and makes all four shots.
It 65 – 52. Malden answered with 2 points by #20 Reggie Reed, a 6’ 0” sophomore. The final points of the game from #21 Dremond Robinson at the line when he dropped two free throws.
Final Score 67 – 54.
Bloomfield had four players in double digits. Noah Vandiver #33 had the game-high 22 points including one trey. Tristan Mitchell #34 tallied 15 points and both Nathan Newell #21 and Tim Fox #23 each added 11 points for the Wildcats.
Newell was 11/12 at the charity stripe.
Tim Fox had the only other trey for the Wildcats.
Cortez Dobbins #23 and Shaeen Perkins #3 tied for the team-high hitting 21 points apiece. They were the only Green Wave players to make into the double-digit territory. Both also had two treys each. Willie Ranson #32 also added a 3-pointer.
“It was a whirlwind,” Bloomfield head coach Jason Karnes said of the unlikely comeback in the final half minute. “Timmy stepped up and hit a huge three. The thing about it is we ran the play kind of wrong. He went to the opposite side so we didn’t get it as quick as we wanted, but he stepped up and hit a big shot for us.”
Way to go Wildcats! They will be back in action on Monday, December 30th to play Twin Rivers. Game time 5:30 p.m.
Final Score: Bloomfield Wildcats 67 Malden 54
Bloomfield 7 13 13 34 - 67
Malden 7 20 11 16 - 54
Bloomfield (67) – Nathan Newell 11, Tim fox 11, Tyler Battles 2, Noah Vandiver 22, Tristan Mitchell 15, Austin Bond 2, Alex Gibbs 4, FG 20, FT 25/41, F 19 (3-pointers: Tim Fox 1, Noah Vandiver 1, Fouled Out: none)
Malden (54) – Shaeen Perkins 21, Reggie Reed 2, Dremond Robinson 2, Cortez Dobbins 21, Willie Ranson 4, Trevor Ison 4, FG 18, FT 13/20, F 30 (3-pointers: Shaeen Perkins 2, Cortez Dobbins 2, Willie Ranson 1, Fouled Out: Jeremy Jones)
