Gale, Tate lead Spokane past Southwest, 79-44
February 5, 2020
Lee Stubblefield
The Southwest Trojans struggled in SWCL play this past week, losing on the road to Billings, 79-52, and then falling to Spokane at home on Friday night, 79-44.
The move from the Ozark 7 to the SWCL, a league populated with schools of equal or larger enrollments, has been tough on the Trojans. While the move was necessary for a number of reasons, it came during a down cycle for both the Southwest boys and girls basketball programs.
The Friday contest with Spokane fully illustrated the challenges Southwest faces this season. Rusty Roe’s starting lineup featured four guards - three sophomores and a freshman - and 5-10 senior forward Aubrey Cornell. The Owls, led by flashy 6-5 guard Zayne Gale and 6-8 center JD Tate, had a tremendous size advantage.
Gale and Tate combined for 14 points in the first quarter as Spokane took a 16-12 lead.
Southwest’s tandem of Zak Starr and Cruz Marquez buried treys to dig out of an 8-0 hole, and Caden Uthe scored twice to keep the Trojans within hailing distance.
But Spokane owned the second quarter, turning that frame into a 23-5 run. Marquez scored at the 6:30 mark but the Trojans were stuck on 14 for the next three minutes as the Owls raced to a 39-17 halftime lead.
Marquez opened the third quarter with a half court steal and layup, buT then Gale took over for Spokane. His fifth bucket of the quarter gave the Owls a 60-30 lead with 55 seconds remaining. Only Uthe’s late trey avoided a running clock at the final break.
Spokane kept the pressure on, outscoring Southwest 19-11 over the last eight minutes. A rough and tumble quarter saw two Southwest players exit with contact injuries before mass substitutions for both teams. Tate scored the final basket with a powerful offensive board and follow to give the Owls a 79-44 victory.
Spokane improved to 12-5 with the win. Southwest slipped to 6-14.
Southwest scorers: Caden Uthe, 18; Cruz Marquez, 9; Brandon Brooks, 5; Zak Starr, 4; Otis Rainer, 3; Max Terry, 2; Zak Corwin, 2; Rayden Blackburn, 1.
Spokane scorers: Zane Gale, 29; JD Tate, 17; Jacob Wiggins, 12; Jackson Bray, 11; Sam Shuman, 6; Grant Stewart, 4.
Spokane Lady Owls 64, Southwest Lady Trojans 23
On Thursday night, the Spokane girls ran away from Southwest for a 64-23 road victory. Senior center Paige Tate poured in 28 points in a dominating performance to lead the Owls. Anna Church led Southwest with 8 points.
Spokane improved to 11-5 with the win, while Southwest dipped to 6-13.
Area scores: Webb City 73, Cassville 45
Despite having three players in double figures, the Cassville Wildcats fell to Webb City on the road on Friday night, 73-45.
The Cardinals opened with a 22-5 blitz, scoring off turnovers and transition baskets. the Wildcats never got out of the hole,
although Barrett Milleson’s squad did pull within 36-25 at halftime. The Cardinals put the game away with a 22-9 show in the final quarter.
Webb City, with former Southwest coach Jason Horn on the bench, improved to 8-7 on the season. Cassville slipped to 6-12.
McAuley 77, Exeter 64
McAuley girls 72, Exeter 28
Wheaton 50, College Heights 49
College Heights girls 65, Wheaton 35
Lee Stubblefield
The Southwest Trojans struggled in SWCL play this past week, losing on the road to Billings, 79-52, and then falling to Spokane at home on Friday night, 79-44.
The move from the Ozark 7 to the SWCL, a league populated with schools of equal or larger enrollments, has been tough on the Trojans. While the move was necessary for a number of reasons, it came during a down cycle for both the Southwest boys and girls basketball programs.
The Friday contest with Spokane fully illustrated the challenges Southwest faces this season. Rusty Roe’s starting lineup featured four guards - three sophomores and a freshman - and 5-10 senior forward Aubrey Cornell. The Owls, led by flashy 6-5 guard Zayne Gale and 6-8 center JD Tate, had a tremendous size advantage.
Gale and Tate combined for 14 points in the first quarter as Spokane took a 16-12 lead.
Southwest’s tandem of Zak Starr and Cruz Marquez buried treys to dig out of an 8-0 hole, and Caden Uthe scored twice to keep the Trojans within hailing distance.
But Spokane owned the second quarter, turning that frame into a 23-5 run. Marquez scored at the 6:30 mark but the Trojans were stuck on 14 for the next three minutes as the Owls raced to a 39-17 halftime lead.
Marquez opened the third quarter with a half court steal and layup, buT then Gale took over for Spokane. His fifth bucket of the quarter gave the Owls a 60-30 lead with 55 seconds remaining. Only Uthe’s late trey avoided a running clock at the final break.
Spokane kept the pressure on, outscoring Southwest 19-11 over the last eight minutes. A rough and tumble quarter saw two Southwest players exit with contact injuries before mass substitutions for both teams. Tate scored the final basket with a powerful offensive board and follow to give the Owls a 79-44 victory.
Spokane improved to 12-5 with the win. Southwest slipped to 6-14.
Southwest scorers: Caden Uthe, 18; Cruz Marquez, 9; Brandon Brooks, 5; Zak Starr, 4; Otis Rainer, 3; Max Terry, 2; Zak Corwin, 2; Rayden Blackburn, 1.
Spokane scorers: Zane Gale, 29; JD Tate, 17; Jacob Wiggins, 12; Jackson Bray, 11; Sam Shuman, 6; Grant Stewart, 4.
Spokane Lady Owls 64, Southwest Lady Trojans 23
On Thursday night, the Spokane girls ran away from Southwest for a 64-23 road victory. Senior center Paige Tate poured in 28 points in a dominating performance to lead the Owls. Anna Church led Southwest with 8 points.
Spokane improved to 11-5 with the win, while Southwest dipped to 6-13.
Area scores: Webb City 73, Cassville 45
Despite having three players in double figures, the Cassville Wildcats fell to Webb City on the road on Friday night, 73-45.
The Cardinals opened with a 22-5 blitz, scoring off turnovers and transition baskets. the Wildcats never got out of the hole,
although Barrett Milleson’s squad did pull within 36-25 at halftime. The Cardinals put the game away with a 22-9 show in the final quarter.
Webb City, with former Southwest coach Jason Horn on the bench, improved to 8-7 on the season. Cassville slipped to 6-12.
McAuley 77, Exeter 64
McAuley girls 72, Exeter 28
Wheaton 50, College Heights 49
College Heights girls 65, Wheaton 35