Posted Dec. 18, 2015 at 10:00 PM 
 

Waynesville lost their basketball game 56-54 to the McCluer North Stars (4-2) in their Route 66 Shootout on Friday, but it wasn't due to a lack of opportunities.

The Tigers (3-2) took 61 shots. The problem was, they only hit 17 of them.

"The best thing we do is shoot the basketball," Waynesville coach Chris Pilz said. "We just didn't make enough shots tonight."

To start the third quarter, Waynesville's Joe Johnson hit a quick bucket and put his Tigers (3-2) up 32-20, the largest lead either team would hold in the game.

The Stars then went on a 16-5 run and tied the game at 42 by the end of the quarter.

In a back-and-forth fourth quarter, Joe Johnson hit a pair of free throws with 9.4 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 54. The Star's Harry Ballard attempted a runner from about 12 feet out with 3.4 seconds left and got tangled up with a Tigers and a foul was called.

He hit both free throws and the Stars took the lead back. Sophomore David Adams took the inbound pass past half court and launched a shot that bounced off the front of the rim.

Pilz didn't argue the call, although it could've gone either way, but wonders what would've happened if his defense wouldn't have made the contact and let him take the mid-range jumper.

"Probably a mistake on our part by not being able to stay out of contact," Pilz said. "We had three guys collide on that ball. We talked about just staying in front of the ball and make him shoot a deep shot."

He also pointed to the two possessions prior to Johnson's free throws as key moments in the game.

With 1:09 remaining in the game, Reggie Walker drove the baseline for a bucket to put Waynesville up by one

The Stars then took the ball up and ran the clock down to 18 seconds before taking a shot.

The ball was passed around the arch before finally arriving in the hands of Nicholas Humphrey who promptly knocked down a three-pointer from the left wing. It was only one of two shots he took, and the only one he made.

"Twenty-two, who hadn't made a shot all night, decided to stick a three in there," Pilz said.

But going over the stat sheet, it's pretty obvious the glaring problem was the differences in shooting percentage, where the Stars held a 51.2 to 27.9 advantage.

Dwayne Morton and Joe Johnson helped pick up the slack hitting five and four three-pointers, respectively, out of 11 attempts apiece. They were both 6-19 from the floor (31.6) on the night.

"Those guys probably need 20-25 threes a night," Pilz said. "If they do that, we're going to be in pretty good shape."

ohnson, with 22 points, led the game in scoring. The Star's Harry Ballard was next with 21 and he was followed by Morton with 19.

McCluer North's bench outscored Waynesville's 35-0 and the Stars had the advantage in fast-break points (18-7) and points in the paint (36-14).

The Tigers made the most of the Stars' turnovers, scoring 15 points off of McCluer North's 17 turnovers. Waynesville only had seven turnovers.

Waynesville led for 25:25 compared to McCluer North holding the lead for 3:20.

Waynesville will play Hazelwood Central on Saturday in the final game of the 66 Shootout at 5:30 p.m.