Cardinals and Nixa Eagles, both undefeated in COC, square off Friday in the dome

The boys Central Ozark Conference basketball championship will be on the line in the Cardinal Dome Friday as Webb City hosts Nixa.

Both teams are 6-0 in league play. Webb City is 17-5 after defeating Joplin at home Tuesday. While Nixa’s Eagles are 17-6.

Barron Duda scored half of his 36 points against Joplin in the fourth quarter. In that quarter alone, he sank four 3s.

The Cardinals  scored 16 points in each of the first three quarters to take a 48-36 lead. In the fourth quarter, they held the Eagles to 7 points while scoring 25 to briefly activate the 30-point fast clock before winning 75-43.

Eli Pace, with 15, was the only other Cardinal scoring in double figures. Holton Keith pulled down 11 rebounds.

The win was coach Jason Horn’s 250th career win.

At Republic last Friday, the Cardinals fell behind 25-10 in the first quarter but came back to force the game into overtime. Webb City outscored the Tigers 14-2 in OT to win 77-65. Pace and Omari Jackson, with 15 each, led the balanced offense. Also scoring in double figures were Gabe Johnson and Keith, 13 each, and Duda, 10.

The Cardinals have two more conference games – at Carl Junction Tuesday and at Neosho next Friday. Next Thursday, Feb. 22, will be the last home game, against East Newton.

Girls get 10th win by defeating Joplin

The Webb City girls (10-13) also defeated Joplin this week and will on Thursday host the 17-6 Nixa Eagles.

Malorie Stanley led the Cardinals with 22 points against Joplin, with Abby Sargeant adding 13. It was a 55-46 home win for the Cardinals.

Their regular season ends next week with away games at Carl Junction Monday and Neosho Thursday.