Farmington Cruises Past Springfield Central

PRESSURE DEFENSE HELPS CARDINALS TAKE ADVANTAGE

— The Farmington Cardinals rested in between two busy weeks.

That allowed them to run away with a 61-27 win against Springfield (Mo.) Central on Monday at the 55th annual Neosho Holiday Classic.

The Cardinals jumped out to a quick lead thanks to their pressure defense and fresh legs.

The Cardinals — who played two 4A-1 Conference games the week before the holiday break — didn’t practice too much last week in preparation for the four-day tournament.

“We didn’t have to practice as much,” Cardinals coach Beau Thompson said. “They stayed off their legs. They looked pretty good (Monday).”

The Cardinals (11-1) forced eight turnovers in the first quarter and jumped out to a 12-2 lead.

Collin Woodward got Farmington started with a 3-pointer and Tyler Haskins scored back-to-back baskets off turnovers to begin the 10-point lead. After a Central score, Woodward knocked down another 3-pointer and Blake Abrecht scored off a steal.

“We’re a pressure team,” Thompson said. “For some reason we don’t play well unless we’re going up and down the floor. I thought our pressure hurt them early in the game.”

The Cardinals forced 27 turnovers in the win.

Farmington will Central Park Christian (Birmingham, Ala.) at 7:30 p.m. today. The Eagles beat Monett, Mo., 83-15, behind 18 points from guard Van Green.

Evan Yochum scored back-to-back layups late in the second quarter for a 34-8 halftime lead and Abrecht’s free throws gave Farmington a 30-point lead.

Central battled back, going on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to 38-18 midway through the third quarter.

Farmington forced four turnovers the rest of the quarter and pushed the lead to 45-21 on Woodward’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

Woodward finished with a game-high 15 points and Abrecht added nine for the balanced Cardinals.

Gavin Osnes had eight points off the bench, hitting two 3-pointers and two free throws in the fourth quarter, including a foul shot that triggered a mercy-rule running clock with 5:31 left.

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