Mules use big fourth quarter to secure win over Forrest City
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Leading by 11 points late in the first half, the Poplar Bluff Mules found themselves trailing Forrest City by seven early in the third quarter Monday night.
The Mules answered with nine straight points and gave up just three baskets in the fourth quarter to turn back the Mustangs 74-66 to open the 34th Poplar Bluff Showdown.
“I think we got up and we kind of went away from what was successful,” Mule's coach William Durden said. “Forrest City, they play hard. They got a rebound and pushed out on us, we didn’t get back.”
Once the Mules were able to slow down the Mustangs, Poplar Bluff was able to regain control.
Poplar Bluff senior Darian Webb led the Mules with a game-high 21 points.
Webb hit 5 of 10 shots from the field and 9 of 11 free throws to go with four assists and three steals. Darius Graham had 14 points off the bench on 7 of 11 shooting while Gage Rivers had 13 points and seven assists for the Mules (7-2).
Poplar Bluff faces Haywood (Tenn.) at 7 p.m. Tuesday night after the Tomcats suffered their first loss of the season Monday. The Mules will close the tournament against Fayetteville (Ark.), which beat Haywood 75-52.
The Mustangs (5-4) used an 18-3 run to end the first half to take a 43-39 lead into the break.
Kesean Washington’s 17 points led Forrest City while Robert Echols added 12 points and Marcus Britt Jr. chipped in 11 points off the bench.
“We’ve got to capitalize on other team’s mistakes,” Britt's dad and Mustang's coach Marcus Britt said.
Forrest City scored 29 points off turnovers but couldn’t overcome a six of 22-shooting performance from the field in the second half.
Trailing the Mustangs 48-41 two minutes into the third quarter, the Mules Torrence Williams scored off a pass from Gavin Rivers and later off a pass from Webb, who sank a free throw after a steal by Rivers. Marlon Hickman-Roberson tied it at 48-48 off a pass from Webb, who later set up Williams in the paint to cap a 9-0 run.
Poplar Bluff took a 58-57 lead into the final frame and after the teams traded baskets and the lead, the Mules were able to pull away with defense.
Webb’s steal led to a pair of free throws for a 62-59 advantage before the senior drew a charge and later sank a pair of one-and-one chances at the line to help push Poplar Bluff’s lead to six.
The Mustangs ended a field goal drought after four minutes but missed a chance to pull closer.
Poplar Bluff scored off a pass from Webb who later scored off a pass from Gage Rivers with two minutes left to push the margin back to six.
Forrest City didn’t get a field goal over the final 3:09 as the Mules finished the game on a 84 swing.
Poplar Bluff’s Jeridon Young scored eight points on 4 of 5 shooting in the first half before leaving the game with an injury.
The Mules led 21-15 heading into the second quarter after jumping out to an 11-4 lead to start.
Washington’s three-pointer pulled the Mustangs within 2925, but Gage Rivers answered with a drive and Gavin Rivers scored seconds later. Webb's three-pointer, Poplar Bluff’s last of the game, put the Mules in front 36-25 with 2:57 left in the half.
Defensively, Forrest City got steals from Echols and Britt to cut into the lead and forced three more turnovers during an 18-3 Mustang run. The Mustangs sank 8 of 10 free throws in that span and finished 24 of 32 at the line.
In a matchup of the two smallest rosters in the tournament, Poplar Bluff finished plus-two on rebounds while Forrest City had eight second-chance points.
The Mules had seven players with multiple rebounds led by five each from Gavin Rivers and Graham.
Forrest City was led by Randle’s six as seven players finished with multiple rebounds.
“It’s got to be together as a team,” Britt said of rebounding. “My tallest guy is 6-2, 6-3. We’ve got to box out as a team.”
The Mustangs face South Side of Jackson, Tennessee, at 4 p.m. Tuesday before wrapping up against Memphis Overton at the same time Wednesday.