Nearly every category favored the home team.

On the other hand Mounds Meridian didn't end the drama until late in the game.

By not hitting free throws (5-of-15 for the game) and committing 19-turnovers, these factors allowed Waltonville to stay in contention.

But the hosts never allowed the second half lead to get under six-points, eventually winning the contest 86-76 in a battle between two ABV Top Ten 1A teams.

Coach David Davis and his club improved to 12-4 on the season with a key contribution from the newest Bobcat; 6-3 freshman Antonio Flenoid, Jr. who scored 20-points in his debut.

Flenoid, Jr. became eligible this past week and made an instant impact for Mounds Meridian.

His rebounding and defense in the middle helped the Bobcats to a 35-18 advantage on the boards.

Five other players for Meridian scored double-figures.

Senior Cole Kaufman scored 19-points and drilled home four of the team's seven 3-pointers.

Javionne Ranson, a sophomore guard, added 13-points and Coach Davis got 11-points from senior Jai'Deon Reed.

Both Dionte Reed and Will Thurston scored 10-points.

The top scorer for the game was Waltonville sophomore guard Kyle Cooper.

The 5-10 play-maker ended up with 33-points in the loss that dropped the Spartans to 14-3.

With a couple of players missing from the squad (sophomores Brandon Klingler and Jagger Mayville due to illness) and some others under the weather this week, Waltonville still managed to rally from a 15-point second quarter deficit to get within two possessions in the final moments of the fourth quarter.

Six-foot-four sophomore Gage Peterson scored 22-points before fouling out in the final minute.

Junior guard Isiah Lamke scored 12-points for Coach Anthony Lowery's club that has lost its last two games and are 3-3 after an 11-0 beginning to the 2023-24 season.

It's no secret how the athletic Bobcats' like to play.

Full-court pressure to try to quicken the game and create easy scores.

This strategy worked, especially in the first half.

Mounds Meridian forced 11 of the Spartans' turnovers in the first half, eight of which came during the second quarter.

Kaufman knocked down two of his teams' four first quarter 3-pointers.

His first one got the Bobcats on the board and his second one beat the first quarter horn.

Cooper did something that hurt Meridian, especially early.

He got to the foul line.

The sophomore hit 5-of-6 free throws in the first quarter and added a 3-pointer and another basket on a drive.

One other key to the first period was three second chance baskets by Meridian on offensive rebounds.

Flenoid, Jr. and Thurston scored on consecutive rebound attempts as the Bobcats led 26-18 at the end of the first quarter.

“We wanted to pressure their guards and play good containment defense,” said Coach Davis. “But we had a tough time stopping Cooper. He's a good player and we have much respect for him. That is a very good team that we beat.”

(CONTINUED)
Fans in attendance probably had no idea that the two teams would score exactly 120-points in the next 24-minutes; 60-points each.

During a second quarter rush by Meridian, the Bobcats scored 10 of their 16-points in transition, with three of the buckets coming on slam dunks.

A 13-4 run was culminated with a monster two-handed slam by Flenoid, Jr. which gave Meridian its largest lead at 37-22.

The young Spartans could have gotten dejected but they immediately rallied and closed to within nine at the break.

Both Lamke and Peterson converted three-point plays while being fouled and Cooper added more free throws (3-of-4) and a driving score.

A running 3-point shot by Meridian junior guard Shamar Easley beat the second quarter buzzer that made it 44-35 Bobcats at the half.

Meridian hit its first five field goal attempts and 9-of-12 in the third quarter.

But they couldn't put Waltonville away.

The lead reached 14 twice in the third, but each time the Spartans came back.

Both Lamke and Peterson scored while being fouled for three-point plays and a Cooper 3-pointer from the right wing closed the third at 65-55 Bobcats.

It took nearly all of the fourth quarter but the Spartans got close to finishing the rally.

Six-points from Cooper on a pair of drives in the lane, and two free throws with 1:30 left, cut the Bobcats lead to 80-74.

That was the end of the rally.

Sending Easley to the foul line for a two-shot opportunity the junior guard missed both tries.

However Jai'Deon Reed tipped the ball in on the offensive rebound of the second miss.

Waltonville missed its next two 3-point shots and Meridian got the rebound on each.

Another fast break dunk off of a rebound Waltonville missed shot, from Jai'Deon Reed, pushed the lead to 85-74.

Cooper ended up with a pair of late free throws to close out the scoring.

Meridian finished the contest 37-of-62 from the floor with 30-of-37 of two-point field goal attempts.

The Spartans were 26-of-57 overall, 4-of-17 from the arc.

Both teams head into tournament play next week with Meridian traveling to the 49th annual Benton Invitational Tournament as they will play Carterville on Monday night.

“We were able to convert in transition and that was a plus for us,” said Coach Davis. “But we have to take better care of the ball and do a better job shooting free throws against Carterville. I know they will be physical.”

Waltonville is the top seed at the 93rd annual Midland Trail Conference Tournament and will play the winner of the Patoka/Odin vs. Sandoval game at home on Tuesday night.

“We talked about limiting our live-ball turnovers and with their length and athleticism you can't make mistakes,” said Coach Lowery. “I'm proud of the grit my guys showed tonight. When we got down 15 or 16 there in the first half we could've packed it in but we fought back.”

Waltonville (78) - M. Devor 2 1 0-0 7, Lamke 3 1 3-4 12, Cooper 7 2 13-16 33, W. Devor 1 0 0-0 2, Peterson 9 0 4-6 22, Reynolds 0 0 0-0 0, Kretz 0 0 0-0 0, Rose 0 0 0-0 0, Karnes 1 0 0-0 2, Stewart 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-22, 3FG-4, FT-20-26 , PF-15.
Mounds Meridian (86) - Ranson 4 1 2-4 13, Easley 0 1 0-4 3, G. Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Woodson 0 0 0-0 0, L. Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Thurston 3 1 1-2 10, Kaufman 3 4 1-2 19, J. Reed 5 0 1-2 11, Flenoid, Jr. 10 0 0-1 20, Stoner 0 0 0-0 0, D. Reed 05 0 0-0 10. 2FG-30, 3FG-7, FT-5-15, PF-21.
Fouled Out – Peterson - Waltonville; Flenoid, Jr. - Mounds Meridian.
Technical Fouls – None

Pope County (64) - Ohse 0 1 0-0 3, Comer 2 1 1-4 8, E. Presser 2 2 0-0 10, M. Presser 8 1 2-2 21, Steele 4 0 3-3 11, Bucher 0 1 0-0 3, Simmons 1 0 0-0 2, Burkhead 0 0 0-0 0, Forthman 0 0 0-0 0, Eckert 0 1 0-0 3, Tabor 0 0 0-0 0, Holmes 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-17, 3FG-8, FT-6-9 , PF-13.
Egyptian (43) - Plott 2 1 0-1 7, Clark 6 1 2-4 17, Williams 3 0 0-0 6, Benee 0 0 0-2 0, McHughs 1 1 0-0 5, Pearman 2 0 0-1 4, Lessar 0 0 0-0 0, McKee 0 0 0-0 0, Price 0 0 0-0 0, Webb 0 0 0-0 0, Potts 0 1 1-2 4.
2FG-14, 3FG-3, FT-3-9, PF-9.
Fouled Out – None
Technical Fouls – None

Elverado (61) - Jones 5 3 3-6 22, Roberts 8 0 1-3 17, Sarenson 4 0 3-3 11, Shirley 4 0 1-3 9, Guerra 0 0 2-2 2, Crow 0 0 0-0 0, Hodges 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-21, 3FG-3, FT-10-17, PF-10.
Fulton City (KY.) (54) - Jamar Martin 1 0 0-2 2, Maclin 3 0 2-2 8, Morris 3 0 1-1 7, Oliver 0 0 0-0 0, T. Ware 5 0 0-0 10, Jamal Martin 2 4 0-0 16, Lalley 0 0 0-0 0, Jackson 0 0 1-2 1, Cavness 0 0 0-0 0, Burton 1 2 2-4 10, E. Ware 0 0 0-0 0, Fulcher 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-15, 3FG-6, FT-6-11, PF-14.
Fouled Out – T. Ware - Fulton City (KY.)
Technical Fouls – None