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Lafferty nets 18 points and Sparta win versus All Missouri Attack teammate Horinek

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STRAFFORD — Sparta's Jacob Lafferty didn't get caught up in the hype of his matchup against Buffalo's Joseph Horinek at the Strafford Tournament on Tuesday.

There was plenty of intrigue on the men in the middle, as both Lafferty and Horinek were all-conference centers last season. Also, they have played summer ball together with All Missouri Attack.

Horinek blocked a Lafferty shot in the early going, but Lafferty stayed his course and powered Sparta to a 63-38 opening-round blowout of the Bison. 

Even while sitting out the fourth quarter, Lafferty scored 18 points and perhaps most importantly, repeatedly fed his teammates. The Trojans broke away from Buffalo in the first quarter and went on to put up 43 points in the first half alone.

"He got me," Lafferty said of Horinek's block. "He's really big and it's hard to score on him when you're attacking in the paint. With the defense they were running, when you got the ball in the paint, they were all going to collapse." 

Lafferty and forward Dexter Loveland often fed each other for points in the paint. Loveland scored a game-high 23 points. All around the court, Sparta made the extra pass for high-percentage shots.

"We've got two guys who can go to work inside and we're surrounded by shooters. It works really well," Lafferty said. "When you've got two guys inside who are hard to guard, it opens up so much. When we caught the ball, we kicked it out and we've got guys who can shoot it from anywhere." 

Coach Deric Link hopes his team’s passing sets a tone for the Trojans for the tourney. They will meet Cassville in a semifinal Thursday.

“Ball movement has got to be what we try to do and it's got to be about finding the best shot and trusting that the ball is going to find the right guy to shoot it,” Link said. “It's who we’ve got to be and who we are. What every coach wants is guys who will turn down a good shot for a great one for someone else. That's being a great teammate. A former coach of mine always told us to be happy on our brother's birthday and try to get our brother as much success as we have.

“We've got a lot of guys who can make things happen and they're going to play to their strengths,” he added. “We don't have guys trying to do more than what they are capable of.”

Link was pleased to see Lafferty challenged by Horinek.  The two visited with each other after the game.

"They make each other better, not only by tonight, but in the summer time,” Link said. “(Horinek) is good. He's athletic, moves well and defends the rim well. It was good for Jake and all of our guys to see that.”

With the turbo clock in effect for much of the fourth quarter, Link found plenty of playing time for his second-team.

“We're fortunate we've got a lot of kids who can play,” he said. “It’s hard for me to find time for all the kids because you know they have worked hard and are deserving of it. It's awesome to get to see them have success. The thing I love the most is when our starters see those kids have success and they celebrate their success."

BUFFALO (38) — Cox 2 0-0 4, Hickley 1 0-0 2, Phillips 3 0-4 7, Vitea 1 0-0 2, Skinner 4 2-2 10, Horinek 5 2-2 13.

SPARTA (63) — Roller 1 0-1 2, Walker 1 0-0 2, Brown 3 2-3 9, Letterman 2 0-0 4, Davis 1 0-0 2, Lafferty 8 2-2 18, D. Loveland 11 0-0 23, Ball 1 0-0 3,  

Buffalo   10  5  7 16 - 38

Sparta    25 18 14 6 - 63

3-point goals - Phillips, Herinek, Ball, D. Loveland, Brown.


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