Log in

Sparta edged by Strafford 61-59 in final, despite Lafferty's 18-point fourth quarter

SPARTA'S MASON LETTERMAN drives into the paint at the Strafford Tournament on Saturday.
SPARTA'S MASON LETTERMAN drives into the paint at the Strafford Tournament on Saturday.
PAT DAILEY/HEADLINER NEWS
Posted

STRAFFORD — Sparta’s tournament title drought continues.

The Trojans fell to Strafford 61-59 in the Strafford Tournament championship game Saturday.

Sparta has not won a tournament championship in at least 14 years. The Missouri State High Schools Activities Association documents results only as far back as the 2008-09 season.

In a rematch of last season’s Class 3 District 11 title tilt, Strafford jumped on top 18-7 and had to hold off a second-half explosion by Sparta center Jacob Lafferty.

Lafferty scored 27 of his 31 points in second half. He had 18 in fourth quarter alone.

Sparta (3-1) made more free throws than field goals. The Trojans were 20-of-32 from the free-throw line.

Strafford hit 11 3-pointers, outscoring Sparta 33-9 beyond the arc.

The Indians nearly gave the game away by making just 7-of-16 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Former Ozark product Cody Voysey led Strafford with five 3-pointers and 23 points.

Walker Loveland added a dozen points and Dexter Loveland 11 for Sparta.

Strafford 61, Sparta 59

SPARTA (59) — W. Loveland 2 8-11 12, Walker 1 0-0 3, Letterman 1 0-0 2, Lafferty 10 10-18 31, D. Loveland 4 2-3 11.

STRAFFORD (61) — McNew 1 0-1 2, Rael 3 4-6 11, Voysey 7 4-8 23, Willard 1 0-0 3, Mullins 1 0-0 3, Berg 1 0-2 3, Goings 5 0-5 10, Edelstein 1 0-0 3, Ross 1 0-0 3.

Sparta   12 10 14 23 - 59

Strafford 21 5  18 17 - 61

3-point goals - Voysey 5, Willard, Rael, Mullins, Berg, Edelstein, Ross, Lafferty, D. Loveland, Walker.


X
X