WESTERN GROVE — The Ozark Mountain Bears built up a big lead and were then able to hold off the Life Way Christian Warriors 75-62 for their first 2A-1 Conference win of the season on Tuesday.
Kooper Baker scored eight points in the first quarter while Tate Dixon added five to lead the Bears to a 21-17 advantage at the first break.
Bake and Dixon each scored seven points in the second quarter when the Bears pushed their lead to 41-28 by intermission and led 59-40 after three quarters. The Warriors outscored the Bears 22-16 in the final stanza to make the final score look closer.
Dixon finished with 27 points and Baker had 20 to lead Ozark Mountain, now 5-9 overall and 1-1 in the league. Mason Gilmore tossed in 13, Jake Zemlik and Cobie Chaney each had six, Marcus Fields chipped in two and Jacob Campbell added one.
Granger Wilson led all scorers with 32 points for Life Way Christian.
Senior girls
The Lady Bears also picked up their first 2A-1 Conference victory over the season on Tuesday with a big 57-33 victory over the Lady Warriors.
Kierra Kleinert knocked down two 3-pointers in the opening stanza as the Lady Bears opened up a 15-7 lead by the first break.
Junior girls
The Junior Lady Bears started the evening with a 55-44 victor over the Junior Lady Warriors.
Life Way led 17-8 after one quarter but Ozark Mountain rallied to take a 28-24 lead at the half and led 37-31 going into the fourth quarter.
Jayden Applegate led Ozark Mountain with 24 points while Mahaley Gilmore tallied 23, Hannah Wheeler had four and Brilee Keymer and Kelsey Tennison each added two.
