Perryville boys basketball team survives host Woodland in OT

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The Perryville boys basketball team couldn't rely on its size to pull off the mild upset, so it went back to the fundamentals.

It took an additional overtime period, but the third-seeded Pirates found a late burst and held on for a 66-61 win over second-seeded Woodland in a semifinal of the Woodland Invitational Tournament on Thursday at Woodland High School.

"We talked about being focused, knowing what we're going to do," Peryville coach Justin Dreyer said. "... It was tight throughout. I'm just proud of my kids."

Perryville's Conner Stark works the ball down the court in the first quarter against Woodland in a semifinal game during the Woodland Invitational Tournament Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. (Glenn Landberg)

Perryville's Garrett Johnson finished with 13 points, including a pair of key free throws that put the Pirates ahead, 64-61, with 1:04 remaining in overtime.

The Cardinals got one final chance to tie the game, but the Pirates secured the rebound on a missed 3-pointer by Zach Beel. Wyatt Johnson came up with the rebound for Perryville and finished with a team-high seven, and the Pirates closed the game out at the free-throw line.

Perryville (2-0) turned the ball over only 14 times while forcing Woodland into 30 turnovers. Dreyer said fundamentals are a point of emphasis for his squad but believes consistency within his core group has been the biggest difference for his team.

"Our biggest thing is our team chemistry and just knowing where we are on the floor and knowing how we like to play," Dreyer said. "I thought that went a long way, and it makes us look like we're fundamentally sound."

Conner Stark finished with a team-high 17 points for Perryville, which will take on top-seeded Scott City in the championship at 8 p.m. today. Woodland (1-1) will face No. 5 Zalma in the third-place game at 6:30 p.m.

Perryville's Ryan Noland and Woodland's Zach Beel meet for the tip off in overtime during a semifinal game at the Woodland Invitational, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in Marble Hill, Missouri. (Glenn Landberg)

Stark scored 11 of his points in the second quarter, including a 3-pointer with 53 seconds remaining before halftime that gave the Pirates their first lead since the 4:28 mark of the first period. Perryville led 37-35 at halftime.

"We know what we're going to get from him," Dreyer said about Stark. "He can do that every night for us."

The Pirates never trailed in the third quarter and led by as many as seven points, but the Cardinals took a 51-50 lead with 5:23 remaining in the fourth quarter on a free throw by Michael McCormick and extended their lead to four points less than a minute later when McCormick knocked down a trey from the right key.

Perryville regained the lead on a reverse layup from Garrett Johnson with 2:10 to go in regulation and again with 58 seconds remaining on a jumper from McGwire Bartley, who also reached double figures with 13 points.

The Pirates had a chance to end the game in regulation, but Wyatt Johnson's jumper missed off the front of the rim at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime knotted at 60-all.

Woodland was paced by 21 points from Zach Beel while Tyler Womack added 11 points and Jake Long had 10.

Cardinals coach Logan Nutt said playing a tight game early in the season was the best thing for his team moving forward.

"It's hard to find teams that are very well-coached and have good talent that really give us a big challenge and test us and see what we're all about," Nutt said. "... In the long run, this will help us prepare for district tournaments and so on afterwards if we can do that."

Dreyer said his team was looking forward to playing for the championship against the Rams.

"It'll be a good game. We played them twice last year, and both of them were very good, close games," Dreyer said about Scott City. "They're very good off the dribble, and we're going to have to do a good job of containing them and keeping them in front of us.

"I expect a hard-fought game. They're a very physical team, so we'll have to be ready for that."

Perryville 15 22 11 12 6 -- 66

Woodland 20 15 11 14 1 -- 61

PERRYVILLE (66) -- Conner Stark 17, McGwire Bartley 13, Garrett Johnson 13, Aaron Mueller 7, Wyatt Johnson 6, Jacob Robinson 3, Josh Robinson 3, Austin Mueller 2, Ryan Noland 2. FG 23, FT 12-18, F 24. (3-pointers: Stark 3, Bartley 2, Aa. Mueller 1, Jo. Robinson 1, G. Johnson 1. Fouled out: None.)

WOODLAND (61) -- Zach Beel 21, Tyler Womack 11, Jake Long 10, Paul Duncan 6, Michael McCormick 6, Bruester Young 5, Cole Schlief 2. FG 16, FT 23-32, F 18. (3-pointers: Womack 2, Beel 2, Young 1, McCormick 1. Fouled out: Young.)