Reindeer games: Clarkton rallies for thrilling win over Rebels

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Clarkton's DeAngelo White (54) shoots between Richland defenders Drew Thornton (left) and Hakeem Whittaker during Monday's second game at the Clarkton Christmas Invitational at Clarkton. [Click to enlarge]

CLARKTON, Mo. -- The Clarkton Christmas Invitational Tournament may be missing a few teams this year and breaking in a new format, but that didn't prevent the tournament's opening night from being exciting.

Justin Brown's basket with 44 seconds left in the game snapped a 74-all tie and lifted the host Clarkton Reindeer to an 80-76 win over tourney newcomer Richland Monday night in pool play.

In Monday's early game at the CCIT, Gideon rolled past Risco 74-43.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Richland's Nick Harris (right) and Jon McGarity (left) try to take the ball away from Clarkton's Tolby Richardson during the second half of Monday's second game at the Clarkton Christmas Invitational at Clarkton. [Click to enlarge]

In the second game of the night, the Clarkton (5-2) trailed the visiting Rebels 21-11 after the first period, but erupted for 31 second-quarter behind three 3-pointers from Dustin Ferguson to take a 42-37 lead into the intermission.

Ferguson finished the night with 23 points and four triples, 13 of those points coming in the second quarter.

The Reindeer extended their lead to 60-55 entering the fourth period and led 72-66 late in the game when things got exciting.

Richland (2-2) still trailed 74-70 before Drew Thornton sank a pair of free throws with 1:06 left. On the ensuing inbounds play, the Rebels' Nick Harris came with the ball on a bang-bang play and sank the game-tying basket with 1:01 showing on the clock.

Richland had a chance to tie the game when Harris was fouled with 34.8 seconds left, but he missed the front end of a one-and-one.

However, Harris sank a pair of free throws with 14.8 seconds left to cut the Reindeer lead to 77-76, but Tolby Richardson sank a pair of foul shots with 10.3 seconds left to push the lead back to three points, and Ferguson's foul shot with 1.5 seconds left iced the game and set the final score.

Harris led the Rebels with 17 points, while Drew Thornton added 14, Mickey Latham chipped in 13 and Jon McGarity finished with 10.

Casey Redden drained five 3-pointers and led all scorers with 26 points for Clarkton, while DeAngelo White added 12 points off the bench.

Richland concludes pool play tonight when it takes on Holcomb at 7:30 p.m., while the Reindeer are off until Thursday when they take on Holcomb, also at 7:30 p.m.

Notes: Richland coach Casey Knight holds the record for most points per game at the CCIT, averaging 33 points per game while playing for Risco in 1989. ... Clarkton has won the tournament five times -- including last year -- and has reached the finals eight times overall. ... Current Reindeer coach Scotty Blackburn also coached the first Clarkton team to win the CCIT in 1991.

Gideon 74, Risco 43
In Monday's opening game, the Bulldogs put four players in double figures to roll to victory over the Tigers.

Jordan Boone led all scorers with 20 points, while Dustin Horad added 16, Jarred Foster chipped in 14 and Curtis Miller finished with 13.

Derek Fowler paced Risco with 10 points.

The win also snapped a two-game losing streak for Gideon (4-3), which lost at Malden and at state-ranked Scott County Central last week.