WAYNESVILLE, Mo. — After building a double-digit lead in the opening quarter, the Poplar Bluff boys basketball team spent the rest of Saturday’s game holding off runs by Waynesville’s Tyrique Brooks.
The sophomore guard sank seven 3-pointers and finished 29 points but the Mules never gave up the lead to beat the host 56-47 at the Route 66 Shootout.
Darian Webb scored 19 points to lead Poplar Bluff while Gavin Rivers and Nic Brumitt each chipped in nine points.
The Mules (6-2) bounced back from a 20-point loss the previous night to state-ranked Parkview.
Waynesville (1-2), which was coming off a win over Carnahan from St. Louis, took an early lead behind consecutive 3-pointers by Brooks.
Poplar Bluff finished the opening quarter on a 12-2 run after Gavin Rivers broke an 8-all tie with a 3-pointer. Gage Rivers scored consecutive baskets before Kannon Carr’s 3-pointer at the buzzer put the Mules ahead 20-10.
Waynesville outscored the Mules in the second quarter to trail 32-26 and got consecutive baskets to start the second half to get within a bucket.
Torrence Williams scored off his own miss and later scored after Brooks made it a one-possession game with a long 3-pointer.
Poplar Bluff took a 46-37 lead into the fourth and pushed it to 10 with just over 5 minutes remaining.
Waynesville whittled it down to five on a pair of free throws by Brooks but Webb sank both ends of a one-and-one with under a minute to play and added two more to set the final score.
The Mules now have a full week to prepare for the 34th Poplar Bluff Showdown.
Poplar Bluff will open against Forrest City (Ark.) at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27. The tournament also features Fayetteville, Arkansas, Haywood from Brownsville, Tennessee, Memphis Central, Memphis Overton, Raytown South and South Side from Jackson, Tennessee.
Tickets for the Showdown will be $8 per day and are on sale at the PBHS athletic department office.
Lexi Rowland and Zoe Freeman each brought home a sledge hammer after winning their division at the Bring the Hammer tournament in Cabot, Arkansas, on Saturday.
Poplar Bluff's girls placed fifth out of 17 teams led by the two champions and a third-place finish by Kayleigh Dazey.
Poplar Bluff's boys placed sixth out of 24 teams.
Gatlin Taylor, Lucas Robertson and Logan Ringstaff each finished second while Logan Hite placed third for the Mules.