Tigers tear away from Van Buren

Watertown boys improve to 10-0

From staff reports

SPENCER — Watertown's boys overcame a slow second quarter with a hot fourth as the undefeated Purple Tigers took their 10th triumph 74-56 at Van Buren County on Thursday night.

After leading 18-13 in the first quarter, Watertown fell behind 31-29 at halftime. But the Tigers shot 50 percent in the third period to lead 47-42 before Van Buren County used a three-point play to pull to within a point.

Watertown then reeled off a 15-0 run to start the fourth and the Tigers shot 90 percent to pull away.

"Van Buren's a tough place to play," said Watertown coach Matt Bradshaw, noting his Tigers were coming off a trip to another traditionally tough gym, Red Boiling Springs, on Tuesday. "We got a little bit of foul trouble in the first half. Didn't shoot the ball good in the second quarter.

"We put the ball in the basket a little bit better in the second half. We defended better. We did a good job creating turnovers and scoring off those turnovers."

Ty Jobe totaled 23 points, including Watertown's only three 3-pointers, and five rebounds. Dylan Speck overcame foul trouble to finish with 15 points while Josiah Smith supplied 11 points and seven assists.

Big man Ben Bain had three fouls in the first half and point guard Macieo Gaines two, but both recovered to toss in 10 points apiece, with Gaines passing for five assists. Nick Sackman scored three points and Zach Edwards two.

Tyler Turner, Van Buren County's 6-foot-4 post, totaled 21 points while fellow big man Gavin Dillon dropped in 14 and Wyatt Hale 10 from the wing.

Watertown will play at home Saturday night against East Robertson.