The West Plains Zizzers played against the Parkview Vikings at the Hillcrest High School on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. The Zizzers faced a uphill challenge as the Vikings had won as many games as the Zizzers had lost this season, West Plains with record at 8-13 and Parkview at 13-8.
Game started slowly, with no score for the first few minutes until the Zizzers got on the board. The Vikings would tie it up at 6 but the Zizzers would pull the lead back to end the quarter, 10 to 6. The Zizzers managed to keep the turnover count low with a total of 5 turnovers during the first half. The Vikings managed to close the point gap by half by the end of the half. Zizzers leading at the end of the 2nd quarter, 23 to 20.
Parkview took an early lead in the third quarter by 5 points and the Zizzers would push to take the lead back. West Plains would not only take back the lead but end the quarter with a 5-point lead of their own, 40-35. The West Plains would hold their lead throughout the fourth quarter. The Zizzer lead would yo-yo between 2 and 8 points as the Vikings would start making many successful free throws and a few successful shots. The game came down to the final few seconds as it became a one possession game, Zizzers leading by 2 with 9 seconds remaining. Zizzers’ Josiah Long was fouled with 8 seconds left, Long making two successful free throw to secure the Zizzer victory.
The West Plains Zizzers defeat the Parkview Vikings, 56 to 52. The Zizzers record for the season rises to 9-13 and the Vikings go to 13-9. The Zizzers will play their last home game for the regular season on Tuesday, Feb. 13, against the Rolla Bulldogs with tip-off at 7 p.m.
