Herbert, Juarez have big fourth quarter in 52-49 win over Indians

by Michael Smith


Grain Valley junior Anthony Juarez said he had a rough third quarter.

He made some mistakes on the court, so head boys basketball coach Andy Herbert had him sit on the bench for a few minutes so he could get his mind reset and get ready for the fourth quarter.

The move paid off.

In a back-and-forth, tight contest with Suburban White Conference rival Fort Osage, Juarez made two huge shots. He connected on two huge corner three-pointers that helped put his team ahead on both occasions and junior Eli Herbert came up with some clutch assists and free throws to help Grain Valley edge the Indians 52-49 Friday at home.

“He’s made big shots for us throughout the year,” Grain Valley head coach Andy Herbert said. “I am proud of him because he bounced back.

“He was in the gym last night and he was in the gym after practice the night before that. When he shoots those, you know the work he’s put in. He earned the right to make those.”

Grain Valley went into the fourth period with a 40-39 lead but had a fight on their hands. After a putback layup from senior Kevin Johnson off a miss from senior Aaron Barr made it 42-39, Fort Osage went on a 4-0 run capped by a pair of free throws from Jax Navarro to go ahead 43-42.

On the ensuing possession, Herbert drove into the lane from the right wing and drew the attention of four defenders. He made a jump pass to a wide-open Juarez, who buried a corner three to make it 45-43, Grain Valley.

Fort Osage senior Isaac Woodward tied it on the next possession as he bullied his way to the rim for another layup, tying it at 45-45. Grain Valley turned it over right after as Jon Ross stole a pass from Eagles center Sam Pendergrass and Navarro scored on the fast break after getting pass from Woodward to inch ahead, 47-45.

Pendergrass got redemption on the following possession as he corralled a huge offensive rebound off a missed three from Herbert. He swung a pass to an open Juarez in the right corner. The junior initially hesitated to take the shot, paused for a couple of seconds, then buried another trey to put Grain Valley back up 48-47 with 1 minute and 10 seconds left in regulation.

“I didn’t expect them to leave me that open, so I figured, why not?” Juarez said. “That was great for my confidence especially with how I played the quarter before. I just let it fly.”

Added Eli Herbert: “Him having the confidence to shoot those is exactly what we need. He’s a big-shot maker.”

Both teams traded one empty possession each before Herbert made four total free throws, which sandwiched a made driving layup from Fort junior Nick Penamon, making it 52-49, Eagles. Indian sophomore Ed’Vion Fields missed a game tying three right before the buzzer sounded, sealing the win for the home squad.

Herbert, a Liberty University commit, finished with a game-high 21 points and made some key assists in the second half, including a pass from the top of the key that he fired between two Fort Osage defenders, which led to a Pendergrass layup. He has also started scoring in different ways as he scored in the post on smaller Indians defender early in the third period.

“I was making a play off what they give us,” Herbert said of his bucket in the post.

On defense, the Eagles used a zone defense to force Fort Osage to shoot a lot of threes. It was also used to try and slow down Woodward, who is the Indians leading scorer. That strategy paid off, especially in the second half as Fort shot just 1-for-10 behind the arc.

“That’s something they are really good at,” Andy Herbert said. “One of their best shooters didn’t play today. That was one less guy we had to worry about who was on the scouting report.

“I thought we did a good job on Isaac for the most part and we kept him away from the offensive glass.”

Following the game, Andy Herbert noted his team didn’t play its best, but he’s happy with the fight his team put up in a close game.

​“I was proud of our overall grit,” said Andy Herbert. “There wasn’t anything pretty about it, but it doesn’t have to be.”

Grain Valley junior Anthony Juarez prepares to shoot a free throw during a 52-49 win over Fort Osage Friday at home. Juarez made two crucial 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help his team close out the win. Photo credit: Michael Smith​

Grain Valley senior forward Evan Colston drives to the basket from the left wing. Photo credit: Michael Smith​

Grain Valley junior Eli Herbert drives by Fort Osage junior Jax Navarro. Herbert scored a game-high 21 points and hit for key free throws late in the fourth quarter. Photo credit: Michael Smith