Boys Basketball Falls to Odessa in Overtime After Fast Start at Husker Classic

Higginsville, Mo. (December 10, 2025) – The Tiger basketball team opened the second round of the Husker Classic with a hot start but cooled down and fell in overtime to the Odessa Bulldogs.

Back-to-back baskets by juniors Brett Jones and Owen O’Dell put the Tigers up 4-0 within the first minute of the game. The Tigers went on to outscore the Bulldogs 22-11 by the time the first-quarter buzzer sounded.

The second quarter turned out much differently for the Tigers, with the Bulldogs scoring the first seven points of the quarter to cut the lead to 22-18. Jones picked up an offensive rebound and putback to end the Tigers’ scoring drought, holding the lead at 24-18 midway through the second quarter. The Tigers managed just one more basket in the quarter, a breakaway layup by senior Booker O’Neill, allowing the Bulldogs to take a 28-26 lead into halftime.

The Tigers jumped ahead to start the third quarter, scoring the first nine points to take a 35-28 lead. The Bulldogs responded by outscoring the Tigers 20-4 the rest of the quarter to carry a 48-39 lead into the fourth.

The Tigers clawed their way back with a hot shooting fourth quarter to take a 63-60 lead, but two missed free throws and a 3-point basket by the Bulldogs sent the game into overtime. Odessa scored the first six points of overtime and went on to outscore the Tigers 12-6 to secure a 75-69 win.

The Tigers had three players score in double figures, with O’Neill leading the way with 22 points. He added eight rebounds and five assists. Junior Kalib Strickland finished with 13 points and five steals, while O’Dell scored 11 points. Junior Jarrett Racasi added eight points, Jones scored seven, sophomore Spence Gibbs had six, and senior Thomas Stanley finished with two.