Puxico wins 20th game, spoils Bloomfield’s homecoming

BLOOMFIELD — The Bloomfield Wildcats learned firsthand why the Puxico Indians are one of the best small-school boys basketball teams in Missouri.

The Indians led by as many as 20 points in the opening period and never looked back on the way to an 82-40 win Friday night, spoiling Bloomfield‘s homecoming in the process.

Puxico also earned its 20th win along the way and improved to 6-0 in the Stoddard County Activities Association standings. The Indians (20-1) and Woodland will square off Feb. 18 to determine the regular-season SCAA champion.

In Friday’s contest, Puxico led 12-5 in the opening period before going on a 13-0 run that was the contest’s turning point.

The Indians did not slow down, outscoring the hosts 22-11 in the second period to take a 47-19 lead to the locker room. Puxico led 73-30 by the beginning of the final period.

Landan Burchard led Puxico with 28 points, 16 of them in the opening period. Scyler Zimmerman added 15 and the duo of Mason Parsley and Karson Long each had 11.

Caleb Upchurch paced the Wildcats with 12 points, while Andrew Blanco had 10 and Lane Grigery finished with eight.

The Indians kick off Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament play Saturday at Piedmont, while Bloomfield is slated to host Oran on Tuesday.