Playing for the first time against a team ranked in the nation’s top ten, Waynesville jumped off to a great start, but was unable to hold the lead when tragedy struck, losing to Oakland California Bishop O’Dowd High School 58-42 Thursday in the opening round game of the 31^st annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield. 

The Tigers nailed three’s on their first three shots of the game and raced to an early 11-2 lead on the taller Dragons.  O’Dowd fought back, but still trailed Waynesville 26-23 with 2:03 remaining in the half.  That’s when Juwan Morgan, making a move to the center at mid court, collided with an opponent.  Morgan took a knee to the muscle on the inside of his right knee and was forced to leave the game. 

While the Tigers searched for stability without their big man, O’Dowd scored six straight points for a 29-26 halftime lead it would never relinquish.  The Tigers battled gamely in the third period and only trailed the 7^th ranked Dragons 40-34 after three, but O’Dowd, with three players finishing in double figures, pulled away in the final period. 

Cedric Williams and Joe Johnson each scored 11 for the Tigers, but WHS was outrebounded 36-23 and outshot for the game 51%-35%.