A third quarter run and late free throws were the ingredients to a successful Friday night at the Dome as the Cardinals picked up 61-51 win over Hillcrest.

A tightly contested first half that saw neither team have more than a five point lead and the lead change 5 different times came to a close with the Cardinals clinging to a 31-28 lead.  An 11-2 run to start the second half enabled the Cardinals to build a 42-30 lead late in the third quarter.  A free throw and three pointer from Eli Pace got the run started.  Holden Johnson answered two free throws from the Hornets with two of his own then an old fashioned three point play and a layup from Holton Keith finished the burst.   

Not to go away quietly, the Hornets closed the gap back to five with a seven point run largely from the free throw line.  In the third quarter, the Cardinals only allowed the Hornets to make on basket, but the Hornets stayed in the game going 9 of 10 from the free throw line.  

The fourth quarter was much the same as the third as the Cardinals pushed their six point lead, 45-39, to 11 again in the first three minutes.  The Hornets got it back to five inside of two minutes but the Cardinals hit five of six free throws in the final minute to preserve the win.

Holton Keith poured in 32 points, shooting 10-20 from the field and 10-17 from the free throw line.  The stat line will place his name into the record books in several different places.  The 17 free throw attempts ties a single game mark and the 10 makes ties the single game dome mark.  

Eli Pace, shooting 3-5 from behind the arc, finished with 12 points.  

Webb City will take on Lebanon next Tuesday before a weekend tournament at Frontenac.