Injury ‘just a bump in the road’ for Poplar Bluff senior

Darian Webb held up his left wrist and asked his teammates to pop it back out Tuesday night.

The Poplar Bluff senior had just gotten a steal on the other end of the Senior High Gym and was attempting a layup just as he had done many times before. This time, however, Webb landed on that left wrist.

“I broke it in three different places,” Webb said on Friday, his wrist in a soft cast.

“It was just kind of awkward because I always fall, but I knew something happened as soon as I hit the ground.”

The Mules were once again battling with rival Jackson in another close game that featured four lead changes and four ties in the opening quarter. Webb had scored seven of Poplar Bluff’s first 12 points.

The loud gym quickly fell silent as Webb sat on the court holding his wrist.

“I was just like ‘I’m good, I’m good. Just tape it up so I can get to play,’” said Webb, who added that when the adrenaline wore off the pain set in.

The Mules were down by a point when Webb left but quick fell behind as Jackson ended the half on a 14-3 run to lead 41-28.

Waiting at the hospital, Webb was able to watch his teammates come back in the second half. Poplar Bluff forced overtime and pulled ahead with 12 seconds remaining, but lost 79-78 on a last-second 3-pointer.

“At the time I knew I was done, but I was excited seeing my team,” Webb said. “I’m glad to be still around my team, be able to just be around, still part of the team.

“I love these guys.”

Webb has been Poplar Bluff’s leading scorer this season, averaging 15.3 points per game while scoring 20 or more three times. The point guard is among the team leaders in assists and steals but perhaps more importantly, a team leader.

“Everything he does stat wise is great, but his leadership this year is going to be hard to replace,” Mules coach William Durden said.

The team was already missing junior forward Jeridon Young who missed the last five games with a leg injury.

Last year at this time, Young’s season ended with a knee injury but this latest setback is with his other leg.

Young scored a season-high eight points in the opening game of the Poplar Bluff Showdown on Dec. 27. But the junior left the game in the final seconds of the second quarter.

“Same kind of situation,” Durden said. “Just now where he’s comfortable playing well and his comfort level is there and he’s getting in shape, boom.

“We’re trying to figure things out.”

Junior forward Jack Scott played for the first time this season coming off an injury Tuesday night. Rivers scored a career-high 32 points while Nic Brumitt scored a season-high 12.

Webb was the top returning scorer from a team that reached the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2005. As a junior he averaged 7.6 points, 4.1 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game.

In August, Webb’s father, Mareece, died at age 46. The elder Webb was a member of Poplar Bluff’s first boys basketball team to reach a state final and was an assistant coach when the Mules won their two state championships.

Like his dad, Webb did a little of everything on the court.

Tuesday night before crashing to the floor, Webb assisted the Mules previous basket — a 3-pointer by Gage Rivers — before a tipped pass landed in his lap. Heading down the court, Webb threw a no-look pass to Rivers who quickly got it back to Webb. He missed the shot turning away from a defender and causing him to land on his left side.

Webb, who is seven points shy of 500 for his career, is now just like his dad and older sisters Soley and Marissa coaching from the sideline.

“I know everything happens for a reason,” Webb said. “At first I was upset. I know I’m done for the year but I know my team has my back. I know what they’re capable of doing awhile ago. I know.

“I know everything happens for a reason. I trust God.”

The Mules play Portageville at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Libla Family Sports Complex before returning to conference play Tuesday at Kennett. Poplar Bluff hosts Cape Central for homecoming on Friday.

“We’re going to have to have some young guys step up and try to fill some pieces in,” Durden said. “It’s going to be a patchwork deal that we didn’t expect.”

Webb called it “another bump in the road” and said that the coaching staff always talks about responding to adversity.

“It’s always how you respond and we do a good job of responding,” Webb said. “They responded well.”