With the way last week's Joe Machens Great 8 Classic ended, the Helias Crusaders were ready to move on to 2018.
Helias rang in the New Year on Tuesday with its best offensive and defensive performances of the season.
"I was just happy with the way we played the game tonight," Helias coach Josh Buffington said after the Crusaders' 90-36 win against the Moberly Spartans at Rackers Fieldhouse. "I thought we played it the right way."
Helias shot 63 percent from the field, and one player couldn't miss in the first quarter.
Nathan Bax scored off an easy look from an in-bounds pass 30 seconds into the game, giving the Crusaders a lead they would not relinquish.
Bax would make his next five shots in the first quarter, drawing a foul on one of them and making the free throw as well. He scored the Crusaders' first eight points and had 13 points and five rebounds through eight minutes, with Helias cruising to an early 26-8 lead.
"He's really playing well for us right now," Buffington said of Bax. "He's an X-factor for us many times, and when we can play through him offensively, it makes things so much easier on our guards.
"The flow of the game is better when we go through him."
Helias' ball-handling was also much better compared to last week's tournament. The Crusaders did not commit their first turnover until the 5:43 mark of the second quarter.
"With the talent we have at the guard spot, we should be no more than eight or 10 (turnovers) every night out," Buffington said. "Our kids have to learn how to value every possession and value the basketball."
Moberly cut the deficit to 30-18 three minutes into the second quarter, but the Spartans were unable to get within single digits the rest of the game.
Landon Harrison, who was one of four Helias players to score in double figures with 16 points, scored 10 in the second quarter. His 3-pointer from the top of the key in the final minute of the first half gave Helias a 52-22 lead at the break.
Helias was 7-of-18 from 3-point range, but Buffington was more impressed with his team's ability to work the ball inside.
"Our shot selection was night and day better, and we played inside-out instead of side to side," he said.
Helias continued to dominate in the second half, finishing the third quarter on a 9-2 run to lead 73-36 and force a running clock the final eight minutes.
The Crusaders went to their bench in the fourth quarter, and they still couldn't seem to miss. Helias made its first seven shot attempts in the quarter, six by Xavier Sykes, who finished with a game-high 18 points.
"He's an explosive player," Buffington said. "He's doing a much better job letting the game come to him now and learning how to play without the ball.
"I'm proud of his effort right now, but I'm proud of all of our guys. We had good games out of everybody."
Bax matched Sykes with 18 points and Nick Brandt finished with 13 points.
The Crusaders came close to having six players score in double figures with Ben Cooper and Marcus Anthony each adding nine points. Bax and Buschjost each grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Moberly (3-6) was held scoreless in the final quarter.
"We didn't gamble as much, we rotated extremely well, we stayed in front of the ball," Buffington said.
The Spartans - who have lost nine straight against the Crusaders - were led by Braeden Wetrich with 14 points.
Helias posted a 1-2 record in the Great 8 Classic for just the third time in Buffington's 10-year tenure. The Crusaders (7-3) are looking to keep on the right track in 2018 at this weekend's Houlihan's Invitational, another three-day tournament.
Helias faces Republic at 9 p.m. Thursday in the first round at Springfield Catholic.
In Tuesday's JV game, Helias defeated Moberly 63-44 to improve to 6-1.
Jonathan Beasley led the Crusaders with 14 points and Cole Sappenfield added 11.