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Day: February 28, 2021

COLLEGE SIGNING: Joplin’s Huff inks with Evangel University

Posted on by Lucas Davis

When Joplin place kicker Keaton Huff picked up the game of football six years ago, his dream was to be able to play it at the collegiate level.

He realized that dream with family by his side after signing his letter of intent as a kicker for Evangel University on Friday at Joplin High School.

“It means a lot to me that the hard work I’ve put in the last six years of playing football has led me to continue playing at the next level and reaching my dreams of being a college athlete,” Huff said to SoMo Sports. 

Of course, dedication to a sport can make the accomplishments even more fulfilling. Putting his name to paper, sealing his future for the next several years is something Huff won’t soon forget.

“It means everything to me because of the countless hours of work I’ve put into kicking between practice, camps and work on my own,” Huff said. “Seeing it pay off in the end and being able to play a sport I love for another four years is a blessing.”

When looking for a university to continue your education and athletic career can be a daunting task. With so much information available, sometimes all it takes is a visit before you know where you want to be. For Huff, that is exactly what he found at Evangel.

“Evangel attracted me the minute I stepped on campus because of how upfront they were with me about how things were going to be in college,” Huff said. “My education was a big part of my decision, so I wanted to go somewhere with a great pre-nursing program. Evangel’s partnership with the local hospital will provide a great learning opportunity that allows more hands-on experience.”

Huff was quick to point out that his time at Joplin High School was instrumental in developing him into a collegiate student-athlete. His time as an Eagle is something he will always cherish because it gave him an understanding of the work ethic needed to be successful.

“High school workouts were so much different than I expected,” Huff said. “The level of intensity is heightened because our football coaching staff knows they represent the whole community of Joplin and want to make them proud. Because of this, I was able to develop into a much stronger, faster athlete by taking weight lifting all four years of high school along with speed school and preseason workouts for football.”

PREP HOOPS: A look at area Class 4-6 district tournaments

Posted on by Jason Peake

District tournaments for prep basketball teams competing in Class 4-6 concluded on Friday.

Below is a quick look at district tournaments of local interest. 

 

GIRLS 

CLASS 6 DISTRICT 12

Monday’s semifinals

(1) Kickapoo 88, (4) Joplin 28

(2) Republic 63, (3) Carthage 31

Thursday’s title game

Kickapoo 81, Republic 73

Sectional Opponent: District 11 champion on March 10

 

CLASS 5 DISTRICT 11

Tuesday’s semifinals

(1) McDonald County 57, (4) Monett  15

(2) Logan-Rogersville 28, (3) Neosho 17

Thursday’s title game

McDonald County 51, Rogersville 49

Sectional Opponent: District 12 champion on March 10

 

CLASS 5 DISTRICT 12

Monday’s semifinals

(1) Carl Junction 66, (4) Harrisonville 31

(3) Webb City 59, (2) Nevada 48

Thursday’s title game

Carl Junction 55, Webb City 52

Sectional Opponent: District 11 champion on March 10

 

CLASS 4 DISTRICT 12

Tuesday’s quarterfinals

(5) Cassville 32, (4) East Newton 23

(3) Seneca 44, (6) Reeds Spring 33

Thursday’s semifinals

(1) Mount Vernon 57, Cassville 22

Seneca 66, (2) Aurora 53

Saturday’s title game

Seneca at Mt. Vernon at 1:30 

Sectional Opponent: District 11 champion on March 10

 

BOYS

CLASS 6 DISTRICT 12

Tuesday’s semifinals

(1) Kickapoo 87, (4) Carthage 41

(2) Republic 80, (3) Joplin 72

Friday’s title game

Kickapoo 52, Republic 44

Sectional Opponent: District 11 champion on March 9

 

CLASS 5 DISTRICT 11

Monday’s semifinals

(1) Logan-Rogersville 64, (4) McDonald County 51

(2) Neosho 46, (3) Monett 35

Wednesday’s title game

Rogersville 77, Neosho 49

Sectional Opponent: District 12 champion on March 9

 

CLASS 5 DISTRICT 12

Tuesday’s semifinals

(1) Webb City 89, (4) Carl Junction 71

(2) Nevada 58, (3) Harrisonville 41

Friday’s title game

Nevada 52, Webb City 49

Sectional Opponent: District 11 champion on March 9

 

CLASS 4 DISTRICT 12

Monday’s quarterfinals

(4) Aurora 83, (5) Seneca 43

(3) Reeds Spring 43, (6) Cassville 24

Wednesday’s semifinals

(1) East Newton 69, Aurora 42 

(2) Mount Vernon 48, Reeds Spring 36

Friday’s title game

East Newton 66, Mount Vernon 58

Sectional Opponent: District 11 champion on March 9

COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Missouri Southern sweeps Missouri S&T

Posted on by Jason Peake

The Missouri Southern softball program completed a sweep of Missouri S&T tonight to conclude the Teri Mathis Zenner Tournament at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.

The Lions won the opener 9-1 and the second game 16-8.

Southern (3-1) picked up wins from Abby Atkin and Kara Amos, as Amos also finished the day going 3-of-5 with a pair of RBI’s and runs scored.

Game One had Leighton Withers start the scoring with a sacrifice fly to score Josie Tofpi in the fourth. Southern broke out in the fifth inning starting with a two-RBI single by Lynlee Parrott before Parrott scored off a fielding error by the Miners’ first baseman. Amos laid down a sac bunt that would score Tofpi, and Kristen Wade singled home Tori Frazier who pitch ran for Withers.

Tofpi singled home Yazmin Vargas, and Ashlynn Williams drove in the final two runs in the sixth off a double to right center.

Atkin started the game and went five full innings striking out four Miners and limiting them to six hits and an earned run.

Game Two featured an hour-long weather delay in the middle of the fourth inning that saw the Lions come out swinging after the time off.

Going into the fourth inning the Lions had just scored four in the third as Tofpi singled home Vargas. Williams repeated the feat scoring Tofpi, and Sidnie Hurst had a two-RBI double up the middle scoring Williams and Kayla Arzate.

The Miners (0-6) pushed across five runs in the fourth scoring twice once the game resumed. In turn the Lions scored nine runs off nine hits. Tofpi got the scoring started with a double and advanced on the throw to third and scored Parrott and Vargas.

Amos hit a single to score Williams, Frazier singled up the middle to score Kristen Wade, Parrot doubled through the left side scoring Frazier and later Vargas on a fielding error by the left fielder. Withers capped off the inning with a single up the middle to score Parrott.

The last two runs scored were a bases loaded walk and then a hit-by-pitch to run rule the Miners.

Amos switched over to pitcher following the resumption of play and picked up her second win of the season, pitching the last 2 2/3rds innings, striking out four and limiting S&T to three hits. Amos shutdown the Miners’ bats in the fifth and six innings striking out the side in the fifth.

Next up for the Lions is a road matchup with Newman on Friday, March 5 with first pitch slated for 2 p.m. in the opening MIAA double-header series.

COLLEGE TRACK & FIELD: PSU women in second, men in third at MIAA Indoor Championships

Posted on by Lucas Davis

PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Pittsburg State University women’s indoor track & field team sit in second place heading into the final day of the 2021 MIAA Indoor Championships Sunday, while the Gorilla men are in third place after Saturday’s action.

The Pitt State women have compiled 45 points at the Washburn Indoor Athletic Facility to trail day one lead University of Central Missouri by 12 points.

The Pitt State men have scored 28 points in the meet thus far. Missouri Southern State University leads with 57 points and Central Missouri is second with 38.

Championship Sunday starts at 11 a.m. (CST) with the conclusion of the men’s heptathlon. Field events begin at 1 p.m. and running events start at 2 p.m.

In Saturday’s action, Haven Lander captured an MIAA title and set a new Pitt State indoor record in the women’s pole vault with a winning clearance of 13 feet, 10 inches and Asia Anderson captured the MIAA title in the long jump (19-2.5). Trace Mosby finished as the MIAA runner-up in the pentathlon with 3,858 compiled points and Hannah Honeyman raced to a third-place finish in the 5,000 meters in 17:48.32.

For the Pitt State men, the distance medley relay of Connar Southard, Graham Hudelson, Matt Wilson and Mason Strader captured the MIAA title with a winning time of 9:48.91. The relay shattered the Pitt State school record as well as the MIAA meet record.

Konner Swenson placed fourth in the weight throw (61-4.75), Cameron Wright finished fifth in the pole vault (16-1.25) and Bryce Grahn placed fifth in the 5,000 meters (14:30.20).

WOMEN’S HOOPS: Southern women earn postseason bid with win over UCO

Posted on by Lucas Davis

The Missouri Southern women’s basketball team used a strong fourth quarter and secured a berth in the 2021 MIAA Basketball Tournament as the Lions defeated Central Oklahoma 67-57 tonight inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. 

The Lions (9-13) will be the No. 8 seed and will travel to Fort Hays State to take on the Tigers in an opening round game on Wednesday night at 6 pm inside Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. 

Southern was led offensively by Layne Skiles with 13 points, while Madi Stokes and Amaya Johns scored ten each. Stokes added 14 rebounds and three blocks, while Carley Turnbull added nine points of her own. 

The Bronchos (14-8) were led by 12 points from Jaci Littell. 

The Lions opened up a 7-3 lead early on in the first quarter but UCO tied it at seven with just under seven minutes to go. A three from Kaitlin Hunnicutt with three minutes left put the Lions up 14-9, and a pair of freebies from Biance Stocks with 2:22 on the clock gave the Lions an 18-9 lead. UCO crept back, however, but the Lions led 18-17 after one. 

Skiles opened up the second quarter with a three and a jumper from Johns with 7:49 left made the score 23-17, Lions. A free throw from Stocks pushed the Southern lead to ten (30-20) with 2:48 to go, but the Bronchos again crept back and the Lions led 33-29 at the break. 

The two teams were back-and-forth throughout the third quarter but a layup from Stokes with 19 seconds left put the Lions up four going into the fourth. In the fourth, the Lions out scored the Bronchos 20-14 with the majority of the deficit coming late as the Lions made their free throws down the stretch. 

The Lions shot 40 percent from the field and 76 percent from the free throw line. Rebounds were even at 37 with the Lions holding a 10-8 advantage on the offensive boards. 

Southern will be back in action this Wednesday as the Lions open up the MIAA Tournament with a trip to Hays, Kan. Tip off against the Tigers is set for 6 pm. 

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Southern falls to UCO in OT thriller

Posted on by Lucas Davis

The Missouri Southern men’s basketball team dropped an overtime thriller today, falling 105-101 in overtime to visiting Central Oklahoma on Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. 

The Lions (13-9) finish in a tie for third with Missouri Western, but lose the tie breaker and will be the 4th seed in the MIAA Tournament. Southern will play host to these very same Central Oklahoma Bronchos on Wednesday at 6 pm in an opening round game. 

Five Lions scored in double-figures, led by 25 points from Stan Scott. Scott added five assists and six rebounds, while Lawson Jenkins had six threes for 20 points of his own. Cam Martin scored 19 points and went over 2,000 career points, currently sitting with 2,009 at MSSU. He added nine rebounds and a team-high six assists. 

Christian Bundy had 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while RJ Smith scored 12 points of his own, adding in nine boards. 

The Lions jumped out to a 16-5 lead after a jumper from Yahizhan Selcuk with 15:07 left in the first half. The lead was 11 again after a jumper from Scott with 11 minutes to go and the Lions led by 10 after two free throws from Martin with eight to go. UCO got within three with 3:23 left on the clock, but the Lions pushed the lead back up to eight (41-33) with 37 seconds to go and led by seven at the break. 

Southern led by 12 (60-48) with 14 minutes to go, and by ten with 12 minutes left, but UCO went on a 14-4 run and tied the game at 67 with nine minutes to go. Southern trailed briefly, but went back ahead and led by four (82-78) with three minutes to go. UCO tied and went ahead as the two teams traded baskets down the stretch. The Lions had a chance at the buzzer, but couldn’t get the shot to go. 

In the overtime period, the Lions led 96-93 with three minutes left, but UCO went on a 6-0 run to lead 99-96 with a minute to go. A three from Smith tied it, but the Bronchos hit a 3 the next trip down and didn’t look back. 

The Lions shot 47 percent from the field and hit 75 percent of their free throws. 

The two teams will be right back at it this Wednesday night as the Lions play host to the Bronchos in a first-round game of the 2021 MIAA Tournament. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center is set for 6 pm. 

 

SECTIONAL WRESTLING: Large group of area athletes advance to state

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

A large group of Joplin area high school wrestlers advanced to their respective state tournaments with their performances on Saturday at sectional meets. 

At the sectional, the top three finishers in each weight class advanced to the state tournament.

The state tournaments will run from March 9-13 and will be held at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence. 

 

CLASS 4: EAGLES, TIGERS ADVANCE TO STATE

 

OZARK, Mo. — Competing in Class 4’s Sectional 3 at Ozark High School, Joplin and Carthage combined to advance eight athletes to the state tournament on March 13. 

 

JOPLIN 

The Eagles had two state-qualifiers. 

Sam Melton advanced to state by finishing as the runner-up at 106 pounds. Waynesville’s William Austin earned a 3-1 decision over Melton in the bracket’s title bout. 

With a trip to state on the line, Josiah Vaughn won the third-place match at 132 pounds. Vaughn earned a 4-1 decision over Jefferson City’s Hunter Walling. 

Sectional qualifiers who were unable to record a top-three finish were Rocky Walker (126), Drew VanGilder (170), Scott Lowe (195) and Gunner Price (285). 

VanGilder and Price both advanced to the consolation semifinals, where they suffered season-ending setbacks. 

 

CARTHAGE

The Carthage Tigers had six wrestlers advance. 

The Tigers had two individual champions—Davion King and Luke Gall. 

King was the champion at 145 pounds, pinning Ozark’s Brock Sundlie in the title bout. 

In the 182-pound title bout, Gall earned a 6-2 decision over Raymore-Peculiar’s Coleton McElliott.

Dagan Sappington was the runner-up at 132 after falling in the title match to Ozark’s Elijah Maskrod.

Advancing by winning third-place matches were Bradyn Tate (113), Eli Sneed (138) and Braxdon Tate (152).

Another Tiger came up one win short of moving on, as Carlos Reyes fell in the third-place match at 120 pounds. 

 

CLASS 3: NEOSHO, CARL JUNCTION, WEBB CITY WRESTLERS ADVANCE TO STATE

 

WILLARD, Mo. — The Joplin area had a solid showing at the Class 3 Sectional 3 tourney at Willard High School. 

The Neosho Wildcats had eight wrestlers advance to state, while McDonald County had four athletes move on to the state event on March 12.

Carl Junction and Webb City had two qualifiers apiece. 

 

NEOSHO

Claiming sectional championships for the Wildcats were Raymond Hembree (106), Hayden Crane (132), Cayden Auch (160) and Jeremiah Larson (195).

Auch is now 46-0 this season, while Larson is 41-0.

Finishing second in their brackets were Landon Kivett (120), Trent Neece (152) and Eric Holt (170).

Eli Zar won the third-place match at 145.

 

CARL JUNCTION

Carl Junction’s Jesse Cassatt was the champion at 182 pounds, improving his record to 46-0. Cassatt beat Rolla’s Hayden Fane 6-3 in the title bout. 

Lukas Walker won the third-place match at 106, beating Willard’s Noah Agcaoili 6-0. 

Falling short in a deciding third-place match at 145 was Cole Stewart.

Max Matthews (113), Keaton Colburn (120), Dylan Frazier (126), Dexter Merrell (138), Lucas Watkins (152), Chance Benford (170), Cayden Bolinger (195), Brennan Carey (220) and Kameron Bennett (285) competed, but were unable to advance. 

 

WEBB CITY

Jacob Ott was the runner-up at 195 pounds. Ott dropped a 7-1 decision to Neosho’s Larson in the title bout. 

Webb City’s Roger Carranco won the third-place match at 182 pounds with an 8-4 decision over Glendale’s Colman Ebisch. 

Also competing but unable to advance were Colton Taylor (120), Dominic Boles (132), Brayden Hollingsworth (160) and Jackson Ward (170). 

 

MCDONALD COUNTY

McDonald County’s Blaine Ortiz was the champ at 113 pounds, improving to 31-2.

Levi Smith was the runner-up at 132, while Jayce Hitt took second at 285. Also moving on was Sam Murphy, who placed third at 220. 

Murphy edged Neosho’s Jacob Fry 3-2.

 

CLASS 2: SENECA ADVANCES EIGHT

 

SENECA, Mo. — Seneca is sending eight athletes to the Class 2 state tournament on March 11.

Competing in Class 2 Sectional 3, Seneca’s Brady Roark (106), Kendon Pollard (126) and Zane Cotten (195) gave the Indians three individual champions. 

Roark improved his season record to 40-1, while Pollard is 28-2 and Cotten is 31-1. 

Clayton Swadley (145) and Gabriel Commons (170) finished second in their respective brackets.

Winning the crucial third-place matches for the Indians were Brayden Thiel (120), Andrew Manley (132) and Dane Napier (182).

Jakob Tate finished fourth at 220. 

 

OTHER AREA QUALIFIERS IN CLASS 2

Monett, Cassville and Nevada also had top-three finishers on Saturday at Seneca High School. 

Monett’s Elias Barrientos was the champ at 152, while Ethan Umfleet took first at 182 and Harrison Merriman was the champion of the heavyweight division.  

The Cubs’ runners-up were Simon Hartline (106), Ben Bluel (132) and Corbin McCully (160), giving Monett six qualifiers. 

Cassville’s Zach Coenen was the champion at 220 pounds, improving to 25-3, his team’s lone qualifier. 

Cassville’s Gabe Hunter (138) and Jake Anthonysz (145) fell one win short of advancing. 

Nevada’s Kynndrick Brooks placed third at 106, while Braylin Brooks took third at 113, giving the Tigers two qualifiers.

 

CLASS 1: THREE FROM DIAMOND MOVE ON

 

VERSAILLES, Mo. — Competing at Class 1 Sectional 2, Diamond’s Landon Clement was the champ at 182, while teammate Tyler May was the runner-up at 220. 

Ty Douglas was Diamond’s third qualifier. He finished third at 195. 

 

STATE WRESTLING SCHEDULE

The girls tournament will be held on March 9. 

As far as the boys tournaments, Class 1 is slated for March 10 and Class 2 is March 11. The Class 3 event is March 12, with the Class 4 event to be held on March 13. 

Matches begin at 9:30 a.m. each day, with championship matches scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. 

COLLEGE BASEBALL: Crowder splits with Iowa Western

Posted on by Lucas Davis

NEOSHO, Mo. — Crowder College split a twinbill against Iowa Western, falling 8-6 in the opener before earning a 7-4 win in the nightcap on Saturday at Lallemand Family Field. 

 

IOWA WESTERN 8, CROWDER 6

Iowa Western crossed home in each of the first four innings to build a 5-3 lead over Crowder (7-4). Iowa Western used a three-run top of the sixth to push the lead to 8-3. The Roughriders scored once in the bottom of the fifth and twice in the seventh before the rally was ended.

Evan O’Toole earned the win after allowing four runs on eight hits, one walk and four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. 

Kaleb Hill took the loss after giving up six runs, three earned, on six hits, one walk and five strikeouts in five innings of work.

Noah Hull led Iowa Western at the plate with a 2-for-3 game, closing with two runs scored and one RBI.

Logan Chambers, Clayton Gray and Rod Criss all had two hits for the Crowder. Chambers had a double and an RBI, while Criss scored twice and drove in one.

 

CROWDER 7, IOWA WESTERN 4

Crowder used single tallies in the second, third and fourth innings to build a 3-1 lead. The Roughriders pushed across three runs in the sixth inning to make the score 6-1. Iowa Western scored three times in the eighth to cut the lead to two, but Crowder added an insurance run in the bottom half of the frame before closing out the win.

James Hicks earned the win after limiting Iowa Western to one run on give hits and eight strikeouts in seven innings.

Breven Yarbro earned the save after striking out two in one inning.

Conner Mackay took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits, three walks and five strikeouts in four innings.

Logan Chambers had two hits and RBI for Crowder, while Rod Criss went 2-for-2 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI. 

Benjamin Palmer homered for Iowa Wester, while Spencer Parker and Auggie Rasmusen doubled.

COLLEGE BASEBALL: Southern sweeps doubleheader against Emporia State

Posted on by Lucas Davis

The 18th-ranked Missouri Southern baseball team got a pair of wins today against Emporia State as the Lions swept a double-header from the Hornets at Warren Turner Field. 

Southern (8-0, 2-0 MIAA) got a win in game one from Zach Parish and another win in the finale from Zac Shoemaker. Cole Woods picked up the save in Game 1, while Chase Beiter got the save in game two. 

In the opener, the Lions scored single runs in each of the second, fourth and fifth innings. Troy Gagan started it, picking up a run on a wild pitch in the second, and Gagan singled home Tommy Stevenson in the fourth to make it 2-0. Jordan Fitzpatrick then doubled home Henry Kusiak in the fifth for the final tally. 

Parish went eight and a third innings, striking out 13 and walking just one, while scattering five hits. Woods finished up the shutout with a pair of strikeouts to the only two batters he faced. 

Gagan went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Kusiak, Fitzpatrick, Stevenson and Clay Milas had a hit each. 

Game 2 saw Emporia State (2-4, 0-2 MIAA) score first with a run in the opening frame. Gagan, however, answered with a home run in the second to tie it up. The Hornets went up 2-1 in the third, but the Lions got an RBI single from Milas to score Gagan in the fourth to tie it again. After ESU went ahead in the fifth, 3-2, the Lions picked up two runs in the sixth to put the game away. Gagan scored on a balk and Milas scored on a sacrifice fly from Matt Miller

Shoemaker started and went seven and a third, striking out six to pick up the win. Beiter threw the final inning and two thirds, striking out three to pick up the save. 

Gagan had three runs in the game, while Kusiak and Milas had a pair of hits each. 

The two teams will be back at it tomorrow with the finale being played at 1 pm.

COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Gorillas split on the first day of Washburn Invitational

Posted on by Lucas Davis

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Pittsburg State softball team split a pair of games at the Washburn University Invitational on Saturday.

The Gorillas rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat McKendree University 10-2 in their first game of the day. Pitt State dropped a 6-0 decision to the University of Sioux Falls in game two.

The Gorillas will wrap up tournament action Sunday with a noon game against the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a 2 p.m. game against Wayne State College.

In Game 1 on Saturday, Madison Szymanski and Keelah Griffith each homered for the Gorillas. Szymanski went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Griffith went 1-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. Kylee Bohle also went 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Taylor Compton (2-1) earned the win. She allowed four hits and two earned runs in 5.0 innings of work. Lauren Florez worked two hitless innings of relief in the contest.

In Game 2, the Gorillas were limited to four hits in the contest. Kaylee Burns (0-2) took the loss in the circle, allowing six runs (two earned) in 4 2/3 innings of

MEN’S HOOPS: Newman defeats Gorillas to end season and postseason hopes

Posted on by Lucas Davis

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Joel Boyce’s driving layup with 18 seconds to play gave Newman the lead, as the Jets held off the Pittsburg State men’s basketball team in the waning seconds for a 79-77 victory Saturday at John Lance Arena.

The loss ended the Gorillas’ season with a 10-12 record and prevented Pittsburg State from advancing to the MIAA Postseason Tournament. Newman ended its season with a 4-18 record.

Martin Vogts led four Pittsburg State players in double figures with 16 points. Antonio Givens II (15), Cameron Huefner (15) and Quentin Hardrict Jr. (13) also fnished in double-digit scoring. Hardrict added a game-high eight assists to his scoring line. Bobby Arthur-Williams Jr. chipped in with nine points and six rebounds.

Ian Lee scored a game high 23 points to pace Newman. Boyce added 16 points and Branden Bunn finished with 14.

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