McAuley Catholic had just six players dress on Thursday, but that didn’t stop the Warriors from building a double-digit lead by the intermission on the way to a 45-37 win over Pierce City.
The win pushed the Warriors’ record to a perfect 7-0 on the season.
“We have two players who are out injured, and one of them is my starting post player (Lily Black), and we also had another girl go home sick today,” McAuley coach Mike Howard said. “We literally had six players tonight, so I thought the girls did a good job with who we had available.”
GAME ACTION
McAuley’s Kayleigh Teeter takes the ball up for a layup in the Warriors’ win over Pierce City on Thursday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
McAuley started the game with a scoring run to take control, building a 9-3 lead over the first four minutes of action. Kloee Williamson started things off with a 3-pointer in the corner before Pierce City’s Sydnee Prater answered back with a 3-pointer of her own to tie the game. Kayleigh Teeter scored a second-chance bucket on the drive and Avery Gardner scored inside on the assist from Teeter.
The Warriors played with that margin for the rest of the period, holding a 17-11 heading into the second period.
McAuley’s defense stepped up in the second quarter, allowing the Warriors to build a double-digit lead by halftime, 26-15, while limiting the Eagles’ scoring to four points in the period.
“It’s really important, especially against a team like that,” Howard said of his team’s defense heading into the break. “If you can push the lead to double digits while slowing the game down, working methodically through your offense and just being patient definitely works to our advantage. I was proud of their effort in the second quarter. I thought they played great defense for the majority of the game.”
The Warriors outscored the Eagles 9-4, Kennedy DeRuy leading the way with a pair of baskets. Avery Eminger added a basket inside, with Gardner adding a bucket inside on a drive-and-dish assist from Williamson.
Both teams played even in the third quarter, heading into the final eight minutes still separated by 11, 32-21. Teeter had a driving score, while DeRuy scored four points in the period.
Pierce City cut the lead to eight points three minutes into the fourth quarter when Prater connected from the corner 3-pointer to make the score 36-28.
McAuley answered back with a catch-and-shoot 3-ball from Teeter and a fast-break score from Williamson off a Teeter steal to push the lead back up to double digits, 41-28, with four minutes left.
“They’ve dug deep all year long,” Howard said about closing out the win. They’ve shown a lot of grit these last three of four games that we’ve been without Lily. They rely on each other to play good defense and to not get into foul trouble because they are playing for each other and they are playing for the school. To be a close-knit family out there, I only have six players out there, and to put forth that effort day in and day out the right way without fouling, it is a positive and always an advantage for our team. I am just super proud of the way they have played the last couple of weeks.”
The Warriors held their pace through the final horn to preserve the win.
SCORING LEADERS
Teeter led McAuley with a game-high 15 points, including eight in the first quarter. Williamson finished in double figures with 10 points, while DeRuy finished with eight. Gardner and Eminger each had six.
Prater also finished with a game-high 15 points, nine coming in the final eight minutes of action, to lead Pierce City in scoring. Macie Crowther finished with nine points.
UP NEXT
McAuley hosts Northeast Vernon County at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
ANDERSON, Mo. — A bid for a second tournament championship in three weeks came up short for the Carl Junction girls basketball team.
Early foul trouble contributed to a double-digit halftime deficit, and a spirited second half surge was not enough for the Bulldogs, as Bentonville West claimed a 57-45 victory over Carl Junction in the championship game of the Lady Mustang Classic on Wednesday night at McDonald County High School.
The Bulldogs, who trailed 27-13 at intermission, played a large part of the first half without Destiny Buerge and Kylie Scott, as both players picked up two early fouls.
“In two of our three losses that’s happened,” Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter said of early foul trouble. “It’s something we have to get figured out. There have been games when Destiny and Kylie have scored 40-50 points for us. That’s a huge piece for us. But I was very proud of our kids on the floor. They were able to maintain a three-point lead for a while, but you could see that they were all tired. Our fatigue showed when they went on that big run before halftime.”
Carl Junction was in a tournament championship game for the third time in three weeks.
The Bulldogs won the CJ Classic two weeks ago before falling to Farmington in the Lady Eagle Classic’s title game this past weekend.
On Wednesday, Carl Junction played its sixth game in seven nights.
“These girls haven’t complained once,” Shorter said. “And you look back, we’ve played the late game, the 8 or 9 o’clock game, every time in three straight tournaments. But our girls are tough. They’ve never complained. They play really hard and I love them. They’re a fun group to coach.”
A junior guard, Buerge scored a game-high 26 points for Carl Junction. Buerge and Klohe Burk were named to the all-tourney team.
Scott added eight points, Ellie Lawson and Anna Burch chipped in four points apiece for CJ, while Hali Shorter added three points.
Senior guard Marybeth Dyson scored 19 points to lead Bentonville West, while Savannah Rangel added 14.
Scott and Buerge both picked up two fouls apiece in the first quarter and Carl Junction trailed 8-7 entering the second period.
The Bulldogs went up 13-10 after hoops from Lawson and Burch, but the Wolverines finished the first half on a game-changing 17-0 run.
Many of Bentonville West’s points during the surge came on transition layups after CJ turnovers. The Wolverines also hit a trio of 3-pointers late in the half.
“We were forced to put kids into positions they don’t play,” Shorter said. “Destiny always brings the ball up and Kylie has a presence out there. It put us in a bind. We’ll learn from it and continue to get better.”
Carl Junction outscored Bentonville West 22-20 in the third quarter, with Buerge scoring 17 points in the frame. Still, the Wolverines led 47-35.
After trailing by as many as 15 points in the third quarter, the Bulldogs trimmed their deficit all the way to seven with 3:35 to play after a trey from Hali Shorter, a hoop in the lane from Buerge and two free throws from Scott.
But Bentonville West closed the game on an 8-3 run.
Despite the loss, Coach Shorter noted he was pleased with his team’s effort.
“I thought our kids came out and fought,” Shorter said. “That’s one of the things we talked about…playing smart and playing hard. We matched their intensity in the second half. We talked about the old Rocky speech. When you get hit in the mouth, you have to withstand it and keep fighting. I’ve learned this group does not like to lose. And we know we can certainly get better.”
Ranked fourth in Class 5 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, Carl Junction is now 7-3. The Bulldogs are off until January 3.
WEBB CITY 54, MCDONALD COUNTY 34
Webb City outscored Mac County 32-6 in the second half to capture seventh-place honors.
Led by eight points from Samara Smith, the Mustangs led 14-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Webb City briefly took the lead on Ripley Shanks’ old-fashioned 3-point play, but the Mustangs closed the first half on an 11-2 run.
Nevaeh Dodson and Smith both hit treys during the late surge, while Anna Clarkson converted a steal into a layup, giving the hosts a 28-22 lead at the break.
The Cardinals knocked down five 3-pointers in the first six minutes of the third quarter, with three treys from Kate Brownfield, to go up 37-30. Webb City outscored Mac County 18-4 in the third period for a 40-32 lead.
The Cardinals scored the first 13 points of the fourth quarter to go up by 21 at 53-32.
Brownfield led the Cardinals with 18 points, while Lopez added nine. Shanks added seven points and Malorie Stanley contributed six.
Smith scored 15 points to lead the Mustangs, while Carlee Cooper added six.
OTHER ACTION
Springdale defeated Ft. Smith Southside 65-47 for third place and Frontenac beat Alma 57-46 for fifth.
Joplin senior Donovyn Fowler is getting an opportunity very few student-athletes get.
On Tuesday, Fowler sat with family by his side as he signed his letter of intent to continue his track and field career at Oklahoma University.
“It definitely means a lot coming from a little kid who never would have dreamed of making it to this big of a college,” Fowler said. “Watching Mizzou growing up, I definitely thought it was going to be Mizzou, but the coaching staff at Oklahoma really changed my opinion on that.”
“It’s really exciting,” Fowler added about attending a Power Five school. “All of the people who support me can continue to support me by watching on TV as I compete at one of the highest levels.”
The Sooners weren’t the only program courting Fowler either. Fowler was also considering the University of Missouri as well as Indiana University. So, why Oklahoma?
“It was really just all of the athletes there,” Fowler said. “They’re more like one big happy family. They are all connected in one way or another. And the coaching staff, it’s kind of like having your own family there, but they are also honest with you about how they’re going to make you better. It’s fun as much as it’s business.”
Fowler is a multi-sport athlete who also played football in the fall as a starting defensive back. When asked if he felt being a dual-sport athlete helped him develop more as student-athlete, Fowler was quick to confirm he was a supporter of playing multiple sports.
“It’s definitely made me a lot tougher,” Fowler said. “It has helped me build the character I have today. … You should definitely do multiple sports. It helps you stay in shape during the offseason and you gain a lot of friendships playing multiple sports.”
Fowler will be focusing on the triple jump and the long jump as a field athlete at Oklahoma. He is also preparing for his final season with the Joplin track and field program this spring. Fowler will look to build off a stellar junior campaign that saw him set PRs while breaking his own school record multiple times in the triple jump (49 feet, 11.5 inches) on the way to multiple first-place finishes in both jumps. At the state meet, Fowler took second in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump. He is ready for the opportunity to improve on that.
“I just want to break all of the records I can,” Fowler said about his goals for his senior season. “I also want to win athlete of the year for Mo Sports. That would definitely be a big accomplishment.”
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Carthage saw a double-digit halftime lead vanish by the fourth quarter and trailed by two possessions late in regulation only to rally and defeat Springfield Central 69-63 in double overtime on Tuesday.
Carthage spent the first half building a 34-22 lead before Central used an early run in the third to trim the deficit to four to start the fourth. Turnovers plagued the Tigers early in the fourth, but Carthage found some magic late in regulation to force overtime. The Tigers and Bulldogs remained tied and went into a second overtime, where Carthage gave up the first basket before holding Central silent down the final stretch on the way to the win.
“That is a different Central team,” Carthage coach Nathan Morris said. “I think (first-year Central coach Jordan Epps) has done a great job with those kids. The young kids they have helping him are going to be studs. … I told our guys they weren’t ever going to go away. I knew it was coming. I told our guys that we had three chances to lose that game and we didn’t let it happen. I am so proud of my guys because last year, those are the ones we let get away.”
The Tigers, coming off a third-place finish at the Carthage Invitational, improve to 4-1 on the season and are next in action in the 4 States Challenge hosted by Webb City. The Tigers take on Rogers (Ark.) at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
“We talked about at the end of our tournament how it’s been a while since a Carthage team took third and started the season 3-1,” Morris said. “Even moreso, it’s been a lot longer since a Carthage team has started 4-1. I don’t think some of the guys were even aware that this makes us 1-0 in our district. Now, with the eight-team district, to take care of those when you can early in the season, that is a big-time win for this group.”
SCORING LEADERS
Junior guard Max Templeman was the offensive leader for the Tigers, scoring a game-high 29 points in the win, with 17 of those coming in the second half and overtime periods. Senior G Joel Pugh finished with 17 points, knocking down four 3-pointers. Junior G Clay Kinder finished with 10 points, while sophomore G Justin Ray had seven.
Junior G Sterling Vinson led Central in scoring with 17 points. Freshman F Bryce Walker closed with 16 points, while sophomore G Antonio Starks-Fewell finished with 13.
GAME ACTION
Carthage faced the full-court press early, but that didn’t stop them from building an 11-5 lead over Central through the first four-plus minutes of action thanks in large part to a 9-0 run led by its own defensive effort. The Tigers forced three consecutive turnovers to fuel the run, which turned into seven points the other way.
Templeman was the offensive catalyst for the Tigers in the first quarter. He scored 10 points, including Carthage’s final six, and did it with his ability to knife through the lane and attack the basket.
Templeman’s ability to create off the drive opened up the perimeter in the second quarter, as the Tigers knocked down a trio of 3-pointers in the period to build a 34-22 lead by the intermission.
“That is where Max has stepped up his game,” Morris added. “Last year, he had the same ability to get to the paint but some of the decision making was questionable. He has really changed that. That comes with growth and maturity, and that also comes with knowing the work the guards around him have put in.”
Kinder knocked down the first 3-pointer to start the scoring in the second for Carthage, while Pugh splashed home a pull-up 3-ball from the top of the key off a ball screen to make the score 25-15—the Tigers’ first double-digit lead of the game—with 3:38 on the clock. Pugh added a 25-foot bomb from the perimeter seconds before the buzzer to send Carthage into the intermission with a 34-22 advantage.
The tide turned in the third quarter, as Central used a 12-3 run through the first four-plus minutes of action to trim the 12-point lead down to five, 39-34. Freshman G Keion Epps and Starks-Fewell each had five points in the run, with both players knocking down 3-pointers.
“They took away Joel and started fighting passing lanes on Joel, Max and sometimes Justin,” Morris said of Central’s defensive adjustments. “We just didn’t do a good enough job of staying aggressive. I told the guys we needed to slow it down a little in transition, so that was probably my fault. I think we need to know what this team is, they are go, go, go. We weren’t real sound with it, and I told the guys the start to the half was totally on me.”
The Bulldogs ultimately went into the fourth quarter down 45-41 after Vinson converted a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The turnover bug hit Carthage hard early in the fourth quarter, as the Tigers turned it over several times in the first four minutes, allowing Central to come all the way back and take the lead on a score from Vinson on an inbounds play under his own basket with 6:05 to play.
Vinson added a score on the break off a Carthage turnover near the two-minute mark to give Central a 52-48 advantage.
Templeman made a pair of charities before converting the and-1 free throw after drawing contact on a drive to the left with 35.8 seconds left to give Carthage a 53-52 lead.
Starks-Fewell looked to ice the game when he followed with his own three-point play coming off a drive, score and foul with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to put Central up 55-53.
Junior F Tyler Willis had other ideas, as a full-court heave intended for Ray was tipped near the top of the key before falling into the hands of Willis, who raised up just beyond the free-throw line and dropped the midrange bucket at the buzzer to tie the game at 55 and send it into overtime.
“That was drawn up to go to Tyler on the throw, but (Central) hunkered down at midcourt and the play saw an opening to Justin,” Morris said. “They made a good play on it, but luckily J was able to get enough of it to tip it to Tyler. … I told (Tyler) it never was a question was it?”
Central built a 61-58 lead in the first overtime period before Ray splashed a 3-ball from the wing with 68 seconds left to tie the game, ultimately sending it into a second overtime.
Walker scored inside to start the second overtime to give Central a 63-61 lead, but that was the last bucket for the Bulldogs.
Kinder tied the game on the next trip down the floor with a basket inside before finding Templeman on a back cut with two minutes left to give the Tigers a 65-63 lead. But Kinder’s biggest play of the night was yet to come. With 10.6 seconds left and Central attacking the rim, Kinder drew a charge on a drive by Vinson to force a turnover. Pugh knocked down two free throws on the ensuing foul to essentially seal the win for Carthage.
“I am so proud of Clay,” Morris said. “We have asked him to help us on JV this year because of numbers and he has stepped up and carried that role this season. He is now leading our team in charges … but for that kid not having played this load of minutes to play through the fourth and both overtimes, bury an early 3 in the first overtime to get us rolling, and then to step over in front of a special player and take that charge is a big moment in his career.”
EXETER, Mo. — McAuley Catholic held Exeter to single-digit scoring in every period, which includes zero points allowed in the fourth quarter, on the way to the comfortable win on Tuesday.
The Warriors improve to 6-0 on the season with the win and host Pierce City at 6 p.m. on Thursday before hosting Northeast Vernon County at 5:30 on Friday.
“The girls played good defense tonight,” McAuley coach Mike Howard said to SoMo Sports. “We forced 37 turnovers and turned those into several transition baskets.”
McAuley came out and put it on Exeter early, jumping out to a 24-6 lead after the first quarter. The Warriors didn’t let up, outscoring Exeter 15-4 in the second quarter, 14-4 in the third quarter and 12-0 over the final eight minutes of action.
Kayleigh Teeter led the Warriors with a game-high 29 points, 13 coming in the first quarter, while Kennedy DeRuy and Kloee Williamson each finished with 14.
“Kayleigh was very efficient, scoring 29 points on 60-percent shooting,” Howard added. “Kennedy and Kloee scored 14 points each and both led the team with seven steals.”
EXETER BOYS 64, MCAULEY 61
EXETER, Mo. — McAuley’s late comeback fell short.
Down 45-33 at the end of the third quarter, the Warriors (1-6) erupted for 28 points in the fourth period. But it wasn’t enough.
“I’m proud of my guys tonight,” McAuley coach Tony Witt said. “We dug ourselves a hole, but it was a dog fight all the way to the end. They could have quit playing, but they didn’t. That’s one of the things I love about this group. They are a very capable group, but we have yet to put four consecutive quarters together. We’re going to learn from this one and keep moving forward.”
Bradley Wagner scored 16 points to lead McAuley, while Jeffery Horinek added 13 and Noah Black chipped in 10.
J.J. Felipe scored 26 and Corey Hilburn had 25 for Exeter.
McAuley hosts NEVC at 5:30 on Friday.
CARL JUNCTION WINS, WEBB CITY FALLS AT LADY MUSTANG CLASSIC
ANDERSON, Mo. — Carl Junction advanced to the championship game of the Lady Mustang Classic with a convincing 52-32 win over Ft. Smith Southside on Tuesday night at McDonald County High School.
The Bulldogs led 18-5 at the end of the first quarter and were up 28-17 at intermission.
Carl Junction’s lead was 46-29 with 3:27 remaining.
The Bulldogs will meet Bentonville West in the championship game at 8 on Wednesday night.
Bentonville West defeated Springdale 75-48.
In other action, Alma defeated McDonald County 50-25 and Frontenac beat Webb City 65-32.
Frontenac led 38-19 at the half and was up 50-27 at the end of the third quarter.
Webb City plays McDonald County for seventh place at 3:30 on Wednesday.
Frontenac takes on Alma at 5 for fifth place, while Southside and Springdale meet at 6:30 for third place.
WEBB CITY, Mo. — Ignited by its pressure defense, the Webb City Cardinals rode a strong third quarter to a 68-53 non-conference victory over East Newton on Tuesday night inside the Cardinal Dome.
Playing at home for the first time in 2021-22, the Cardinals found themselves tied with the Patriots at halftime.
But Webb City owned the third quarter by outscoring the visitors 21-11. During the game-changing period, the Cardinals picked up the defensive intensity, sped up the game and converted turnovers into hoops in transition.
“Our intensity picked up in the third quarter,” Webb City coach Jason Horn said. “I thought we matched the intensity they had in the first half. I thought East Newton played much harder than we did in the first half. I think we were kind of just going through the motions and they brought the fight to us. We picked up our intensity in the second half. We were much more aggressive. We were flying around to the ball, closing off passing lanes and we were able to get out in transition. When we do that, we’re hard to stop.”
The Cardinals improved to 4-1 on the season.
NAMES & NUMBERS
Junior guard Dante Washington led Webb City with 23 points on 11 of 18 shooting.
“He’s hard to stay in front of and he was getting into the paint,” Horn said. “And he has a really nice midrange game.”
Senior guard Cohl Vaden played his first game of the season for the Cardinals after missing four games due to an ankle injury he suffered in the state championship football game.
Vaden definitely made his presence felt. The four-year varsity performer scored 14 points, hit two 3-pointers, handed out eight assists and grabbed two steals.
“Cohl was big for us,” Horn said. “He makes it harder for teams to zone us because of his ability to shoot the ball. There’s a comfort factor with him out there. He does a good job of setting the table and he’s patient with the basketball. We’re a totally different team with him on the floor.”
Senior forward Kaden Turner made 6 of 15 shot attempts for 12 points, while senior guard Dupree Jackson had three steals. Webb City made 30 of 56 field goal attempts (54 percent).
Senior forward Gabe Bergen scored 23 points, making 11 of 18 field goal attempts, to lead the Patriots (2-3). Senior guard Easton Schrader also reached double figures with 11 points. The Patriots connected on 23 of 43 shots, but the visitors had 23 turnovers to Webb City’s 13.
GAME RECAP
The game was deadlocked at 19 at the end of the opening frame and was tied at 30 at the half.
After the break, Webb City put together a game-defining 13-1 spurt in the third period. The run was fueled by a pressure defense that forced the Patriots into several miscues.
At the end of the run, Turner, Trey Roets and Washington all converted East Newton turnovers into hoops before Vaden scored five straight for a comfortable 48-35 lead.
“We were able to get the tempo picked up,” Horn said. “Our guys at the top of the press did a good job of locking the traps up and forcing them to get the ball in the air. And our group is unselfish. They move the ball around and don’t care who scores. That’s a credit to their attitude and to what’s important to them…winning games.”
The Patriots rattled off six straight points, but Webb City’s Max Higginbotham nailed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to give the Cardinals a 51-41 lead heading into the final frame.
An 8-2 surge, capped by a bucket in the lane by Landon Johnson, extended Webb City’s lead to 59-45. The Cardinals led by as much as 17 points late in the game.
A GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE
East Newton lost a solid core from last year’s team that advanced to the Class 4 quarterfinals. With that, the Patriots have several newcomers in big roles this winter.
East Newton coach Kyle Fields said Tuesday’s clash with the Cardinals was a good learning experience for his team.
“I thought there were a lot of good things to take away from tonight,” Fields said. “I thought we attacked their pressure pretty well early in the game and I thought we played at a high pace early. They sped us in the third quarter and got us out of sorts. Their length and athleticism is phenomenal. But I’m really proud of our team. We’re still trying to find our identity. But I thought tonight was a good step in the right direction. And it’s fun to play here and it’s fun to play against a team with a lot of good athletes.”
4-STATES CHALLENGE IS SATURDAY
Webb City High School is hosting the 4-States Challenge on Saturday. There are six games on the schedule.
Webb City takes on Parsons (Kan.) in the event’s finale at approximately 6:30 p.m.
“We’re really excited about hosting this event for the sixth year,” Horn said. “We’ve got a lot of good teams coming in. There should be a lot of good basketball and we hope a lot of people can make it out. We’re looking forward to playing Parsons. Hopefully we can match the intensity we had in the second half tonight.”
The Thomas Jefferson girls basketball team earned its first win of the season after building a lead in the second quarter over Lockwood and adding on throughout the final horn.
Thomas Jefferson and Lockwood were tied at 10 after the first quarter before the Cavaliers outscored Lockwood 16-7 in the second period to take a nine-point lead into the intermission. Thomas Jefferson added to its lead down the stretch in the final two quarters.
Gabbi Hiebert scored a career-high 22 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead Thomas Jefferson in scoring. Alivia Beard added seven points, while Lannah Grigg scored five.
Gatlyn Clawson finished with nine points, including a 3-pointer, to lead Lockwood.
LOCKWOOD BOYS 65, THOMAS JEFFERSON 48
Lockwood (6-2) built a three-point lead by the end of the first quarter and never relinquished it on the way to a win over Thomas Jefferson.
Lockwood took a six-point lead into the half and outscored the Cavaliers by 11 in the second half.
“We just got out-executed tonight,” Thomas Jefferson coach Chris Myers said. “Hats off to Lockwood and Coach Baker, they played a great game. We look forward to possibly getting another crack at them later on in districts.”
Caden Myers led Thomas Jefferson with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. Tyler Brouhard added 13 points, while Jay Ball finished with eight points and 10 rebounds. Drew Goodhope added five points.
Lockwood was led in scoring by Kane Cooper and Conner Lewandowski, who each scored 18 points. Elijah Kerr finished with nine points.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Trailing by three after the first quarter, Carthage rallied to take the lead by halftime and never relinquished it on the way to a win over Springfield Central on Monday.
“This game was a physical battle from the opening tip to the final whistle,” Carthage coach Scott Moore said to SoMo Sports. “I’m proud of our girls for bowing up and finding a way to gut out a win against a good Central team.”
Central led 12-9 after the first eight minutes of action before the Tigers (3-3) outscored the Bulldogs 17-10 in the second period to go up four at the half. Carthage added to its lead in the third and held serve down the stretch to preserve the win.
Kianna Yates led Carthage with 15 points, including a 3-pointer. Sophie Shannon added 10 points, while Landry Cochran, Presley Probert and Raven Probert each finished with five. Maggie Boyd added four points in the win.
“Kianna Yates was our floor general tonight and kept us going on both ends of the floor,” Moore added. “Sophie Shannon fought her way into double figures by making some crucial free throws down the stretch.”
The Tigers are at Nevada on Thursday.
SENECA 64, AURORA 31
Hazley Grotjohn scored 24 points and Aliya Grotjohn added 23 to lead the Indians to a convincing win.
Seneca improved to 4-2.
Seneca hosts Joplin on Friday night.
EAST NEWTON 51, PIERCE CITY 31
Freshman Kylee Cole scored 23 points to lead the Patriots past the Eagles.
Josie Guinn added 11 points for East Newton, while Shaw Coburn and Alyssa Coffey chipped in six points apiece.
The Patriots will return to action on Dec. 28 at the Neosho Holiday Classic.
MOUNT VERNON 41, FORSYTH 36
Mount Vernon used a 13-5 run in the second quarter to pull away.
Mount Vernon received 14 points from Cameryn Cassity and 11 from Raegan Boswell. Cheyenne Bieber contributed seven points.
The Mountaineers will take on Capital City at noon on Saturday at the 12 Courts of Christmas tourney in Kansas City.
ANDERSON, Mo. — Carl Junction kicked off its third tournament of the young season with a 69-49 win over Alma on Monday at the Lady Mustang Classic hosted by McDonald County High School.
Also locally, Webb City fell 50-22 to Bentonville West, while the host Mustangs fell to Fort Smith Southside by the score of 58-37.
CARL JUNCTION OPENS THIRD TOURNAMENT WITH WIN
Carl Junction is playing in its third tournament of the season and after winning the CJ Classic as the hosts two weeks ago and finishing second at the Freeman Lady Eagle Classic last weekend, the Bulldogs started the Lady Mustang Classic on a high note—defeating Alma 69-49 in the opening round to move onto the semifinals.
“It is always our focus to prepare ourselves to be successful at the end of the year, and hopefully we can make a postseason run,” Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter said when asked how tournament play helps prepare for the postseason. “Obviously, with the state changing the rule to being able to play in as many tournaments as you want, we’re going to get into as many tournaments as we can in the next few years to prepare us for tournament play at the end of the year. I am very proud of our kids. Three tournaments in three weeks with an extra game in there, they have to be tired. I am tired and worn out. They fought really hard tonight against a really good team.”
After building an eight-point lead by the intermission, Carl Junction (6-2) started the second half on a 12-0 run to take all of the momentum on the way to building a 20-point lead. The margin pushed as high as 26 in the second half, with the Bulldogs cruising to their third opening-round tournament win of the season.
“I thought our kids probably played our best game all year as far as playing clean and efficiently,” Shorter added. “We took good shots, moved the ball extremely well and rebounded well. When you play a zone (defense) like we do, teams are going to hit 3s just like if you press you’re going to give up layups. Being able to sift through it and understand how to close out on shooters and show to non-shooters, our kids did a really good job of that tonight. They also did an excellent job of getting hands on passes and in the passing lane, and I thought that was the difference tonight.”
GAME ACTION
Carl Junction led 13-12 in the first quarter after Alma’s Kenzie Rushing converted from the perimeter with less than two and a half minutes to play. The Bulldogs responded with a quick 8-0 spurt to build a 21-12 lead. The run was fueled by a midrange bucket from Anna Burch, a second-chance 3-pointer from Klohe Burk and a 3-ball from Hali Shorter, with the assist going to Burk off the drive and kick.
“It is a confidence builder,” Coach Shorter said of the early run. “Our kids shot it well tonight, but I thought we took good shots and I thought we passed the ball so much better. When we pass the ball that well, we put kids in a position to catch and shoot.”
The Bulldogs pushed the first-half advantage to 38-24 with 1:17 to play in the second quarter when Destiny Buerge came up with seven points in a 9-2 run, including a 3-pointer in the corner off the assist from Kylie Scott.
“Kylie is a stud,” Shorter said of Scott’s ability to influence a game. “She catches the ball at the high post and there are so many things she can do. She can drag it out and hit a 3, she can drive to the basket and she can pass really well. Her presence is huge. We lost that last year about halfway through the year, so you can see what kind of an impact she has with this team.”
Alma didn’t go away easily however, switching to the press the final 60-plus seconds of the period and forcing CJ into a couple mistakes while closing the half on a 7-1 run to trim the deficit to eight, 39-31. Presli Taylor and Halyn Carmack each converted from the perimeter in the run.
Carl Junction punched back to start the second half, essentially putting the game away by opening the third quarter on a 12-0 run to build a 20-point lead, 51-31, while keeping the Airedales scoreless for the first four and a half minutes of action.
“We focus on the first five minutes of the second half,” Coach Shorter said. “We talk about the little things like that because I think it is important for our girls to understand that it is 0-0 at halftime. Whatever lead we have is a little cushion, but when we come out, it is 0-0 and we want to see what you’ve got. I challenged them and they rose to the occasion for sure.”
Scott started the run with a bucket inside before Buerge knocked down a stepback 3-ball from the wing off the assist from Scott. After two free throws by Buerge, Burk splashed home a triple from the corner with the assist going to Scott. Ellie Lawson closed out the run with a bucket.
“She took great shots,” Shorter said of Burk. “She was shot-ready when she caught it, and she can hit them from 25 feet out. She took great shots and she passed the ball well. She has been playing outstanding, and so has Ellie Lawson. She does so many important little things, being in on plays, getting tips and keeping the ball alive. I am so proud of her, and Hali, too.”
The Bulldogs added an 8-0 run early in the fourth to push the lead to a game-high 26 points, 63-37.
SCORING LEADERS
Buerge led all scorers with 31 points, 13 coming in the second quarter. Burk made three 3-pointers on the way to 15 points, while Shorter and Scott each finished with six points.
Taylor had 15 to lead Alma in the scorebook, while Jordan Gramlich finished with eight and Rushing with seven.
UP NEXT
Carl Junction takes on Fort Smith Southside in the Lady Mustang Classic semifinals at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
BIG SECOND QUARTER LEADS WOLVERINES PAST CARDINALS
Webb City trailed by four after the first eight minutes before Bentonville West went on a 15-2 run in the second period en route to the 50-22 victory in the opening round of tournament play on Monday.
The Cardinals fall to 2-4 and match up with Frontenac at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Bentonville West led 9-5 after the first quarter before outscoring Webb City by 13 in the second quarter to take a 24-7 lead into the intermission. The Wolverines added to their lead in each of the final two quarters on the way to clinching the win.
Ripley Shanks led Webb City with four points, while Izzy Lopez, Kate Brownfield and Sami Mancini each finished with three in the loss.
Laynee Tapp had 15 to lead Bentonville West, while Ivorionna Johnson had eight.
FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE PULLS AWAY FROM MUSTANGS
McDonald County went into the intermission trailing 23-20 before Fort Smith Southside outscored the Mustangs 17-7 in the third quarter to swing the momentum. The Mavericks didn’t let up down the stretch to seal the 58-37 win.
The Mustangs match up against Alma at 6 on Tuesday.
Samara Smith led McDonald County with 11 points, while Addy Leach closed in double figures with 10. KaitLynn Townsend finished with six points in the loss.
Sierra Smith and Sophia Neihouse finished with 15 points to lead Fort Smith Southside, while Addi Branham and Dylon McCord finished with five each.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Crowder College head baseball coach Travis Lallemand has been named Coach of the Year by the Midwest Scouts Association.
“Coach Lallemand was chosen not only for the results he gets on the field, but the quality of the program he runs,” said Dustin Smith, Midwest Area Scout for the Texas Rangers and Association President. “He consistently develops players and builds good relationships with professional scouts.”
The honor was presented to Lallemand at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City this past weekend.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition from the Midwest Scouting Association,” Lallemand said in a press release. “I have worked with most of these individuals for the better part of my career here with a few new scouts coming on board each year, and we have developed a trusting relationship over that time. I have sat in ballparks all over the Midwest with most of these guys evaluating players and discussing our current players to come see and it means a lot that they selected me for this award.”
Lallemand has been the head coach for the Roughriders since 2005. His career record of 653 wins and 280 losses has produced six Region Championships, three South Central District Championships, and three trips to the NJCAA College World Series with the most recent earning third place in NJCAA Division I Baseball (2010, 2017, and 2021). Since 2010, the Roughriders have appeared in the NJCAA national poll each year and have won 40-plus games 10 of those seasons, including two 50-plus win seasons.
Roughrider baseball under Lallemand’s leadership has performed as follows:
Coached over 100 players who have signed with Division I programs
35 MLB drafted players
26 pitchers selected in MLB Amateur Draft with 50 signing with NCAA Division 1 schools
Over 200 players moving on to 4-year schools or professional baseball
48 Region 16 1st team players
11 NJCAA All-Americans
5 Region Players of the Year
4 Region 16 Defensive Players of the Year
Prior to his head coaching position Lallemand served as an assistant coach on the pitching staff for three seasons at Crowder. Lallemand is originally from Girard, Kansas. He prepped at Girard High School and went on to play collegiate baseball at Labette Community College before transferring to Berry College in Rome, Georgia.
Lallemand and his wife Jennifer reside in Neosho with their son, Luc.
The Midwest Scouts Association is a non-profit organization consisting of scouts from all 30 MLB teams. The main purpose of the organization is to assist those in the baseball community. Additionally, the organization holds a player’s showcase every summer for free consisting of the best talent from the Midwest.
Led by standout performances from Madison Riley and Cassidy Smith, the Carthage High School girls swim team finished eighth at the Winnetonka Holiday Invite on Saturday.
There were 25 full teams in attendance. The top three squads were Liberty North (351), Staley (299) and Lee’s Summit (206). Carthage had 119 points to finish eighth.
Madison Riley
A junior, Riley had a pair of standout performances for Braden McBride’s Tigers.
Riley was the runner-up in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:00.8.
Riley placed third in the 200-yard freestyle with a school record time of 1:59.9.
A senior, Smith also had a stellar showing. Smith placed fifth in the 50 freestyle in 26.54 seconds and also finished seventh in the 100 freestyle (59.03).
The Tigers placed fourth in the 200 freestyle relay, as Riley, Smith, Joey Hettinger and Hope Fultz recorded a time of 1:51.
Carthage finished seventh in the 400 freestyle relay in 4:12, with Riley, Smith, Fultz and Hettinger competing.
The team of Sydney Parks, Alexis Fosdick, Fultz and Hettinger finished 14th in the 200 medley relay.
Also for the Tigers, Fosdick was 27th in the 100 breaststroke and 29th in the 200 IM.
The Tigers will compete at the Springfield Duals on Friday.
Carthage’s Joey Hettinger, Hope Fultz, Madison Riley and Cassidy Smith finished fourth in the 200 freestyle relay and seventh in the 400 free relay at the Winnetonka Holiday Invite. Submitted photo.
The Carthage Tigers finished 8th in the final team standings at the Winnetonka Holiday Invite. Submitted photo.
The Carthage High School wrestling team finished fourth in the final team standings at the Farmington Invitational on Saturday.
The top three teams were Whitfield (185), Farmington (167) and Lindbergh (119). Carthage was fourth with 118 points. There were 14 teams entered in the tourney.
The Tigers had three individual champions–Eli Sneed (138 pounds), Braxdon Tate (152) and Davion King (160). All three went 5-0 on the day.
Grey Petticrew was the runner-up at 152 pounds.
Finishing third in their respective brackets were Bradyn Tate (126) and Kip Castor (132).
Also competing but unable to place were Christian Brown (120), Abdias Rabanales (145) and Gabe Lambeth (170).
WEBB CITY, Mo. — In an impressive showing for both schools, swimmers from Webb City and Carl Junction finished first or second in every event at Saturday’s Red Bird Invitational.
When all was said and done, Webb City compiled 398 team points to finish on top of the team standings, while Carl Junction had 311 points to take second.
Joplin (139) finished third and Thomas Jefferson was sixth (102) at the nine-team event.
WEBB CITY RESULTS
Webb City won five events and had eight second-place finishes.
Sophia Whitesell won two individual events and also swam on a winning relay.
Whitesell took first in the 200-yard individual medley with a state-qualifying time of 2 minutes, 22 seconds. Whitesell also won the 500 freestyle with a state-qualifying time of 5:44.
Avery Mitchell was part of two event wins. Mitchell won the 100 freestyle in a state-qualifying time of 59 seconds.
Webb City’s 400-yard freestyle relay team of Mitchell, Camryn Klosterman, Skylar Powell and Whitesell took first in a state-qualifying time of 4 minutes.
Webb City took second in the 200 medley relay, with Klosterman, Makenzie Storm, Whitesell and Ella Holt recording a state-qualifying time of 2:07.
The Cardinals were also second in the 200 freestyle relay, as Powell, Hally Philpot, Holt and Mitchell recorded a qualifying time of 1:51.
Klosterman was the runner-up in the 100 butterfly and was also third in the 200 IM.
Alix Davis took second in the 100 backstroke and Storm placed second in the 100 breaststroke.
Allie Eggleston and Olivia Honey finished second and third, respectively, in the 200 freestyle, while Mitchell and Powell took second and third in the 50 free. Both Mitchell (26.64) and Powell (26.87) recorded state-qualifying times.
Powell also placed third in the 100 free, while Holt took fourth in the 100 backstroke and Honey was fourth in the 500 free.
Philpot and Holt were fourth and fifth in the 50 free, giving the Cardinals four of the top five in the event.
Davis and Philpot finished fifth and sixth in the 100 free and Novely Lamont finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke.
Also, Webb City had the top four finishers in the 1-meter diving competition—Kelli Tollefson, Mia Barone, Breanna Woods and Aspen Warren.
CARL JUNCTION RESULTS
The Bulldogs won seven events and finished second in four others.
Carl Junction’s Chloe Miller took first in two events. Miller won the 200 freestyle in a state-qualifying time of 2:06 and placed first in the 50 free in a qualifying time of 25.43 seconds.
Madeleine Garoutte took first in the 100 butterfly in 1:10, while Carsyn Smith was the champ in the 100 backstroke with a state time of 1:08 and Abigail Wilson won the 100 breaststroke in a qualifying time of 1:16.
Carl Junction’s 200-yard medley relay team of Smith, Wilson, Sophia Holcomb and Skyler Sundy took first in a state-qualifying time of 2:05.
The Bulldogs also won the 200 freestyle relay in a qualifying time of 1:49, with Wilson, Garoutte, Sundy and Miller competing.
The Bulldogs finished second in the 400 freestyle relay with a qualifying time of 4:10. Miller, Kennedy Johnson, Garoutte and Smith swam on the 400 free relay.
Sundy was the runner-up in the 200 IM with a state time of 2:29 and also took second in the 100 free. Johnson took second in the 500 freestyle.
Elyanna Dogotch finished fourth in the 200 freestyle and fifth in the 500 free, while Garoutte took fourth in the 200 IM.
Holcomb and Johnson were fourth and fifth in the 100 fly, while Holcomb also finished fifth in the 100 backstroke.
JOPLIN RESULTS
Joplin recorded a state-qualifying time in the 200 freestyle relay, as Emma Langer, Lily Rakes, Sophia Schwartz and Allie Lawrence finished third in 2:00.04.
Joplin’s 200 medley relay team of Rakes, Taegen Smith, Lawrence and Langer finished fourth in 2:18.38, just off a state-qualifying time.
The Eagles were fourth in the 400 freestyle relay, with Schwartz, Lanee Goodwin, Abby Hembree and Allysun Higdon competing.
Lawrence finished third in the 100 fly, while Langer took fifth in the 100 breaststroke.
Also for the Eagles, Rakes placed sixth in the 500 free and Hembree took sixth in the 100 backstroke.
THOMAS JEFFERSON RESULTS
Thomas Jefferson’s 200 medley relay team of Natalie Carroll, Emalee Ro, Sarah Mueller and Jenna Trimble finished third with a state-qualifying time of 2:17.
The Cavaliers also recorded a qualifying time in the 200 freestyle relay. TJ’s Trimble, Ro, Mueller and Carroll finished fourth in 2:00.39.
Carroll finished fourth in the 100 free and fifth in the 200 IM. Mueller took fifth in the 100 breaststroke and Trimble was sixth in the 50 free.
NOTES: Lamar’s Audrey Osterdyk finished third in both the 500 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke.
Red Bird Invitational
Team standings: Webb City 398, Carl Junction 311, Joplin 139, Bolivar 105, Camdenton 104, Thomas Jefferson 102, Marshfield 40, Lamar 25, Seymour 8.
Neosho claimed the championship at the Missouri Duals tournament on Saturday in Jefferson City.
In the championship match, Neosho defeated Hillsboro 47-27.
Hillsboro won by forfeit at 106 pounds.
Neosho’s Fisher Butler won by fall at 113 and Wyatt Black earned a major decision, 12-0, at 120.
Hillsboro’s Jackson Tucker earned a 9-2 win over Johnny Chrisco at 126 and Blake Jackson won by fall over Neosho’s Jack Lankford at 132.
Neosho’s Hayden Crane earned a win by fall at 138, but Hillsboro recorded pins at both 145 and 152.
Neosho’s Trent Neece earned a 7-5 decision at 160, while teammate Eli Zar recorded a major decision, 12-2, at 170.
Neosho’s Collyn Kivett won by forfeit at 182 and DeLeon Ulysses pinned Wyatt Yaeger at 195.
At 220, Neosho’s Eric Renner won by forfeit. Neosho’s Nico Olivares won by fall at 285.
Neosho also earned wins over Eureka (73-0), Lee’s Summit (42-27), Waynesville (75-0), Grain Valley (40-38), Blue Springs (61-15) and Jefferson City (42-34).
BULLDOGS WIN CJ CLASSIC
The host Carl Junction Bulldogs won the CJ Classic duals tournament on Saturday.
The Bulldogs went 5-0 on the day. In the tourney’s championship match, Carl Junction defeated Seneca 47-24.
At 106 pounds, Carl Junction’s Carter Fogelson defeated Seneca’s Caden Thompson 8-2. CJ’s Lukas Walker (113) and Sam Melton (120) both won by fall before Max Matthews earned a major decision, 11-1, over Elyas Potts at 126.
Seneca’s Brady Roark (132), Brayden Thiel (138) and Andrew Manley (145) all won by fall.
Carl Junction’s Dexter Merrell (152) and Tony Stewart (160) recorded pins for the Bulldogs.
Seneca won by forfeit at 182.
Carl Junction’s Chance Benford earned a 14-8 decision over Dane Napier at 195, Cayden Bollinger earned a 9-0 decision over Seneca’s Nash Crain at 220 and CJ’s Kameron Bennett earned a 4-1 decision over Jacob Gravner in the heavyweight bout.
Ahead of the championship dual, Carl Junction earned wins over Bolivar (37-36), Monett (75-0), Nixa (42-32) and McDonald County (48-36).
Seneca earned wins over Webb City (50-25), McDonald County (42-33), Frontenac (48-31) and Nixa (44-30).
OTHER RESULTS
In the third-place match, Nixa defeated McDonald County 52-26. Bolivar beat Webb City 65-6 for fifth and Frontenac defeated Monett 54-18 for seventh.
Webb City earned wins over Frontenac (36-24) and Monett (45-18).
McDonald County defeated Webb City 48-34. Earning wins by fall for the Mustangs were Blaine Ortiz (132), Levi Smith (152) and Juan Morales (182). Recording wins by fall for the Cardinals were Colt Taylor (126), Dominic Boles (145), Ashton Chambers (160) and Aidan Rose (170). Webb City’s Liam Taylor earned a major decision at 195.
VANGILDERS LEAD JOPLIN AT BENTONVILLE WEST
The Joplin Eagles finished third in the team standings at the Bentonville West Tournament on Saturday.
Heritage was first with 194.5 points, while Bentonville took second with 186 and Joplin was third with 113.5. There were 14 teams in attendance.
The Eagles had two individual champions.
Drew VanGilder was the champion at 170 pounds. In the bracket’s title bout, VanGilder earned an 11-6 decision over Bentonville’s Kenneth Lewis.
Draven VanGilder won the 195-pound bracket. In the bracket’s title match, VanGilder earned a 12-8 decision over Bentonville’s Andrew Williamson.
Brayden Thomas was the runner-up at 182. Rogers’ Brian Flores won the title bout over Thomas by forfeit.
Freddy Cerrato-Martinez won the third-place match at 126 pounds. He beat Heritage’s Cash Bray 4-2.
Travis Shofler finished fourth at 220. Heritage’s Chris Incao won by fall over Shofler in the third-place match.
Finishing fifth in their respective brackets for the Eagles were Jack Stanley (160) and Gunner Price (285).
Alex Short took sixth place at 132 pounds, while Orion Norris (138) and Johnathon Burke (145) both finished seventh in their brackets. Toryn Jones finished ninth at 120.
Next, Joplin had athletes competing at the Bentonville West Girls Invitational.
Erika Washom placed fifth at 132 pounds, Rylie Ward finished eighth at 108, Coryaunna Mueller was 12th at 116 and Olyvia Higdon was 15th at 140.
Farmington put early pressure on Carl Junction on both ends of the floor to build an insurmountable cushion on the way to a 68-49 win over the Bulldogs to win the 25th annual Freeman Lady Eagle Classic.
In the third-place game, Joplin fell into an early hole against Blue Valley North only to see its late rally come up short in a 52-48 loss to the Mustangs on Saturday.
RELENTLESS PRESSURE FROM CARDINALS SINK BULLDOGS
Farmington used the press early to pressure Carl Junction before catching fire behind the perimeter to build an overwhelming lead on the way to clinching the Lady Eagle Classic title game over the Bulldogs, 68-49.
Carl Junction, winners of the CJ Classic a week ago, takes second place and currently holds a 5-2 record.
“I thought our kids played hard, but we didn’t play our best basketball and (Farmington) had a lot to do with that,” Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter said. “We gave ourselves a shot early and they hit some shots, got a few offensive rebounds and we lost a few defensive assignments here and there. That is going to happen sometimes, but I am proud of them and we will keep getting better. These are games that are really good for us.”
GAME ACTION
Carl Junction’s Destiny Buerge releases a floater in the Bulldogs’ loss to Farmington in the Freeman Lady Eagle Classic title game on Saturday inside Kaminsky Gymnasium. Photo by Jessica Greninger.
The Cardinals opened the game with a full-press defense, jumping out to an 8-2 lead over the Bulldogs thanks to a deep 3-pointer from Reese Shirey and a 3-pointer from the wing by Jenna Lawrence. Carl Junction waded the storm and trailed just 14-12 after the first quarter. Destiny Buerge had five of the 12, including a 3-pointer, while Hali Shorter also had a 3-ball in the opening period.
“The thing that was frustrating for us was as a team, we typically do a good job of handling the basketball and handling the pressure,” Coach Shorter said about the pressure from Farmington’s defense. “You can see it was there at times, there were kids who were open and we just needed to make a better pass here or there. … That is something that we will continue to focus on and learn and get to where we need to be at the end of the year.”
Farmington pulled out in front and took the momentum in the second period thanks to its perimeter scoring. Lawrence knocked down two more triples in the second quarter, while Morgan Brye added a 3-pointer as well. More importantly for Farmington, Carson Dillard saw a pair of 3-pointers fall, igniting her way to a big night.
The Cardinals outscored the Bulldogs 19-7 in the second period and took a 33-19 advantage into the intermission.
“They move the ball really well and they have so many kids who can shoot it,” Coach Shorter said. “There are a couple of kids who we didn’t see shoot it the first couple of nights that hit shots tonight. That is a sign of a really good basketball team.”
Farmington started the second half even hotter than it finished the first, scoring 15 unanswered points out of the break to build a commanding 50-19 lead midway through the period. Dillard kicked off the run with two more 3-pointers before another 3-ball from Brye followed by a make from the perimeter by Megan Hernandez made the score 44-19. J’Myra London added two buckets and Dillard closed the run with a basket.
Carl Junction never recovered from the deficit.
SCORING LEADERS
Dillard led the Cardinals with 16 points, making four 3-pointers. Lawrence splashed home four 3-point field goals on the way to 14 points, while Brye added eight and Hernandez seven.
Buerge had 13 to lead Carl Junction, while Shorter finished with 12. Dezi Williams scored nine.
UP NEXT
Carl Junction takes part in the Mustang Classic at McDonald County High School on Dec. 13.
EAGLES’ RALLY COMES UP SHORT AGAINST MUSTANGS
After trailing nearly the entire game, Joplin rallied back in the fourth quarter and took a brief lead in the final minutes only to see Blue Valley North make enough plays to hold on for a 52-48 victory in the third-place game.
Joplin takes fourth place and sits at 5-3 on the season.
“I am proud of them,” Joplin coach Luke Floyd said about his team’s weekend. “It is disappointing to come away with two losses because our goal in every tournament is to get at least two wins. … But, they continued to fight, they continued to battle and they gave themselves a chance at the end. At the end of the day, that is all you can ask for.”
Joplin’s Brynn Driver scores on the break during the third-place game of the Lady Eagle Classic. Photo by Jessica Greninger.
GAME ACTION
Blue Valley North came out with the first momentum swing, starting the game on a 9-1 run over the first four minutes of action with several JHS turnovers fueling the run. The Mustangs ultimately took a 12-7 lead into the half over the Eagles, with Brynn Driver accounting for all of Joplin’s points in the opening quarter.
“Turnovers, transition buckets and second-chance points,” Coach Floyd said when asked what led to the early run for BVN. “For us not starting out any better than that, that falls on me as a coach. I have to find a way to have us more prepared and ready to play coming out of the locker room.”
Blue Valley North continued as the aggressor in the second period, pushing the lead up to 12 by the intermission. Aubrey Shaw led the Mustangs in the second quarter with six points.
The Mustangs pushed their lead to as much as 17 points in the third period, 32-15, on an inside score from Nyla Hale but Joplin was able to trim the margin back to 10 to start the fourth quarter after closing the third period on a 7-2 run highlighted by back-to-back buckets from Ella Hafer and a three-point play by from Driver.
Down 11 two minutes into the fourth, Joplin rallied back with a 10-0 run to trim the lead to one, 40-39, with four minutes to play. Hafer and Driver each had a pair of three throws in the run before Brooke Nice drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to close the surge.
“As bad as we started … to show that kind of resiliency and fight, I am extremely proud of them,” Floyd said. “If we could just get that effort for four quarters, that would be wonderful.”
The Eagles rallied all the way back to take a 43-42 after Hafer picked up a steal and finished off the play with a layup.
“Energy and effort,” Floyd added about what led to the comeback. “I told the girls it is a pretty simple game, we just make it complicated. When we play with energy and effort and more importantly, when we play as a team instead of five individuals, we’re pretty good.
“I thought our defensive rotations were a lot better, we were able to rebound a lot better and we started moving the ball on the offensive end.”
BVN took the lead back on a pair of free throws from Tyara Davis before the Mustangs extended the lead to 48-43 with 1:15 to play after two more free throws from Shaw and a bucket from Hale.
Joplin cut the lead to one possession on a 3-pointer from Nice with 1.9 seconds left to make the score 50-48, but the Mustangs converted at the charity stripe at the other end to seal the win.
Joplin’s Ella Hafer drives for a reverse layup in the third-place game of the Freeman Lady Eagle Classic on Saturday. Photo by Jessica Greninger.
SCORING LEADERS
Shaw had 12 points to lead Blue Valley North, while Hale and Logan Parks each finished with 10. Caroline Cool closed the game with nine points.
Driver led the way for Joplin with 16 points, while Hafer finished with eight points.
UP NEXT
Joplin is at Seneca on Dec. 17.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
The following players were named to the Freeman Lady Eagle Classic All-Tournament Team: Joplin’s Brynn Driver, Blue Valley North’s Aubrey Shaw, Rogers’ Ava Maner and Perla Morales, Carl Junction’s Destiny Buerge and Farmington’s Reese Shirey, Carson Dillard and Jenna Lawrence.
PEA RIDGE, Ark. — Neosho had the lead entering the fourth quarter, but Arkadelphia erupted for 21 points in the final frame to earn a 59-56 win over the Wildcats in the championship game of the Battle at the Ridge Tournament on Saturday at Pea Ridge High School.
“We played a tough, fun game tonight,” Neosho coach Zane Culp said. “I’m really proud of the boys’ effort on the defensive end. That was a high-powered offense and we really held them down. Just a couple of more balls bounce our way and we’d be leaving with a championship.”
Arkadelphia led 17-12 at the end of the first quarter and held a 34-29 lead at intermission.
Neosho won the third period 16-4 to take a 45-38 lead into the fourth quarter.
But Arkadelphia finished strong by outscoring the Wildcats 21-11 in the final frame.
K’dyn Waters led Neosho with 21 points, while Isaiah Green added 17 points and Kael Smith had 11.
“Waters and Green really carried the load offensively and were great all night,” Culp said. “Kael Smith battled on the boards and hit some tough shots inside in that second half. He’s an absolute warrior. Brock Franklin did a great job being a leader on the court and guarding their best player all night.”
Isaiah Salinas and Antoine Palmer scored 13 points apiece for Arkadelphia.
Neosho hosts Monett on Tuesday night.
“We’re excited to finally get on our home floor Tuesday,” Culp said.
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Raymore-Peculiar Panthers may have dictated the tempo for the majority of the night, but the Joplin Eagles were the team that left town with a tourney championship.
Joplin made winning plays down the stretch and grinded out a 42-39 victory over Ray-Pec on Saturday night in the championship game of the 75th Carthage Invitational.
“It wasn’t the prettiest game, but I think that’s what Ray-Pec was wanting to do,” Joplin coach Bronson Schaake said. “They do a good job of moving the ball with 30-40 second possessions. They ran a 58 second possession yesterday. They want to move the ball until they get clean looks.
“On the other end, they just overloaded everything and kind of dared us to do something,” Schaake added. “It took us a while to figure out the gaps that were open. But we made plays when we needed to. That’s a good grinder for us to pull out.”
The game was deadlocked at six at the end of the low-scoring first quarter, and the Eagles led 17-16 at halftime.
The lead went back and forth in the third period, but Brantley Morris’ 3-pointer from the top of the key gave Joplin a 28-26 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Quin Renfro puts up a jumper for the Joplin Eagles during Saturday’s championship game of the Carthage Invitational. Photo by Brenna Stebbins.
Quin Renfro gave the Eagles a boost with five straight points early in the final frame, and then Always Wright generated five straight points to give JHS a 38-37 lead with 1:22 left.
Down one with time running out, Ray-Pec patiently ran its halfcourt offense, but the Panthers turned the ball over with 25 seconds remaining, with Bruce Wilbert coming up with the steal.
Joplin’s Terrance Gibson scored in transition the other way to extend the Eagles’ lead to three.
After a timeout, the Panthers chose not to attempt a potential game-tying trey, but instead received a hoop inside from Ryker Nelson with three seconds left on the clock.
Following a foul, All Wright calmly sank two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining to give Joplin a 42-39 lead.
The Panthers’ last-second heave was off the mark, and the Eagles began celebrating a hard-fought tournament championship.
The Eagles won the tourney for the first time since 2017.
Joplin senior Always Wright soars to the basket during the championship game of the Carthage Invitational on Saturday. Wright was named the tourney’s MVP. Photo by Brennan Stebbins.
Senior guard Always Wright, the tourney’s Most Valuable Player, scored 13 points to lead the Eagles, while sophomore guard All Wright added eight points. All Wright was also listed on the all-tourney team.
Renfro, a sophomore guard, contributed nine points off the bench.
“He stepped it up,” Schaake said. “We were looking for energy. Quin is getting better and better.”
Gibson, a junior forward, chipped in six points, with none bigger than his late layup after the key turnover.
“Terrance really stepped up,” Schaake said. “That finish was huge. I wanted a dunk, but I’m just glad he made it.”
The Eagles are off to a 5-0 start under Schaake, who noted there’s still work to do.
“I look at our team and I know it’s nowhere near a finished product,” Schaake said. “We haven’t done much with sets. We’ve mainly been focusing on the defensive end. I think we’re getting there. We’ll keep at it as we go.”
Joplin hosts Springfield Central next Friday in the home opener.
CARTHAGE INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Always Wright, Joplin (MVP)
All Wright, Joplin
Ashton Jermain, Raymore-Peculiar
Joel Pugh, Carthage
Max Templeman, Carthage
Sean Tinsley, West Plains
Kaden Turner, Webb City
Eddie McLaughlin, Leavenworth
Tucker Miller, Raymore-Peculiar
Yazed Taforo, Ft. Smith Southside
Joplin guard All Wright looks for an opening against Raymore-Peculiar on Saturday in the Carthage Invitational’s championship game. All photos by Brennan Stebbins.
Joplin’s Joe Jasper attempts a layup against Raymore-Peculiar on Saturday night during the championship game of the Carthage Invitational.
Bruce Wilbert looks for an opening against Ray-Pec on Saturday night. Joplin captured the Carthage Invitational championship for the first time since 2017.
The Joplin Eagles pose with the championship trophy on Saturday night.
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage Tigers and Webb City Cardinals both ended the 75th Carthage Invitational on a positive note.
Tourney host Carthage upended West Plains 58-54 in the annual event’s third-place game, while Webb City held off Ft. Smith Southside 54-48 for fifth place.
CARTHAGE 58, WEST PLAINS 54
This one was close all the way, but the Tigers got the job done in the fourth quarter by not only knocking down some key perimeter jumpers, but also by making some clutch free throws in the final minute.
“I couldn’t care less how a game is won,” Carthage coach Nathan Morris said, noting the contest wasn’t always pretty. “Both teams were unhappy about not being in the championship game. We knew it would come down to what crew really wanted to play in the third-place game. It was a physical basketball game. I thought our kids made some really big plays in stretches in the third quarter and early in the fourth. And we were able to hold on.”
The Tigers led 10-9 at the end of the first quarter. Joel Pugh and Max Templeman both hit a pair of treys in the second quarter, but the Tigers were unable to pull away from the Zizzers. Templeman’s short jumper gave Carthage a 28-27 lead at intermission.
The game was tied at 36 late in the third period when Pugh buried two 3-pointers to give Carthage a slim lead entering the fourth quarter.
Two treys from Justin Ray and a hoop in the lane from Templeman gave Carthage a 50-43 cushion with 3:30 left.
But it was far from over. The Tigers were clinging to a three-point lead with just over a minute to play when the Zizzers had an empty possession before a foul.
Ray made 1 of 2 at the charity stripe, with the hosts grabbing an offensive rebound on the miss. Pugh then converted two foul shots for a five-point advantage.
On the other end, West Plains buried a trey before Pugh made one more free throw.
Pictured is Carthage senior Joel Pugh.
The Zizzers once again pulled within two after a hoop by Landon Casey, but Kinder connected on two clutch free throws with eight seconds left for the final margin.
A sharp-shooting senior guard, Pugh led Carthage with 18 points. He hit five 3-pointers.
A sophomore guard, Ray scored 13 and hit four treys, while junior guard Templeman added 12 points with two 3-pointers. Another junior, Kinder added eight points. Pugh and Templeman were all-tourney selections.
Sean Tinsley scored 20 points for West Plains.
The Tigers went 2-1 at the always-tough tournament. And to Morris, that’s something to build on.
“If these three games don’t help get us ready for the season then I don’t know what does,” Morris said. “We played three extremely big basketball teams. And we’re going to be out-sized almost every single night. But it was big for our kids to battle through that. I don’t know the last time we finished third in this tournament. I don’t know the last time we as a program won a close basketball game. Last year, we won handily or we lost close games. I think this one may really help this group turn the corner.”
Carthage (3-1) hosts Springfield Central on Tuesday night.
WEBB CITY 54, FT. SMITH SOUTHSIDE 48
The Cardinals used a pair of late spurts to claim the fifth-place trophy.
“The biggest takeaway from this game is that we persevered and we did what we had to do to win,” Cardinals coach Jason Horn said. “Shots weren’t falling for us and you could tell we were fatigued. But I thought we showed a lot of mental toughness and we made winning plays when we needed to make them.”
Dante Washington and Trey Roets scored six points apiece in the first quarter for the Cardinals, but the game was deadlocked at 16.
There were seven lead changes in the back-and-forth second quarter, and hoops from Roets and Isaiah Brisco gave Webb City a 29-28 halftime advantage.
The Cardinals owned the third quarter, as Webb City closed the period on an 11-0 run to take a 40-31 lead. The Mavericks did not have a field goal in the third quarter.
Pictured is Webb City’s Landon Johnson. Photo by Brennan Stebbins.
However, Webb City’s lead was down to one with 4:29 remaining when the Cardinals rattled off nine straight points.
Kaden Turner scored five straight points, a corner 3-pointer and two free throws, and Brisco made a transition layup before Turner converted a hoop inside for a 10-point cushion.
The Mavericks trimmed their deficit to four with 1:06 left, but late charities from Washington and Landon Johnson sealed the win.
A 6-4 senior guard who was named to the all-tourney team, Turner scored 18 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Cardinals.
Turner, who made 6 of 13 field goal attempts, had 15 points in the second half, carrying the Cardinals late in the game.
“I think Kaden is as talented as any player in Southwest Missouri,” Horn said. “We want the ball in his hands. When it got late, he looked to take the game over.”
A junior guard, Washington added 13 points for the Cardinals, while Roets, a 6-4 junior forward, had 11 points and seven boards. A junior guard, Johnson contributed nine rebounds and seven points for the Cardinals, who made just 12 of 30 at the foul line.
Horn recorded win No. 200 of his coaching career on Friday night and earned No. 201 on Saturday.
“That just means I’ve been doing it for a long time and I’ve had a lot of good players,” Horn said of the milestone win. “Coming over here has been a good situation for me and it makes me think of all the guys who have played for me. And I guess it means I’m getting old.”
Webb City (3-1) hosts East Newton on Tuesday night.
NOTE: Leavenworth defeated Nevada 61-44 in the seventh-place game.
Brice Budd scored 11 points for the Tigers and Cade Beshore added 10.
The honor was presented to Lallemand at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City this past weekend.
