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Month: March 2022

BASEBALL PREVIEW: New-look Bulldogs eager to build off of last season

Posted on by Lucas Davis

Carl Junction will have plenty of new faces stepping into bigger roles for the upcoming 2022 baseball season.

The Bulldogs finished with 18 wins a year ago but after graduating 10 seniors that made up much of the starting lineup as well as the rotation, Carl Junction is looking for several kids to step up and replace the production in order to continue the success from last season. While it may take some time to get their footing under them, the Bulldogs have high expectations with interest in the program noticeably climbing. 

“We lost a really good senior group,” Carl Junction coach Jake Stevenson said. “A lot of those guys played at the varsity level in the program for multiple years. 

“Regarding what we have coming back, I will say this—our offseason numbers are as high as they have ever been. There is a lot of interest and we had a good summer. We had a lot of guys start to figure out their roles, and we had a good offseason in attendance and commitment there. And in the spring, we have had the most guys come out for baseball since I have been here.”

Despite losing five all-conference players (Alex Baker, Noah Southern, Carson Johnson, Drew Beyer and Dylan Eck) and being forced to replace their production in one offseason, Coach Stevenson has the utmost confidence in his roster to transition into more important roles. By what he has seen in practice leading up to the season, he feels his team is on the right track.

“We feel like we have guys who can step into their roles,” Stevenson said. “It certainly might take us a little bit to hit our stride, but I feel like we have been able to add competition in practice to allow ourselves to figure out what guys need to be on the field. It will just be a continued evaluation to make sure we have guys in the right spots to succeed as we go through the season.”

THE ROSTER

The good news—Carl Junction returns six seniors with varsity experience. Senior IF/P Kyler Perry leads the list of returning upperclassmen. Perry is joined by IF/P Dalton Mills, OF/P Jordan Woodruff, C/P Shane Diskin, OF Cole Wilson and OF/P Hunter Cantrell. Junior OF/P Arlen Wakefield also returns with varsity experience. 

In addition to Wakefield, the Bulldogs are expected to be boosted by the junior class made up of IF/P Drew Massey, IF/P Logan Eck, UTL/P Mekhi McGarry, IF/P Lucas Vanlanduit, IF/P Jacob Ford, IF/P Braxton Smotherman and OF/P Gage Carson.

“I think we are going to be able to pick it up on defense,” Stevenson said when asked what he feels the team’s strengths will be. “If you would have asked me after last season, I would have said pitching was something of a concern. Going through the offseason and going through our scrimmages over the last couple of weeks, with the guys that we have, pitching could turn into a strength for us as well if we have the ability to throw strikes and pitch to contact.”

And with so many new faces expected to take on big roles at the varsity level, Stevenson is aware it may take time to find a rhythm offensively. However, Stevenson plans to use the flexibility of his roster to give his kids the best chance to succeed at the plate in every matchup. 

“Offensively, we lost some pretty key bats,” Stevenson said. “I think we have guys who can fill that void, it is just going to take time in-game against live pitching to hit our stride offensively. That will be something we will have to continue to better ourselves and make sure that the lineup fits for that (specific) game throughout the season.

“There may be times we ask a guy to be in our lineup for a particular game because of a matchup. Then, that person might have to wait a couple of games before sliding back into that spot. It is just going to be about understanding roles and understanding their abilities offensively … It will just take game experience.”

ON DECK

Carl Junction opens the season with a doubleheader against Neosho and Monett on Saturday at Roy B. Shaver Field.

BOYS TENNIS: With one returning starter, Joplin will feature plenty of new faces

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

New faces will be in big roles for the Joplin High School boys tennis team this spring.

The Eagles return just one starter from last year’s squad, junior Michael Mancipe.

Mancipe played No. 2 singles last season for the Eagles, who lost five of their top six performers to graduation. 

“Michael Mancipe is our only returning player from the top-six ranked varsity team last year,” Joplin coach Aaron Stump said. “We have other experienced players returning who played primarily on junior varsity last year. Our team has a lot of new faces this year. We are completing challenge matches now to set our team rankings. The team is looking forward to the upcoming season. This will be the first time some of our guys have played with this level of competition.”

Stump noted that numerous players are competing for the varsity spots, with upcoming challenge matches to determine the lineup. 

The lone seniors on this year’s roster are Xavier Allen and Parker Reynolds. 

Stump said freshmen Joseph Graham and Adam Badr have stood out during early-season practices.

“They have shown that they are both going to be ranked high on our roster,” Stump said. “It’s still too early to tell where some of our other players will rank because of how competitive the group has been so far.”

The team’s inexperience at the varsity level is an area of concern at the beginning of the season, but Stump is confident the Eagles will make steady progress this spring.

“We have athletes and experience within the group, so my hope is that the more experienced players continue to help with our team’s development as our matches begin,” Stump said. “I expect to see a lot of growth from our group over the season. They are energetic, enjoy the sport, and are picking things up quickly.”

Stump said he’s been pleased with what he’s seen out of his team thus far. 

“Our biggest strength is in the youth of our roster,” he said. “Their energy reminds me of the group we had in the spring of 2017, which developed into a strong, competitive team.”

As far as the season opener, Joplin hosts Webb City at 4:30 on April 5. The Eagles will host their own invite on April 22. 

“I’m interested to see how the guys compete and grow over the course of the season, especially with the mix of new talent and athletes from other sports,” Stump said. 

GIRLS SOCCER: After historic ’21 season, Webb City returns solid core

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The 2021 season was a historic one for the Webb City girls soccer program. 

Webb City captured a district championship, advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Class 3 state tournament for the first time in program history and finished the season with a 22-4 record.

With a solid core returning, and with a group of promising newcomers, the Cardinals have the goals set high again this spring.

“The team is very excited, especially coming off of last year’s historic season,” Webb City coach Nick Harmon said. “But, we’ve got our eyes focused on the future and what’s in front of us. We’ve got an awesome core of returning leaders and some younger players who aren’t afraid to get out there and compete. So we’re very excited.”

The Cardinals return six players with prior varsity experience this spring. 

Leading the returners is standout senior forward Anea Bemo. A William Jewell signee who garnered multiple postseason accolades in ’21, Bemo scored 26 goals and had 10 assists last spring.

Senior Delaney Duke returns as the team’s starting goalkeeper. Duke has signed to join the women’s soccer team at Park University. Like Bemo, Duke earned all-state honors last season. 

Also back is senior defender Austyn Mickey, junior midfielders Cree Vaden and Piper Chapman and sophomore forward Sophia Booher. Mickey joined Bemo and Duke on both all-district and all-COC teams last year. 

Harmon noted his returning performers have shown great leadership.

“We have great leaders…humble competitors who set a good example for the younger players every day,” Harmon said. “We have two returning all-state players (Bemo, Duke) who the newcomers can learn a lot from. Given that we have so many new players in big roles, it will be a strength of ours to be able to rely on our leaders down the stretch.”

Coach Harmon said six freshmen have the potential to contribute at the varsity level this season. 

Freshmen Gabrielle Stodghill, Roxy Long and Kaylee Kenney are midfielder candidates, while classmates Ruby Channel, Jenna Schulz and Kirra Long are defenders. 

“Youth and inexperience is a concern, but the season is long and we have a lot of potential,” Harmon said. “By the end of it, we’re going to be a completely different team than when we started.”

Webb City will begin the season at this weekend’s Lebanon Tournament. The Cardinals will host McDonald County on March 29. 

Harmon noted the team’s key to success is simple. 

“We expect our players to go out everyday, whether it be in practice or in games, and work hard for their teammates,” Harmon said. “We intend to focus on our jobs and the opponent in front of us, and let the results take care of themselves.”

 

BOYS TENNIS: Ding will once again lead Thomas Jefferson; Cavaliers have goals set high

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

For the Thomas Jefferson boys tennis team, the only setback of the 2021 campaign came in the state championship match.

In a season to remember, the Cavaliers went 15-1 in duals last spring, falling to Priory in the championship match of the Class 2 state tournament. 

Entering the 2022 season, and with their standout performer back on the court for his prep finale, the Cavaliers appear to have the pieces in place for another run at a state title. 

“We were very excited about last year’s finish,” Cavaliers coach Tom Brumfield said. “And we’re very excited about the upcoming season, too. We lost two seniors from last year’s team, but we had a pretty deep team. We had a lot of young kids last year, so we’re still excited about the depth on our team. I have a lot of expectations for this team. I feel comfortable about our depth and I think our top spots are looking good.”

Leading the way for the Cavaliers will be senior standout Ian Ding. 

Ding put together a stellar junior season, establishing himself as the Joplin area’s top boys tennis player. 

Ding finished fourth in the Class 2 singles bracket in ‘21, finishing the season with a record of 27-4. Ding also saw success in doubles with Hari Nagarajan.

“Ian has improved,” Brumfield said. “He’s definitely going to be a player in our area that is going to be fun to watch for anyone that wants to see some good tennis. Ian’s hitting the ball well.” 

This will be Ding’s third varsity season. Of course, he missed out on a sophomore campaign due to the pandemic. 

The Cavaliers return several other key performers. 

Junior Tyler Brouhard, senior Hari Nagarajan and sophomore Prithvi Nagarajan all return after contributing nicely to last year’s success.

Sophomores Lele Qian and Devan Murali are other athletes expected to make an impact after gaining experience last season.

Juniors Nathaniel Curtis and Sam Li and freshman Jack Goodhue are other players competing for varsity spots.

Brouhard and Noah Hamlett finished sixth in the state doubles bracket last year. Hamlett and Christopher Wheelen were the lone seniors on last year’s squad. 

Brumfield noted that upcoming challenge matches will determine the varsity spots, including the doubles teams. 

“We’ll see how it plays out,” Brumfield said. “We have some young guys who are filling some spots, so we’ll see how it turns out. I think our younger guys have improved since last year, so we’re excited about them.” 

Thomas Jefferson opens the season on March 24 with a home match against Webb City. 

“We’re ready to see where our lineup falls out,” Brumfield said. “I think it will be an exciting year.” 

 

The Thomas Jefferson Cavaliers took second at the Class 2 state tennis tournament last spring.

VOLLEYBALL: Chloe Allmoslecher named Carthage’s new head coach

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

Chloe Allmoslecher has been named the new head volleyball coach at Carthage High School.

The school’s athletic department announced the hire on Tuesday. 

Allmoslecher replaces Bradyn Webb, who recently resigned to accept a teaching position at another school district. 

Chloe Allmoslecher

A former Carthage standout, Allmoslecher has been an assistant coach at CHS the past two years.

“I have always been proud to be a part of Carthage volleyball as a former athlete and now as a coach,” Allmoslecher said in a press release. “Having the opportunity to step into the head coaching role is a full circle moment that I am truly still taking in. The group of girls we have on our team are a talented and hard-working bunch with impressive talent coming up as well. It’s a very exciting time! I am ecstatic to continue to watch the girls grow on and off the court and am very hopeful for the future of this program.” 

A 2013 graduate of Carthage High School, Allmoslecher (formerly Shepherd) was a three-year letterwinner for the Tigers as an outside hitter and back row player. She was named to the all-conference three times, as well as earning all-district and all-region honors as a junior and a senior. 

After CHS, Allmoslecher continued her volleyball career at College of the Ozarks while pursuing a degree in physical education. Allmoslecher helped C of O reach the national tournament her sophomore and senior seasons. She was also named a scholar athlete twice. 

Prior to joining the Carthage volleyball staff, Allmoslecher taught physical education and coached at Hollister.

BASEBALL PREVIEW: Senior-laden Tigers looking to make big leap in 2022

Posted on by Lucas Davis

The Carthage baseball program had some growing pains a year ago in coach Luke Bordewick’s first season at the helm.

Now, with a year of growth under their elastic belts coupled with nearly the entire roster returning for the 2022 season, the Tigers are poised for a leap in production.

“Last year, everyone was kind of in the same boat as not really having any varsity experience,” Bordewick said. “I think it showed last year, and while our record wasn’t where we wanted it to be, we had a very competitive year. We lost four or five games in a walk-off and had several one-run losses where we couldn’t close out games. … This year, we are returning a ton of varsity experience. We are looking to take that next step, continuing what we did and building off last year and using that experience for better. We are ready to take a step forward.”

The biggest strength for the Tigers this year is simple—experience. Carthage returns nine starters and boasts a roster with 10 seniors. 

“These guys know the expectations of what we are doing,” Bordewick said about the impact of the experience that he has noticed already this season. “We hit the ground running the first day of practice and were done an hour sooner this year than last year. … That is really helping us getting in, getting out and getting some work in without wasting much practice time.”

WELCOME BACK

Highlighting the list of returners after a solid junior campaign is senior all-conference first baseman and pitcher Kanen Vogt, who was second-team all conference and a first-team all-district selection as a pitcher and infielder. He is joined by fellow seniors P Kaden Arr, a first-team all-district selection on the mound, SS Caden Kabance, OF Sylas Browning, OF Nate Norbury, IF Parker Copeland, OF/P Braxdon Tate, OF/P Logan Carmickle and P Zach Geter.

Also returning for the Tigers with plenty of varsity experience is junior C Clay Kinder, who figures to be the main backstop this season. Also expected to see action on the diamond this season is junior IF Drew Musche.

PITCHING & DEFENSE

Four of the five rotation spots are being filled by Arr, Vogt, Geter and Copeland, with the fifth spot up for grabs. Coach Bordewick also expects his defense behind his rotation to be a strength as well.

“I think we are going to have a really good rotation,” Bordewick said. “We have a lot of guys who we can throw out there to get us four or five innings at minimum. They all have quality pitches, offspeed and the fastball, and have above-average command of those pitches.

“With that varsity experience returning, I also think we are going to have a better defensive team than last year. The kids know what it takes to field a ground ball or track a ball down in the gap at the varsity level.”

LINEUP CARD

Though nothing is set in stone, Kabance and Norbury figure to set the table at the top of the order, with Vogt, Carmickle, Browning, who could also see time near the top of the order, Copeland and Kinder to produce runs in the middle of the order. Musche and Tate are expected to turn the lineup back over.

“Offensively, we just need to see some live pitching in order to get comfortable in the box,” Bordewick said. “We just need those reps. The jamboree can’t come soon enough for us because that will be the first time our guys will see live arms other than their teammates.”

ON DECK

Carthage gets things started with a jamboree at Joplin on March 15 before kicking off its 2022 schedule made up of 30 games with a road matchup against Kennett at 12:30 p.m. before taking on Glendale at 3:30 at Glendale High School.

GIRLS HOOPS: All-Central Ozark Conference team released

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The All-Central Ozark Conference girls basketball team for the 2021-22 season has been released. 

The entire team is listed below. 

 

ALL-CENTRAL OZARK CONFERENCE TEAM

Player of the Year: Kaemyn Bekemeier, Republic  

Coach of the Year: Jennifer Perryman, Nixa

Special mention: Jessa Hylton, Carl Junction

 

FIRST TEAM

Kaemyn Bekemeier, Republic (Jr.)

Ali Kamies, Nixa (Sr.)

Destiny Buerge, Carl Junction (Jr.)

Macie Conway, Nixa (Sr.)

Moriah Putt, Ozark (Sr.)

Kylie Scott, Carl Junction (Soph.)

Kianna Yates, Carthage (Jr.)

Brielle Adamson, Willard (Sr.)

 

SECOND TEAM

Rhianna Gibbons, Nixa (Sr.)

Rylie Boggs, Ozark (Sr.)

Hope Schatz, Republic (Jr.)

Norah Clark, Nixa (Jr.)

Carolina Crawford, Willard (Jr.)

Kate Brownfield, Webb City (Jr.)

 

HONORABLE MENTION TEAM

Sami Mancini, Webb City (Fr.)

Ella Hafer, Joplin (Sr.)

Taylor Foster, Branson (Soph.)

Jordyn Foley, Ozark (Jr.)

 

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM

Ali Kamies, Nixa

Kylie Scott, Carl Junction

Kaemyn Bekemeier, Republic

Chloe Grimm, Branson (Sr.)

Emma Floyd, Joplin (Sr.)

 

GIRLS HOOPS: After another stellar season, Carl Junction will return solid core next winter

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

This year’s Carl Junction girls basketball team maintained the program’s winning tradition.

In what was another stellar season for the program, Carl Junction’s girls captured a seventh straight district championship, concluded the season in the Class 5 state quarterfinals and finished the season with a record of 22-8.

Along the way, the Bulldogs won their own tournament and took second in two other tourneys this winter.

The Bulldogs had won 11 of their last 13 games before this past Saturday’s season-ending setback to West Plains in the ‘Elite Eight.’ 

“I thought it was a good season,” Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter told SoMo Sports on Monday. “It didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but we lost to a very good team on Saturday. I’m proud of our kids and I’m proud of our progression this season. I thought we grew up quite a bit throughout the year. A lot of teams would be pleased to have the finish that we did.”

The future looks bright in Carl Junction, as the Bulldogs will return virtually their entire roster, including four starters. 

Carl Junction’s Destiny Buerge knocks down one of four second-quarter 3-pointers during the Bulldogs’ conference win over Joplin this season. File photo by Shawn Fowler.

Junior guards Destiny Buerge, Hali Shorter and Klohe Burk and sophomore forward Kylie Scott will come back next winter as varsity veterans. 

The 4-States Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year, and a first-team all-conference pick, Buerge averaged 23 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists per game. The Class 5 District 6 Player of the Year, Buerge made 73 3-pointers, hit 76 percent of her free throw attempts and had five 30-point games.

An all-conference and all-area performer in her first full prep campaign, Scott averaged 13 points, 11 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game.

Burk contributed seven points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals per game, while Hali Shorter contributed four points, four assists and three boards per night. Burk and Shorter each made 36 3-pointers this season.

Freshman Dezi Williams and sophomore Anna Burch will also return next year after gaining significant varsity playing time this season. 

This year’s departing seniors are Ellie Lawson and Jessa Hylton. Lawson was a starting guard, while Hylton missed the season due to a knee injury she suffered during the volleyball season.

“We hate to lose Ellie and Jessa,” Coach Shorter said. “They have been important parts of our program over the last four years. They were a part of 87 wins in four years. And that’s pretty impressive.”

After another stellar season, and with a solid core set to return, Coach Shorter noted the expectations will be high next winter. 

“We feel like next year could be a very good year for us if we continue to progress and work hard in the offseason,” Coach Shorter said. “I think they just need to continue to put in the work. We want to continue to get better. It’s going to take that overall commitment from everyone. These last couple of weeks, the kids were very focused and engaged. With a senior-laden team next year, I think that will help us get to that point and take the next step next year.”

BASEBALL PREVIEW: Joplin looking to build off 20-win season with several new faces

Posted on by Lucas Davis

Joplin baseball finished last season with 20 wins for the first time since 2013-14 as the Eagles made a run to the district title game.

After graduating seven seniors who contributed heavily to the success a year ago, the four returning starters with the addition of several returning lettermen will be tasked with continuing the success seen in recent seasons for the Joplin program.

“I think every team is a little different and the dynamics of how you get to where you want to go may have to be done a little differently,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “Our goal is always to be playing our best baseball by the end of the season. I think last year’s group was able to figure that out through the course of the season. They took on some different roles than maybe they were expecting to or even accustomed to. I think the same thing will be true this year. Guys will have to fit into their roles and get comfortable with them. Hopefully, we are playing our best at the end of the year.”

RETURNERS

Joplin’s list of returning starters is led by senior all-conference and district pitcher Ethan Guilford, who will also spend time at either corner infield spot when he isn’t on the bump. Joining Guilford with plenty of starting experience is senior IF Bodee Carlson and junior OF/P Justin McReynolds.

Senior UTL/P Joe Jasper, senior UTL/P Isaac Meadows and junior OF/P Brady Mails also return with varsity letterman experience. 

“Ethan, on the mound especially, was our workhorse last year,” Wolf said. “We tried to get him in as many big games as we possibly could, and I don’t think that’s going to be a lot different (this year). … We are going to be looking to (Bodee Carlson) for a little more leadership as a senior. He has been there and done it. … We moved (Justin McReynolds) from the outfield to the infield last year because we needed a little extra punch in the lineup and he accepted that role and quite honestly excelled in it and helped us to have the year that we did. So, we are expecting some big things from him.”

Senior OK Kyler Stokes returns and is joined by junior UTL/P Byler Reither, who saw spot action predominantly at shortstop last season, also returns with varsity starting experience. 

“Byler is just a dynamic athlete and has the ability to hit anywhere in the order and I think we are going to see him be a very good defensive player for us,” Wolf said. “Kyler does some things in the outfield that not a lot of people can do. He gets to some balls that I don’t know very many guys can get to. In the lineup, he runs well, has a little punch and can hit the ball gap to gap.” 

NEW FACES 

Junior IF/P Landon Maples, junior OF/P Layten Copher and junior P Alex Isbell are expected to make an immediate impact at the varsity level. Senior C Tyler Schumann and junior C Jackson Queen will compete for innings behind the dish. 

“I talked to (Schumann and Queen) the other day and told them they are kind of a team within a team,” Wolf said. “Those guys are obviously competing for the big innings throughout the course of the year, but I think those two will be able to lean on each other and really give us a good look behind the plate.”

TEAM STRENGTHS

Heading into the season, Coach Wolf is excited to see what his team can accomplish on the diamond. He feels the strengths to this year’s club is largely its athleticism as a program, which will be on display defensively.

“I think defensively we have an opportunity to be very good,” Wolf said. “The guys just need to understand that it’s not the Olympics—we don’t get style points, we just need to get outs. It’s the old cliché of ‘do simple better.’ If they use their athleticism to ‘do simple better,’ I think this is a group that will be very difficult to score against.”

Offensively, that athleticism will give the Eagles plenty of options to put runs on the scoreboard. 

“I think the athleticism in our lineup provides the opportunity to be pretty creative and diverse with what we can do up and down the lineup at any given time,” Wolf said.

When it comes to pitching, depth may very well be the biggest strength for Joplin this year. In terms of the starting rotations, behind Guilford, filling out the rotation will be a combination of Reither, Copher, McReynolds, Isbell and Mails, among others in competition.

“I think our depth is probably as good as it has been on the mound,” Wolf said. “We have arms. They need to mature, grow and be consistent from day to day, but I think that just comes with getting innings. … We have a lot of really good arms that just need time to develop and figure out what it takes to collect varsity outs for seven innings.”

ON DECK

Joplin hosts its jamboree with Carthage and Monett on Tuesday before opening up the regular season by hosting Hollister in a noon matchup on Saturday at the JHS Athletic Complex.

GIRLS STATE HOOPS: Carl Junction concludes stellar season with quarterfinal loss to West Plains

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

BOLIVAR, Mo. — For the second straight season, the Carl Junction girls basketball team fell one win short of the Final Four. 

Second-ranked West Plains knocked off seventh-ranked Carl Junction 55-46 on Saturday in the quarterfinal round of the MSHSAA Class 5 state tournament at Southwest Baptist University’s Meyer Wellness Center. 

Carl Junction led by two at halftime, but the Zizzers outscored the Bulldogs 30-19 in the second half.

West Plains (25-4) advances to the semifinals on Friday against Smithville (21-8) at JQH Arena in Springfield. 

Carl Junction ends a stellar season with a record of 22-8. The program captured a seventh straight district championship under Brad Shorter. 

This was the third straight season these two teams met in the postseason.

West Plains defeated Carl Junction in last year’s quarterfinals en route to a runner-up finish. 

The Bulldogs upended the Zizzers two years ago in a Class 4 sectional. That year the Bulldogs later improved to 28-0 with a quarterfinal win over Sullivan before the state tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

 

GAME RECAP 

A 3-pointer from junior guard Klohe Burk, a hoop inside from sophomore forward Anna Burch and a pair of treys from junior guard Destiny Buerge gave Carl Junction a 16-15 lead late in the opening period.

Ashton Judd’s old-fashioned three-point play gave the Zizzers an 18-16 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The Bulldogs began the second quarter on a 10-0 run to go up 26-18, with Buerge scoring nine during the spurt and freshman Dezi Williams contributing a free throw. 

West Plains finished the first half on a 7-1 run, with all seven points from Judd, trimming Carl Junction’s lead to 27-25 at the break. 

The momentum shifted to West Plains after intermission. 

The Zizzers outscored the Bulldogs 12-4 in the third quarter for a 37-31 lead. Simply put, the Bulldogs struggled offensively during the period.

Judd hit four straight free throws early in the fourth quarter to give the Zizzers a 10-point cushion.

Carl Junction kept coming. A trey from junior guard Hali Shorter, a hoop from Buerge and a three-point play by sophomore forward Kylie Scott cut CJ’s deficit to five with two minutes to play.

But the Zizzers closed the game on a 6-2 run to secure a spot in the semifinals. 

 

NAMES & NUMBERS

A senior who is headed to Mizzou, Judd scored a game-high 27 points for West Plains. A 5-foot-11 forward, Judd was recently named the Ozark Conference’s Co-Player of the Year. 

Olivia Lawson added nine points for the Zizzers, while Georgia Osborn had eight. 

A junior guard, Buerge led Carl Junction with 24 points. Buerge, the 4-States Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year, scored 18 of her points in the first half.

Burk and Scott contributed seven points apiece for the Bulldogs. Shorter and Williams added three points apiece and Burch rounded out the scoring with two.

The Bulldogs went 14-for-16 at the foul line, while West Plains hit 17-of-21 free throw attempts.

The Bulldogs said goodbye to three seniors, Jessa Hylton and Ellie Lawson. Hylton missed the entire season due to a knee injury she suffered during the volleyball season. 

Carl Junction will return four starters (Buerge, Burk, Scott, Shorter) and several other key performers next winter. 

HOOPS: CJ’s Buerge, Neosho’s Waters named players of the year by 4-States Basketball Coaches Association

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The 4-States Basketball Coaches Association has named Carl Junction’s Destiny Buerge and Neosho’s K’dyn Waters as its players of the year for the 2021-22 season. 

Carl Junction’s Destiny Buerge
Neosho’s K’dyn Waters

A 5-foot-8 do-it-all junior guard, Buerge is currently averaging 23 points, six rebounds, four steals and just under three assists per game for Brad Shorter’s Bulldogs.

Buerge is on the all-area first-team for the second straight season. She was recently named the Class 5 District 6 Player of the Year.

Carl Junction will take on West Plains on Saturday in the quarterfinal round of the Class 5 state tournament. 

Waters, an explosive 6-5 senior guard, made the most of his lone season in Neosho. 

The versatile Waters averaged 23 points, 6.5 rebounds, three assists and nearly three steals per game.

Waters had six 30-point games, including a 38-point outburst in the finale of the Neosho Holiday Classic. 

Waters, who was recently named to the all-district team, led the way as Zane Culp’s Wildcats earned 17 wins this winter, the most wins for the program since 2005.

Both all-area teams, which are voted on by local coaches, are listed below.

 

4-STATES BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-AREA TEAMS

GIRLS TEAM

Player of the Year: Destiny Buerge, Carl Junction (Jr). 

 

FIRST TEAM

Aliya Grotjohn, Seneca (Sr.)

Kianna Yates, Carthage (Jr.)

Clara Swearingen, Nevada (Soph.)

Kylie Scott, Carl Junction (Soph.)

Cameryn Cassity, Mount Vernon (Sr.)

Kennedy DeRuy, McAuley Catholic (Sr.)

Kate Brownfield, Webb City (Jr.)

Marlie Wright, Greenfield (Jr.)

Brooke Nice, Joplin (Sr.)

Hazley Grotjohn, Seneca (Fr.)

 

SECOND TEAM

Sami Mancini, Webb City (Fr.)

Crystal Smith, Jasper (Fr.)

Samara Smith, McDonald County (Jr.)

Kayleigh Teeter, McAuley Catholic (Sr.)

Kyndall Scott, Golden City (Jr.)

Brynn Driver, Joplin (Jr.)

Josey Adams, Lamar (Sr.)

Jayli Johnson, College Heights (Jr.)

Grace Frazier, Diamond (Soph.)

Gabbi Hiebert, Thomas Jefferson (Soph.)

Special Mention: Jessa Hylton, Carl Junction (Sr.)

 

BOYS TEAM 

Player of the Year: K’dyn Waters, Neosho (Sr.)

 

FIRST TEAM

Always Wright, Joplin (Sr.)

Joel Pugh, Carthage (Sr.)

Miller Long, College Heights (Sr.)

Brett Sarwinski, Galena (Sr.)

Trey Roets, Webb City (Jr.)

Jaiden Carrasquillo, Verona (Sr.)

Kai Brown, Mount Vernon (Sr.)

All Wright, Joplin, (Soph.)

Josh Reeves, Golden City (Jr.)

Mason English, Pittsburg (Soph.)

 

SECOND TEAM

Kaden Turner, Webb City (Sr.)

Dante Washington, Webb City (Jr.)

Kelton Sorrell, East Newton (Sr.)

Jay Ball, Thomas Jefferson (Jr.)

Max Templeman, Carthage (Jr.)

Mason Gastel, Lamar (Sr.)

Brahm Born, Girard (Sr.)

Eli McClain, McDonald County (Sr.)

Tyler Little, Galena (Jr.)

Mario Menghini, Frontenac (Jr.)

BASEBALL PREVIEW: Stellar senior class, pitching depth will lead Webb City

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

A strong senior class and a deep pitching staff will lead the way for the Webb City High School baseball team this spring.

Seniors Eric Fitch, Cade Wilson, Brantley Carter, Kolton Eilenstein, Aidan Brock, Cooper Crouch, Gavin Stowell and Jeremiah Leaming are expected to play key roles this spring. 

Most of this year’s seniors played meaningful roles on last year’s squad that went 26-6 and reached a district championship game. 

“We’ve got eight seniors this spring and they were all on the freshmen team when I first started here,” Cardinals coach Flave Darnell said. “I’ve coached them since they were freshmen and it’s been awesome to watch those guys grow up and mature as people and as players. We’re depending on those guys to lead the way.” 

In 2021, Webb City once again put together a stellar season. The Cardinals won 12 straight games at the end of the campaign until a 2-0 setback to Glendale in the district title game. The team’s six losses were by a combined 12 runs.

The Cardinals must overcome the loss of a talented senior class that included Missouri Southern recruits Treghan Parker and Cole Gayman. Parker was last year’s Central Ozark Conference Player of the Year.

Darnell, in his third season at the helm, noted there’s a lot to like about this year’s group. 

“We’ve got a lot of guys who have played a lot of baseball,” Darnell said. “And we have a lot of guys who are eager to prove themselves. When you graduate a senior class like we did, a lot of these guys have a chip on their shoulders and they’re ready to prove themselves. They’re ready to step in and fill those gaps. Their work ethic has been great. They have been a pleasure to coach. They’re a fun group to be around. Our winter offseason and the first week of practice have been real enjoyable.”

 

AROUND THE HORN

Possible starters on the infield include junior Kenley Hood at first base, Fitch at second, junior Cy Darnell at shortstop, junior Kaylor Darnell at third base and Carter behind the plate. 

Fitch hit .417 with 16 RBIs last year, earning first-team all-Central Ozark Conference honors.

Carter is a returning starter behind the plate. Hood and both Darnells stood out on the JV squad last year.

Junior Landon Johnson is also expected to see plenty of playing time on the infield.

Eilenstein is another option on the infield.

As far as possible starting outfielders, Wilson is a likely starter in left or center field. 

Leaming and Stowell and juniors Walker Sweet and William Hayes are candidates for the other starting outfield spots. 

“We feel good about several guys who are battling for the outfield spots,” Coach Darnell said. “A lot of those guys are pitchers, too.”

Leaming is an Evangel signee who hit .300 with 10 RBIs last season.  

Brock returns as the team’s designated hitter after batting .270 with 16 RBIs last season. 

Fitch and Wilson are likely top of the order hitters.

Other juniors on the roster are Evan Freeman, Eli Miller, Tyler Marbut and Mcquade Eilenstein.

Sophomores on the roster are Drew Vonder Haar, Brett Korth, Payton Marshall, Hunter Shull, Christian Brock, Sam Weller and Shaun Hunt.

 

PITCHING STAFF

Webb City has plenty of options on the mound. 

A State Fair commit, the right-handed Fitch is a possible No. 1 starting pitcher after going 6-1 with a 1.85 ERA on the mound last spring.

A hard-throwing Crowder College recruit, Crouch also returns with plenty of experience on the mound. Crouch posted a 2.03 ERA last year. The right-handed Crouch can start or come out of the bullpen. 

A lefty who has signed with Highland CC, Stowell is also expected to play a big role on the pitching staff. 

Kaylor Darnell, Sweet, Leaming and junior Gage Chapman are other players who should see time on the mound.  

“It’s going to be hard to replace Cole Gayman, but from top to bottom, we feel like our pitching depth is going to keep us in a lot of ballgames,” Coach Darnell said. 

 

EXPANDED SCHEDULE

Webb City’s expanded regular season schedule features 33 regular season games this spring. The Cardinals played 29 regular-season games last year. 

“The state of Missouri will now allow teams to play 36 games,” Darnell said. “It used to be 18 dates and two tournaments. Last year they said we can play 36 games, however you want to do it. We’ve got 33 games on our schedule this spring and we feel like we have a tough schedule that hopefully prepares us for May.” 

Webb City will host a jamboree with Carl Junction and Republic at 4 on Monday at Chuck Barnes Field.

The Cardinals will host Verdigris on March 18 in the season opener. 

“We really only have a few more practices left before we hit the ground running,” Darnell noted. “We’re excited to get going.” 

 

TEAM SCHEDULE: MSHSAA Webb City High School Spring Season Baseball Schedule

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Joplin’s Fowler has lofty goals for senior track season

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

Donovyn Fowler has unfinished business this spring.

Coming off a record-breaking junior season, Fowler has lofty goals for his final prep track and field campaign at Joplin High School. 

Simply put, the standout jumper and University of Oklahoma signee hopes to leave his mark not only on the JHS program but also on the state record books. 

Joplin senior track and field standout Donovyn Fowler is pictured during a recent practice. Photos by Shawn Fowler.

“I’ve put in more work this offseason than I ever have before,” Fowler said after Tuesday’s practice. “This year I’m really trying to set my name in stone as far as the Joplin record books.”

In 2021, Fowler put together a breakthrough junior season. It was one that saw him set school records in his signature events, the long jump and triple jump.  

At last spring’s Central Ozark Conference Meet, Fowler won the long jump and was the runner-up in the triple jump. Fowler then captured district and sectional championships in both of his events. 

“I would describe my junior year as my revenge season because I didn’t get to have a sophomore season (because of COVID),” Fowler said. “Last year, I wanted to prove why I’m ranked as highly as I am.” 

At last May’s Class 5 state track meet, Fowler was the runner-up in the triple jump (47-7.25) and he placed fourth in the long jump (22-11). 

Fowler was also a state-qualifier in the 200-meter dash and with Joplin’s 4×100-meter relay team. 

Last year’s state meet experience left Fowler wanting more.

“I definitely feel like I could have done better at state,” Fowler said of his podium positions. “It was windy, cold and pouring down rain, but I still managed to do pretty well.” 

As a way to hone his skills while also preparing for the spring, Fowler competed in five indoor meets this winter, earning four golds and one silver in his events.

Entering the outdoor track season, Fowler is the state of Missouri’s top returning performer in both the long jump (23-10.25) and the triple jump (49-11.75). 

Joplin’s Donovyn Fowler is pictured competing at Missouri Southern’s indoor track meet this winter. Fowler is a standout in both the long jump and triple jump.

Of course, both marks are school records. Fowler is highly-ranked nationally in both events, as well.

According to Milesplit USA, Fowler owns the top combined long jump and triple jump mark in the nation.

“I try not to think about that too much,” Fowler said of state and national rankings. “I put those kinds of things to the side and just worry about what I’m doing during every meet and how far I’m jumping.” 

Fowler was listed by MileSplit as one of the nation’s top-50 recruits for the Class of 2022. Fowler’s talents have already secured a full-ride scholarship to Oklahoma. 

With that decision behind him, Fowler can solely focus on competing and perfecting his technique.

“It definitely helps me relax knowing I don’t have all this pressure on me about where I’m going to commit,” Fowler said. “During my meets this spring I’m going to be wearing my OU headband so everyone knows I’m committed to OU.”

Of course, before he heads to the collegiate level, Fowler still has plenty of work to do and several goals to reach.

For starters, Fowler said he hopes to jump 51 feet in the triple jump and leap 24 feet in the long jump. 

Fowler added his goals include helping his teammates achieve success. 

“Originally, my goals for my senior year were to win state championships in the triple jump and the long jump,” Fowler said. “My goals changed once the season started. I’m now mentally focusing on coaching the younger people on our team so they can have a better chance at success. I really want to help the freshmen improve. I think if I would have had a mentor my freshman year I’d be at a higher level than I am now. I wasn’t always good at track. I’ve made a lot of progress.”

Now under the direction of head coach Nick Reid, the JHS track teams will begin the season at the Carthage Invitational on March 31. 

As the first meet of his senior season approaches, Fowler hopes to cement his place as one of the program’s all-time greats. Securing plenty of hardware and accolades this spring can make that lofty goal a reality.

“I’m definitely striving for Missouri Gatorade Track and Field Player of the Year,” Fowler said. “Johnny Brackins won it last year and I think I have a good shot at it this year. The perfect ending for me would be placing first and winning comfortably in both long jump and triple jump at state. I think I can do it.” 

 

 

STATE HOOPS: Seneca girls, Lamar boys fall in sectional round

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

NIXA, Mo. — Seneca’s girls and Lamar’s boys fell short in their respective Class 4 sectional basketball contests on Tuesday night at Nixa High School.

In girls action, Ava defeated Seneca 48-30.

Ava (22-5) will meet Helias Catholic (22-7) in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Lebanon.

On the boys side, Willow Springs rode a hot start to a 66-42 win over Lamar. 

Willow Springs (22-5) will take on Father Tolton (20-8) in the quarterfinals at 2:45 on Saturday.

 

AVA GIRLS 48, SENECA 30

The Bears scored nine unanswered points in the first quarter en route to a 15-7 lead.

Seneca’s Hazley Grotjohn made three 3-pointers in the second quarter, but Ava’s Olivia Gastineau hit two of her own to give the Bears a 25-18 halftime advantage.

Ava took its first double-digit lead of the game at 31-20 and Hazley Grotjohn fouled out with just over three minutes to play in the third quarter.

Aliya Grotjohn knocked down two treys late in the third period, but Seneca trailed 33-26 entering the fourth quarter. 

Ava began the fourth quarter on a game-changing 11-0 run to take a 18-point lead.

Seneca ends the season with a record of 22-7. 

A senior guard who is headed to Cottey College, Aliya Grotjohn led the Indians with 16 points. 

A freshman guard, Hazley Grotjohn scored 11 points. 

For Ava, Hannah Evans scored 16 points, while Sara Mendel and Gastineau added 10 points apiece.

 

WILLOW SPRINGS BOYS 66, LAMAR 42

The Bears raced out to a 21-4 lead and never looked back in this one.

Willow Springs led by 20 early in the second quarter and the Bears were up 37-15 at halftime.

Lamar used an 11-2 run to pull within 13 at 39-26. During the surge, Lamar’s Mason Gastel hit a trey before Conner Shoff hit two treys and Gastel connected on two free throws.

But Willow Springs ended the third period on an 8-4 run for a 47-30 lead.

The Tigers kept coming, but the Bears’ lead was never in jeopardy in the final frame. 

Scottie Osborn scored 21 points to lead Willow Springs, while Owen Duddridge added 17.

Shoff and Gastel scored 12 points apiece to lead Lamar. 

The Tigers end the season with a record of 17-12.

 

HOOPS: All-Ozark 7 teams released; McAuley’s DeRuy named girls POY

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The All-Ozark 7 Conference boys and girls basketball teams are listed below.

Verona’s Jaiden Carrasquillo and McAuley Catholic’s Kennedy DeRuy were named the conference’s players of the year.

College Heights Christian’s Eric Johnson and John Blankenship were named the coaches of the year. 

 

ALL-OZARK 7 BOYS

Most Valuable Player: Jaiden Carrasquillo, Verona

Coach of the Year: Eric Johnson, College Heights Christian

 

First Team

Miller Long, College Heights 

Josh Reeves, Golden City 

Corey Hilburn, Exeter 

Kelton Park, Wheaton 

Jay Ball, Thomas Jefferson

 

Second Team

Caden Myers, Thomas Jefferson

Jacob Stellwagen, Verona

Elijah Pettengill, Golden City

Curtis Davenport, College Heights

Drew Goodhope, Thomas Jefferson

 

Honorable Mention

Ethan Meeks, College Heights

Noah Black, McAuley Catholic

Max Parrill, Golden City

JJ Felipe, Exeter

Ethan Adel, College Heights

 

ALL-OZARK 7 GIRLS

Most Valuable Player: Kennedy DeRuy, McAuley Catholic

Coach of the Year: John Blankenship, College Heights

 

First Team

Kendall Scott, Golden City

Kayleigh Teeter, McAuley Catholic

Libby Fanning, College Heights

Allison Whitman, Wheaton

Jayli Johnson, College Heights

 

Second Team

Brooke Beerly, Golden City

Addie Lawrence, College Heights

Monica Hinojosa, Wheaton

Avery Eminger, McAuley 

Gabbi Hiebert, Thomas Jefferson

 

Honorable Mention

Lily Ray, Wheaton

Yoselin Martinez, Verona

Kloee Williamson, McAuley

Kylee Scott, Golden City

Lily Black, McAuley 

BOYS STATE HOOPS: Thomas Jefferson’s season ends in loss to St. Elizabeth

Posted on by Lucas Davis

BOLIVAR, Mo. — Thomas Jefferson’s impressive season came to an end on Saturday after the Cavaliers fell to St. Elizabeth 54-35 in the Class 1 quarterfinal round of the state tournament at the Meyer Wellness Center on the campus of Southwest Baptist University.

Thomas Jefferson, playing without starter Tyler Brouhard, trailed by five after the first quarter and was never able to crawl out of the early hole. The Cavaliers and Hornets were nearly even after the next two periods, separated by five at the intermission and by seven after the third. St. Elizabeth pulled away down the stretch in the fourth quarter to earn the right to move on to the Class 1 semifinals.

The Hornets take on South Iron at 6 p.m. on Friday at the JQH Arena on the campus of Missouri State University. 

Thomas Jefferson closes the year with a 22-7 record and graduates seniors Kaushal Parimi, Elias Rincker, Drew Goodhope, Jake Jarrett, Luke Miller and Caden Myers.

GAME ACTION

Thomas Jefferson trailed 18-12 early in the second quarter before Myers grabbed an offensive rebound for a putback, which was followed by a Jay Ball inside bucket that trimmed the deficit to 18-16 with 3:40 left in the quarter. 

St. Elizabeth pushed the lead back up to seven on a 3-pointer by Caleb Oligschlaeger with the 30 seconds left in the first half, but Ball added a bucket before the horn to make the score 25-20.

The Hornets held a 35-24 lead late in the third quarter after a bucket in the paint by Jace Kesel for their first double-digit advantage of the game and went into the fourth quarter with a 35-27 lead.

St. Elizabeth pushed the lead to 10 with four minutes left and closed the game on a 13-4 run to seal the win.

SCORING LEADERS

Ball finished with 14 points, while Myers finished with 12 points. Goodhope closed with six and Jarret added three.

BOYS STATE HOOPS: College Heights falls to Norwood in quarterfinals; stellar season ends for Cougars

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

REPUBLIC, Mo. — The College Heights Christian Cougars gave the state’s top-ranked squad a scare, but a trip to the Final Four wasn’t meant to be. 

No. 1 Norwood scored the game’s final six points to earn a 53-48 win over No. 5 College Heights on Saturday in a thrilling quarterfinal contest of the Class 2 state boys basketball tournament at Republic High School.

Despite the valiant effort, the season concluded for the Cougars. 

Norwood will meet Bishop LeBlond in Friday’s semifinals at JQH Arena on the campus of Missouri State University. 

The quarterfinal clash was close all the way. 

The Cougars got off to a good start, leading 4-0 and 6-3. A pair of 3-pointers from Miller Long and a trey from Ethan Adel gave College Heights a 15-11 lead.

The Pirates, a team that finished third in last year’s state tourney, scored the final four points of the first quarter, and the game was deadlocked at 15.

The clash was tied on three occasions in the second quarter.

Norwood held a four-point lead at 26-22, but a hoop inside by Hagen Beck, two free throws from Long and a 3-pointer from Long gave College Heights a 29-28 lead at the end of the entertaining and back and forth first half. 

After scoring 15 points in the first half, Norwood’s Garrett Davault scored all 10 of his team’s points in the third quarter.

Baskets from Ethan Meeks and Adel, and a free throw from Curtis Davenport pulled the Cougars within two at the end of the third period at 38-36.

Hoops from Beck and Davenport, along with four foul shots from Long, pushed the Cougars in front 46-43 with four minutes to play.

Peyton McDaris scored four straight points for the Pirates before foul shots from Long gave CHC a 48-47 lead with 2:05 left.

Unfortunately for the Cougars, they would not score again. 

McDaris, just a freshman, converted on a drive down the lane to give his squad a one-point lead at 49-48. 

The Cougars had an empty possession before the Pirates ran nearly a minute off the clock. 

After a timeout and a foul, McDaris hit two clutch free throws to extend Norwood’s lead to three at 51-48 with 25 seconds left. 

Next, CHC’s Long misfired on a 3-point attempt with 12 seconds left.

Davault then converted two free throws and the Cougars had one final empty possession before time expired. 

A senior who has scored more than 2,000 points during his prep career, Davault poured in a game-high 32 points for the Pirates, who improved to 29-1. McDaris added nine points. Davault and McDaris were the only Norwood players to score in the second half. 

Long scored 17 points to lead College Heights, while Beck added 10 points. Davenport, Adel and Meeks each scored seven points. 

CHC’s seniors are Long, Adel, Beck and Meeks. 

College Heights, in the quarterfinals for the first time ever, ends a stellar and historic season with a record of 24-5. Eric Johnson’s Cougars captured conference, district and sectional titles this winter. 

 

GIRLS DISTRICT HOOPS: Carl Junction claims 7th straight district championship with hard-fought win over Willard

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

WILLARD, Mo. — The Carl Junction Bulldogs survived and advanced. 

They also captured the program’s seventh straight district championship.

In a game that wasn’t decided until the final seconds, top-seeded Carl Junction earned a hard-fought 65-60 win over second-seeded Willard on Friday in the championship game of the Class 5 District 6 girls basketball tournament at Willard High School.

Seventh-ranked Carl Junction (22-7) will meet second-ranked West Plains (24-4) in the quarterfinal round at 1 p.m. on March 12 at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar. 

This one went down to the wire. 

The Bulldogs used a 10-0 run in the first quarter to pull away at 13-4, with Klohe Burk hitting a 3-pointer and Destiny Buerge scoring seven during the surge. Kylie Scott’s putback gave Carl Junction a 17-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Bulldogs took a 10-point lead early in the second period on Buerge’s layup, but the Tigers responded with a 10-2 run. 

It was close the rest of the way. 

Willard took a 30-29 lead after back-to-back treys from Morgan Hall and Brielle Adamson, but Buerge buried a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 32-30 lead at the half. 

Adamson, who recently surpassed 1,000 career points, scored 16 in the first half for the Tigers. 

The Bulldogs held a seven-point lead early in the third quarter, but the advantage was down to three by the end of the frame at 44-41.

Carl Junction was clinging to a 51-49 lead in the fourth quarter when Scott scored eight straight points for the Bulldogs during an 8-5 run that made it 59-54 with 1:20 left.

The Tigers had an empty possession and then fouled with under a minute to play, but the Bulldogs missed the front end of the one-and-one.

Willard’s Madison Mills hit a 3-pointer with 35 seconds left to cut CJ’s lead to two. 

On the other end, Buerge drew a foul and then hit two clutch free throws to give her team a four-point lead with just over 30 seconds to play.

As they did all night, the Tigers kept coming. Willard’s Carolina Crawford knocked down a corner trey with just over 10 seconds to go. 

Up one, Carl Junction took a timeout with 10 seconds left. Buerge was fouled with 7.9 seconds left. The standout junior guard came up big by connecting on both at the charity stripe.

Next, and with a chance to tie, Willard missed a shot from long range and then fouled with a second left. Dezi Williams hit two charities for the final margin.

Carl Junction’s Buerge scored a game-high 25 points, with 15 in the first half. She hit three treys. 

A sophomore forward, Scott added 19 points, with 15 coming in the second half.

Also for the Bulldogs, Burk had seven points and Hali Shorter contributed six points on two treys, including a key make early in the final frame. Williams, just a freshman, added six points, while sophomore Anna Burch rounded out the scoring with two points. 

The Tigers hit 13 3-pointers in the game. 

Adamson scored 18 points for the Tigers, who end the season at 13-16. Hall added 12 points for Willard, while Mills contributed 10. 

West Plains beat Rolla 41-28 in the District 5 championship game. 

The Zizzers defeated the Bulldogs in last year’s quarterfinals. This year’s clash will determine who advances to the Final Four in Springfield. 

BOYS DISTRICT HOOPS: Nixa holds off Kickapoo to win second straight district title

Posted on by Lucas Davis

Top-seeded Nixa trailed briefly midway through the fourth quarter before rallying back behind a stout defensive effort to earn a 46-43 win over second-seeded Kickapoo in the Class 6 District 5 championship game on Friday inside Kaminsky Gymnasium.

The Eagles (26-3) trailed by three near the halfway point of the fourth quarter before a quick 9-1 run had Nixa in the driver’s seat with 1:46 left to play. The Eagles took a three-point lead into the final seconds and their defense prevented the Chiefs (25-4) from anything resembling a quality look before the final horn sounded.

“I thought defensively, both teams were awesome,” Nixa coach Jay Osborne said. “We had a difficult time scoring and they had a hard time scoring. It was just two great basketball teams battling and we came out on top. We were lucky to win.”

GAME ACTION

Nixa, winners of two straight district titles, took a 33-30 lead into the fourth quarter before a dunk from Kickapoo’s Zaide Lowery and a 3-pointer from the wing by Brayden Shorter in transition tied the game at 37-37 with 5:16 left in regulation.

Shorter earned a steal after a Nixa timeout and Lowery knocked down a 3-ball from the wing to give the Chiefs a 40-37 lead.

Colin Ruffin buried a 3-pointer in response to tie the game back up and Kael Combs converted on the drive during the next Eagles’ possession to give Nixa a 42-40 lead near the midway point of the period. Jaret Nelson scored inside with 2:58 on the clock to give Nixa a 44-41 advantage. The Eagles pushed the lead to two possessions after a score on the drive by Jackson Bell on an inbounds play with 1:46 left to push the lead to 46-41.

Lowery found room with the drive with 40 seconds left to halt the Eagles’ 8-1 run, trimming the deficit to 46-43.

Landon Keisker earned a steal on the defensive end for the Chiefs, giving Kickapoo possession on its end of the floor with 24.7 seconds following a timeout.

Kickapoo passed the ball around the perimeter looking for a game-tying 3-pointer, but Nixa’s vaunted defense refused to allow the Chiefs a look at a high-quality shot. Ultimately, Kickapoo was forced to throw up a desperation heave in the final seconds, which was no good.

“The last 24 seconds, I think our defense was outstanding,” Osborne said. “That was two heavyweight fighters. We have a ton of respect for their players and coaches. They have had an outstanding season and we have had an outstanding season. It is just sad that one of us has to lose.

“In the fourth quarter, I thought our defense was outstanding. They got loose a couple of times but they have so many weapons. You have to give and take a little because you can’t shut them all down, but I am just really impressed with our kids. We didn’t play perfect—missed free throws, stupid turnovers—but we found a way to win. The sign of a good team is finding ways to win.” 

SCORING LEADERS

Combs and Ruffin each had 13 points to lead Nixa in scoring. Nelson and Bell each closed with eight points in the win.

Lowery had a game-high 19 points to lead Kickapoo, while Traedgon Oetting finished with nine points in the loss. 

UP NEXT

Nixa advances to the sectional round of the Class 6 state playoffs and matches up with Lee’s Summit West (14-13) at 7:45 p.m. on March 12 on the campus of Southwest Baptist University.

 

DISTRICT HOOPS: Seneca girls, Lamar boys claim Class 4 District 12 championships

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

SENECA, Mo. — Top-seeded Seneca earned a convincing 50-22 win over sixth-seeded Cassville on Friday in the championship game of the Class 4 District 12 girls basketball tournament at Seneca High School.

It’s Seneca’s first district title in girls basketball since 2009.

The Indians (22-6) advanced to the sectional round of the state tourney, where they’ll play Ava (21-5) at 6 on Tuesday night in Nixa.  

Aliya Grotjohn scored 34 points to the Indians, who raced out to a 20-5 lead and never looked back.

Seneca led 32-16 at halftime, and the Indians were up 42-20 at the end of the third quarter.

 

LAMAR BOYS 54, EAST NEWTON 43

In the boys championship game of the Class 4 District 12 tournament, second-seeded Lamar led 9-8 at the end of the low-scoring first quarter against the top-seeded Patriots. 

The Tigers outscored the Patriots 19-9 in the second quarter for a 28-17 halftime advantage. 

Lamar took a 39-26 lead into the fourth quarter and the Tigers never relinquished their lead in the final frame. 

Gabe Bergen scored 16 points for the Patriots, while Easton Schrader added 14. 

East Newton finishes the season at 17-11. 

Lamar (17-11) will play Willow Springs (21-5) at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday in a sectional clash in Nixa. 

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