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Month: November 2022

GIRLS HOOPS PREVIEW: Starting experience to lead Carthage during upcoming season

Posted on by Lucas Davis

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Though the record wasn’t what Carthage girls basketball had in mind last season, the experience the Tigers gained a year ago will pay huge dividends in 2022-23.

After graduating a pair of seniors from last year’s team that went 11-16, Carthage returns four starters to go along with several newcomers to the varsity squad as the Tigers eye a bounceback season.

“I think the team has high expectations this year,” Carthage coach Scott Moore said. “They are excited to get in the gym and get this season going. We had a great summer of leagues and team camps that really showed these girls how they can compete with the better teams in our area. We will look and play differently than we have in the past and that will allow the girls to enjoy a new brand of basketball.”

“I think this is the year that we can crack the top five in our conference, so that has created a lot of excitement in the program,” Moore added. “However, that won’t be easy. The girls know they will have to work hard every day in practice to reach that goal. We have a tough non-conference schedule set up this year to prepare us for a loaded (Central Ozark Conference) slate. We need to make sure we are playing our best basketball when we get to January and February. We can’t afford lulls like we had a couple times last year.”

The Tigers welcome back four starters, highlighted by returning senior all-Central Ozark Conference point guard Kianna Yates. 

Yates averaged 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals per game last season. 

Carthage also returns senior F Landry Cochran as well as a pair of sophomore guards in Lauren Choate and Maggie Boyd.

Joining the varsity program are sophomores Zye Clark (F), Jaidyn Brunnert (F) and Lexa Youngblood (G) as well as junior G Trisha Kanas.

The strength for the Tigers this season will come from the backcourt. Three of the four returning starters are guards, with much of the frontcourt coming in the form of first-time varsity contributors outside of Cochran.

“With our three top scorers returning as guards, they will likely do the bulk of our heavy lifting on offense,” Moore said. “However, our post players are all capable of going off for double digits on any given night. We won’t be the tallest team in any games we play this season, but we will use our team speed and athleticism to punish the taller teams in the open court offensively and defensively.”

The most important key to success for Carthage this season will revolve around consistency. Though the Tigers lack size up front, if they play with the proper effort on defense and while rebounding, as well as take advantage of high-percentage looks on offense, Coach Moore believes his Tigers are in for a solid year on the court.

“The biggest key for us will always be how we play. ‘It’s never who we play, it’s always how we play. Same three letters in those two words, but the order of those letters make all the difference.’ That’s an original Scott Moore quote,” Moore said. “The girls have heard it 100 times from me. That means that if we play with effort, energy and enthusiasm for 32 minutes, we can beat any team we play. If we don’t, we can lose to anyone we play.”

Carthage opens the season on the road with a matchup against Hillcrest on Nov. 22 before the Tigers open up at home as the hosts of the Lady Tigers Invitational on Dec. 1-3.

BOYS HOOPS PREVIEW: Dowd, Woods to lead McDonald County

Posted on by Jason Peake

A pair of returning starters are expected to lead the way for the McDonald County boys basketball team this winter.

Senior guards Cross Dowd and Sterling Woods both return with prior starting experience for the Mustangs.

“Sterling Woods will be the floor general and our point guard playmaker, putting players in position to be successful,” Mustangs coach Brandon Joines told SoMo Sports. “Cross Dowd utilizes his scoring ability and defensive play to lead the team through experience.”  

Dowd earned second-team all-conference honors after averaging 12 points and three rebounds per game last season. Woods averaged eight points and three assists per game last winter.

“We definitely have some players we feel are ready to step up and make positive things happen for our program this year,” Joines said. “Our varsity experience and leadership will come primarily from the guard positions, which means we’ll have some new key contributors on both ends of the floor as we look to compete for conference and district titles this season. We have a roster with several guys who have competed in big games outside of just basketball, and now they’ll have the opportunity to see increased playing time on the court.”  

Other players returning with prior varsity experience who will be in bigger roles this season are senior forward Weston Gordon, senior guard Dalton McClain, junior forwards Josh Pacheco and Destyn Dow and junior center Toby Moore.

“Josh Pacheco and Destyn Dowd must provide athletic length on the defensive end for us to contain opposing offenses, while the former also provides an offensive spark with his improved scoring ability at the varsity level,” Joines said. “Weston Gordon will provide hustle and grit as a high IQ player with great awareness for the ball, while Toby Moore (6-4, 285) must be a force inside with his unique size, rebounding, and finishing ability. Dalton McClain’s shooting can provide an added spark to our offensive success, as well.”  

Junior guard Sam Barton and senior guard Jaxson Harrell are other players who are competing for varsity playing time.

McDonald County went 5-1 in the Big 8 West and 12-14 overall last season. The Mustangs lost a talented senior class to graduation. It featured the likes of Cole Martin, Pierce Harmon, Eli McClain, Teddy Reedybacon and Bo Leach. 

With those losses to graduation, the Mustangs will need several players to take on expanded roles.

“Whenever you have a significant amount of production leave through graduation, it’s always exciting to see others fill the void with their increased opportunities,” Joines said. “Our work ethic, grit, and will-to-win must rise up to match the goals we wish to accomplish this season as guys get more comfortable in their expanded roles.” 

Guard play should be a big strength of the Mustangs this season. Joines noted the team features several multi-sport athletes who bring a lot of versatility and athleticism, as well.

“Our experience at the guard positions will be a key factor in accomplishing our goals,” he said, “and the fact that many of our players are multi-sport athletes has allowed them opportunities for athletic growth through competing in important games outside of just basketball. As with most teams with strong guard play and experience, we anticipate decent scoring output and ball movement on the offensive end.”

As far as areas of concern, Joines noted the team must improve defensively and limit turnovers.

“Improvement on the defensive end is an absolute must,” Joines said. “And we need to maximize opportunities and minimize mistakes on the offensive end. Improvement requires strong work-ethic, dedication and trust as players and coaches become acclimated to our somewhat shifted roster through continuous reps in practice and games.”

McDonald County opens the season at Joplin on Tuesday night. 

The Mustangs’ first home game will be Dec. 6 against Hillcrest. The team hosts the Mustang Classic from Dec. 15-17.

GIRLS HOOPS PREVIEW: With key performers back, McDonald County optimistic about 2022-23 season

Posted on by Jason Peake

Sean Crane is optimistic that good things are ahead for his McDonald County girls basketball program. 

The Mustangs feature six players with prior varsity experience back and also have a promising group of newcomers for the 2022-23 season.

“We’re very excited about this season, as we have a very hardworking group returning,” Crane said. “This group doesn’t exactly have lots of varsity experience, but it is a very good core of hardworking, team-oriented individuals. As we are going to be a mixture of young and older players, I believe we’ll be a team that improves greatly throughout the season as we develop and gain experience playing with one another.” 

McDonald County’s top returning performers are senior forwards Megan Elwood, Analisa Ramirez and Lexie Abbott and junior guards Anna Clarkson, Carlee Cooper and Katelynn Townsend. Cooper and Elwood are three-year varsity performers.

Top newcomers are juniors Jacie Frencken, Natalie Gillming and Corina Holland and sophomores Rylee Anderson and Roslynn Huston. Frencken, Anderson and Huston are forwards, while Gillming and Holland are guards.

Freshmen Carlie Martin and Jamie Washam are other players who could contribute at the varsity level this winter.

Crane said there’s a lot to like about this year’s group.

“Improved guard play will be a key for us this season,” Crane said. “We’re very excited about our guards. They gained lots of experience last season. And I believe we’ll be a good defensive team by season’s end. This is something that we’ve hung our hat on in the past. We want to play solid defense and out-work other teams. I also believe having as many flexible players as we have will also be a huge advantage for us going forward.”

The Mustangs lost standout Addy Leach to graduation. The team also suffered a blow when Samara Smith moved out of the district. Both players earned all-conference honors at the conclusion of last season.

The Mustangs managed just five wins last season, but Crane is confident the team has the potential to greatly improve upon last year’s record. 

“I believe we will be much improved defensively,” Crane said. “We expect each player on the floor to work hard defensively and to guard multiple positions.”

McDonald County is off to a 1-0 start, as the Mustangs defeated Hillcrest 46-30 in last Friday’s season opener. 

The Mustangs will be among the teams competing at the Carl Junction Classic beginning on Nov. 28. McDonald County will host its Lady Mustang Classic from Dec. 12-14.

STATE FOOTBALL: Seneca runs through Liberty in state quarterfinals

Posted on by Lucas Davis

SENECA, Mo. — The two bullies of the Big 8 West Conference prevailed during their Class 2 state quarterfinal games on Saturday afternoon.

The Seneca Indians took care of business with a 28-14 win over the visiting MV-BT Liberty Eagles at Tom Hodge Field at Earl Campbell Stadium, and they will play fellow Big 8 West bully Lamar in the semifinals on Nov. 26 at Lamar.

Seneca RB Jackson Marrs falls forward for a first down during the Indians’ win over Liberty in the Class 2 quarterfinal rounds. Photo by Jessica Greninger.

Seneca and Lamar, who defeated Holden 54-0 on Saturday, enter with 11-1 overall records.

“We play in the Big 8 West,” Seneca coach Cody Hilburn said, “which may be one of the more physical small-school conferences in the state. We talked about that at halftime (Saturday). We’re going to come out and rely on our inside run game, then I think it took its toll on them.

“I think it speaks volumes for our conference. To meet a conference foe in a semifinal game, it’s a neat deal.”

Seneca defeated Lamar 36-33 back on Sept. 16 in Seneca.

“We played so early in the season,” Hilburn said. “I don’t know how much you can reference that game. Both teams have changed some. We’ve got to go back to the drawing board. Both teams are going to make adjustments. We’ll go up there and see what happens.”

Half of the story Saturday: Seneca held previously unbeaten Liberty to a season-low 14 points and the Indians grounded the high-flying Eagles in the first half early on their way to a 14-0 halftime lead.

“They’ve got some athletes,” Hilburn said. “They get into space, and they got us a few times. I’m so proud of our defense. Our key was to get 11 hats to the football, because they were so good at making one miss and making two miss, we had to have three and four there. I thought we ran to the football all afternoon. So, credit Coach (Matt) Crane, our defensive coordinator, and credit our whole entire defensive staff for getting those guys prepared and ready to go.”

Liberty’s explosive offense entered Saturday averaging 47 points per game with four games of at least 60 points, five more games in the 40s, and their lowest scoring game 27 points in Week 6 against Mountain Grove.

Seneca’s Hagen Ginger celebrates after a scoring a touchdown in the quarterfinal win over Liberty. Photo by Jessica Greninger.

The Eagles (11-1) did not score on Seneca until 2 minutes, 25 seconds remained in the third.

The other half of the story Saturday: Seneca’s offense punched Library’s defense right in the mouth, especially in the Indians’ first two drives after halftime.

Their first two second-half drives: 25 plays, 150 yards, and 11:45 off the clock, both capped off by outstanding junior running back Jackson Marrs 11-yard touchdown runs.

The Indians ran all 25 of those plays steady and strong behind their blockers, including offensive linemen Logan Barwick, Christopher Alexander, Lane Scribner, Nicholas Stephens, Jacob Gravener and Brian Bigbee, as well as backs Morgan Vaughn, Lincoln Renfro and tight end Hagen Ginger.

Seneca had no penalties on either drive and 24 of the 25 plays resulted in positive yardage. None were negative yardage.

“That’s Southwest Missouri football right there,” Hilburn said. “Credit our guys upfront. I’m so proud of those guys. They had a great night.”

Marrs and junior quarterback Gavyn Hoover proved to be the ball-carrying beneficiaries, and the Eagles had absolutely no answer for either one in the second half.

Seneca’s Conner Ackerson evades would-be tacklers on the way to a first down. Photo by Jessica Greninger.

“They’re workhorses,” Hilburn said. “Both of them worked their tail off in the weight room to get their bodies right to carry a load like that. We just went back-and-forth in that second half and kept them fresh. They were ready to take the load on.”

Seneca’s opening drive of the second half — 80 yards in 14 plays and 6:21 — gave the Indians a commanding 21-0 lead.

The Indians established tone early Saturday, as Liberty’s first drive produced seven yards and a punt and Seneca drove 73 yards in nine plays and 3:55.

On a fourth-and-5 at the Liberty 39, Hoover found 6-foot-2 sophomore tight end Ginger matched up with a smaller defender in single coverage and they connected on a 39-yard scoring pass at 6:16 of the first.

Seneca’s second possession resulted in a Liberty interception near the end zone, but officials ruled defensive back Adrien Pendegraft down at the 1-yard line.

The Eagles’ subsequent possession resulted in a punt blocked and recovered by Seneca’s Roman Miller deep inside Liberty territory early in the second quarter.

One play, 3 yards, and four seconds later, Marrs scored the first of his three rushing touchdowns and Seneca led 14-0.

Seneca’s fourth possession resulted in a second interception, but that would turn out to be the last pass thrown by the Indians on Saturday.

The Indians reached the Class 3 state quarterfinals last season and they lost 20-7 at home against Mexico, an experience that undoubtedly motivated this season’s Indians during all those long months leading up to the next season.

“Last year’s group meant so much,” Hilburn said. “They expedited this process and they bought into everything and found a way in my first year to put us in this game. It was so big for our football program. We carried that momentum into the offseason and the guys worked their tails off in the offseason to get back to this spot. We found a way to win today.”

The Indians have reached the state semifinals for the first time since 2013, where they defeated John Burroughs 31-7 on their way to a runner-up finish in Class 3.

 

STATE FOOTBALL: Carthage advances to semifinals with win over Lebanon

Posted on by Jason Peake

LEBANON, Mo. — After a two-year absence, the Carthage Tigers are back in the Final Four.

With a strong overall performance, Carthage defeated Lebanon 35-14 on Saturday afternoon in a Class 5 quarterfinal.

The Tigers (11-1) will host Francis Howell (12-0) at 1 p.m. next Saturday in the semifinals. 

Carthage last advanced to the semifinals in 2019, the year the Tigers won the state championship. 

On Saturday, the Tigers held a 14-7 lead at halftime before they pulled away with a 14-0 third quarter.

After the Tigers recovered a Lebanon fumble on the 36-yard line, the visitors scored six plays later on Cooper Jadwin’s 14-yard QB keeper. Chris Mejia’s PAT kick made it 7-0 with 3:24 remaining in the first quarter. 

Lebanon tied the game with 6:01 left in the second quarter after Cade Muscia’s 4-yard touchdown run and the PAT kick by Rhett Rhoades.

Luke Gall’s 37th touchdown of the season, a 4-yard plunge, gave the Tigers a 14-7 lead with 2:06 left in the first half. The score capped a nine play, 62-yard drive.

The Tigers extended their lead early in the third period. 

Gall’s 22-yard touchdown run gave Carthage a 21-7 lead with 9:59 left in the third quarter. The score was set up when Mason Frisinger blocked a Lebanon punt. 

Moments after the Tigers recovered a Lebanon fumble, Clay Kinder’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Hudson Moore gave Carthage a 28-7 lead with 4:08 left in the third quarter.

The Yellowjackets trimmed their deficit to 28-14 early in the fourth quarter on Muscia’s 3-yard touchdown run.

The Tigers took a 35-14 lead when Kinder completed a 22-yard TD strike to Moore on fourth down with 4:02 left. The score all but sealed the win.

Francis Howell beat Timberland 49-18.

The other Class 5 semifinal will feature Cape Girardeau Central vs. Fort Osage. 

The state championship game is scheduled for Dec. 2 in Columbia. 

STATE FOOTBALL: Lamar rolls past Holden in state quarterfinals, Tigers to host Seneca in semifinals

Posted on by Lucas Davis

HOLDEN, Mo. — Lamar didn’t allow Holden to pick up a first down in the first half on the way to building a commanding 41-0 lead by the intermission before cruising to a 54-0 victory over the Eagles on Saturday in the Class 2 quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.

With the win, the Tigers (11-1) move on to the Class 2 semifinals and will host Seneca (11-1) on Saturday at Thomas M. O’Sullivan Stadium for an all-Big 8 Conference matchup. The Indians, who moved past Liberty 28-14 in the quarterfinal round, defeated Lamar 36-33 earlier in the season. 

After forcing Holden (8-4) into a three-and-out, Lamar needed just two plays to get on the scoreboard on its first drive of the game after QB Joel Beshore broke free for a 33-yard rushing touchdown to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 9:57 on the clock. 

Lamar doubled its cushion on Holden after the defence forced another three-and-out before the offense followed it up with a time-eating drive that ended with Beshore hooking up with RB Austin Wilkerson for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 3:47 left in the first quarter to push the advantage to 14-0.

On the Tigers’ ensuing drive, Beshore went to the air for another touchdown, using play action before rolling out and completing a 9-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Sturgell to push the margin to 21-0 with less than nine minutes to go in the first half.

Lamar’s Alex Wilkerson picked off a Holden pass for the game’s first turnover to set up a 38-yard passing score down the seam from Beshore to Austin Wilkerson for a second time to make the score 28-0 with 7:40 to play in the first half. 

Holden, down four scores, turned it over on downs in its own territory with 5:46 left in the first half. Lamar capitalized, using a 27-yard completion from Beshore to WR Ian Ngugi set up a 1-yard touchdown run from WR Terrill Davis for a 34-0 lead with 3:57 left in the second quarter.

Davis followed up his 1-yard score with a 69-yard rushing touchdown with 1:11 left in the first half to give the Tigers a commanding 41-0 advantage.

Starting the second half with possession and a running clock, it didn’t take long for Lamar to find the end zone again as RB Cooper Haun ripped off a 31-yard rushing touchdown with 8:36 left in the third quarter to make the score 48-0.

Lamar’s Trent Torbeck added a 1-yard touchdown as time expired in the third quarter to give the Tigers a 54-0 lead. 

Holden picked up its only first down of the game on the final drive while facing a fourth-down and 1 with just over a minute remaining in regulation.

GIRLS HOOPS: Joplin falls to Kickapoo in season opener

Posted on by Lucas Davis

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Joplin girls basketball opened the season with an 83-38 loss to Kickapoo in the Kickapoo Invitational on Friday.

The Chiefs opened the game on a 20-5 run by the end of the first quarter before building a 42-15 lead by the intermission and keeping the game out of reach in the second half.

“We lost, but let me tell you that I have never been prouder as a coach in my life,” first-year Joplin coach Brad Cox said. “We were down 20-2 at one point and they continued to play with heart. They could have given up at any time, but we never played to the score. We are going to turn this program around, I promise you that.”

Brynn Driver led Joplin with 21 points, including four 3-pointers and 16 of her points in the second half. Riley Kelly added five points, while Izzy Yust, Libby Munn, Maria Loum and Bailey Ledford each contributed three points in the loss.

Joplin plays Parkview at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday on the second day of the Kickapoo Invitational.

 

COLLEGE SIGNINGS: Carthage’s Cochran signs with Drury

Posted on by Jason Peake

Carthage High School senior Landry Cochran signed a letter of intent on Thursday to play softball at Drury University.

“I feel very fortunate I was able to have the opportunity to perform in front of the Drury coaches, as it was one of my top schools,” Cochran told SoMo Sports. “I’m so excited to be a part of their program. To represent Drury and their softball team these next four years is a dream come true.”

An outfielder, Cochran earned second-team all-Central Ozark Conference honors after batting .472 as a senior.

Playing at the next level was a longtime goal, Cochran said. 

“For as long as I can remember, my goal has been to play softball at the collegiate level,” said Cochran, who recorded 58 hits and scored 41 runs in 35 games this fall. “Now that it’s finally coming true, it feels surreal. I was blessed to have many opportunities to prove my talent and show the hard work that’s gone into the game these past 12 years. I played with many talented athletes and had coaches who challenged me, making me the player I am today. And I’m thankful for each of them.”

Cochran, who plans to major in elementary education, said Drury was her choice for several reasons.

“I first met Coach (Jerry) Breaux while attending a camp my junior year,” Cochran explained. “I appreciated the feedback he gave me at the camp and Drury was quickly added to the list of schools I was interested in. After meeting with all the coaches and touring the campus, I knew it was a place I wanted to be a part of. The softball program is very strong and they are extremely competitive in their conference (Great Lakes Valley Conference). The coaches have been phenomenal. They’re committed to the program and show they truly care for their players as athletes and students. While touring campus, every person I came in contact with was friendly and treated me like they really cared. The campus is beautiful and the distance from home was perfect for me.”

A leadoff batter, Cochran earned all-conference and all-district recognition four times during her prep career. She also set school records for career hits and hits in a season.

Cochran wasn’t the only Tiger to sign to play college softball, as Ashlynn Jackson has signed to play at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas. 

A pitcher, Jackson earned honorable mention all-conference honors this fall.

COLLEGE SIGNINGS: Webb City baseball players sign letters of intent

Posted on by Jason Peake

Four Webb City High School seniors made their college decisions official with a signing ceremony on Friday afternoon inside the Cardinal Dome.

All four seniors will play baseball at the next level, with three continuing a strong pipeline from Webb City to Missouri Southern.

CY DARNELL, MISSOURI SOUTHERN

Cy Darnell will join his father Bryce’s Missouri Southern program.

“It’s a good opportunity to continue at the next level,” Darnell said. “It means a new chapter of my life.”

Cy said the school’s location and the program’s success and facilities played a role in his decision to attend MSSU. 

The 6-foot-2 Darnell was a first-team all-conference selection and a second-team all-state pick last spring as a shortstop. 

Cy, who said his intended college major may be education/coaching, noted he’s enjoyed his prep career.

“It’s been the best four years of my life playing alongside my friends in baseball and football,” he said. 

 

KAYLOR DARNELL, MISSOURI SOUTHERN

Kaylor Darnell will play for his uncle at the next level.

“It means a lot because I was gifted another four years of my favorite sport,” Kaylor said. “It means a lot to me because my parents, coaches and friends helped me work hard to become a college baseball player.” 

Kaylor Darnell, who played for his father Flave the past three seasons at Webb City, earned second-team all-COC honors as a pitcher at the conclusion of his junior season.

The 6-1 Darnell said he chose MSSU because of the baseball program’s success and location.

Kaylor, who is also a third baseman, said he plans to study engineering technology. 

 

WALKER SWEET, MISSOURI SOUTHERN

A 6-2 right-handed pitcher, Sweet will also be taking his talents to MSSU.

“It means a lot that I’ve been given the opportunity to play the sport I love at the collegiate level,” Sweet said. “It means a lot because I’ll compete in the best D-II conference in the nation.”

Asked why MSSU was his choice, Sweet said the program’s history of success played a big role, along with the fact that his classmates will also be playing for the Lions.

Sweet said he plans to study biomedical science.

Darnell, Darnell and Sweet are just the latest Cardinals to sign with Coach Darnell’s Lions.

Webb City graduates currently on the MSSU baseball roster are Cole Gayman, Treghan Parker and Cale McCallister. 

 

KENLEY HOOD, HIGHLAND CC

Kenley Hood, a 6-2 first baseman, signed with Highland Community College in Kansas. 

“This is huge for me to be able to play baseball at the next level,” Hood said. “This is what me and my friends have been working for our whole lives. This means a lot…everyone is not able to do this.” 

Hood said there was a lot to like about Highland’s program.

“I loved the coaching staff and Gavin Stowell went there last year, so I’ll know someone up there,” Hood said, adding he’ll focus on general studies at Highland before moving on to a four-year school in the future. 

Of course, before the four athletes begin their college baseball careers, they still have the 2023 spring season to look forward to. Webb City’s baseball program is now under the direction of Andrew Doennig. 

 

Webb City seniors Kenley Hood, Walker Sweet, Cy Darnell and Kaylor Darnell are pictured with their parents during Friday’s signing ceremony at Webb City High School. Photos by Jason Peake.

BOYS HOOPS PREVIEW: Hardy takes over at Seneca, Indians return entire roster

Posted on by Jason Peake

Cort Hardy is the new man in charge of the Seneca High School boys basketball program.

A former assistant at Webb City, Hardy takes over a Seneca program that returns each and every member of last year’s roster.

With that, there’s excitement in the air in Seneca. 

“The guys are very excited for this upcoming season,” Hardy told SoMo Sports. “We had a good first summer together and won some games, so I think that kind of enhanced that excitement. They enjoy the style that I want us to play so the buy in has been great to start practice. Both the coaching staff and players have high expectations for this year.” 

Returning seniors are forwards Cooper Long and Conner Ackerson and guard Hayden Gaines. All three started last season. Long earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season after averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds a game. 

The team’s returning juniors are guards Gavyn Hoover, Ethan Altic and Jace Wilson and forwards Blake Hurn and Morgan Vaughn. All five players are expected to play key roles this winter. Sophomore guard Zane Grotjohn also returns with prior varsity experience.

Top newcomers are juniors Ayden Corcoran (F) and Cedar Starchman (G) and sophomore guard Jace Schulte.

Strengths of the Indians will be speed, guard play and overall team depth. 

“This will be a very deep and quick team,” Hardy said. “We do not have a ton of size, but we are very athletic, and we plan to use that to our advantage. We’ll get after people defensively and try to push the pace in transition when the opportunities arise.”

The Indians will look to improve upon last year’s 9-18 record, and the keys to doing that aren’t complicated to Hardy. 

“The keys for us to be successful are to rebound the ball well, create turnovers defensively and play unselfish basketball on the offensive side of the ball,” Hardy said. “We have multiple guys that can score the ball well, so it will come down to getting the best shot we can get and try to get layups in transition off a made or missed basket.”

Of course, many of Seneca’s basketball players are still playing football. The Indians are in the quarterfinal round of the state tournament.

“With this being my first year here it will take some time for the players to adjust to a new system,” Hardy noted. “We have multiple key players that are also stars on the football team, so with them making a deep run in the playoffs it will be a challenge to start the year installing everything and knocking off some rust.”

Hardy noted he has the expectations set high.

“We expect to be competing for conference and district titles,” Hardy said. “We return everyone from a team that really started to put it together late in the year for Coach (Will) King last year. They got a taste of winning a district and conference championship in football and I think they are eager for more.” 

Seneca is scheduled to begin the season at the Dennis Cornish Classic in Lockwood on Nov. 28. The Indians will host their annual invite from Dec. 8-10. 

FOOTBALL: Carthage, Seneca, Lamar set for quarterfinal matchups

Posted on by Jason Peake

Three local prep football teams will compete in the quarterfinal round of their respective state tournaments on Saturday. 

Final Four berths will be up for grabs for Carthage, Seneca and Lamar.

Below is a quick look at each quarterfinal game of local interest. 

 

CARTHAGE AT LEBANON

Carthage travels to Lebanon for a Class 5 quarterfinal. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Lebanon High School.

Ranked first in Class 5 by the Missouri Media, Carthage is now 10-1 after beating Republic 28-14 in the District 6 championship game. 

Carthage is in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2019, the year the Tigers won a state championship. 

The Tigers are averaging 41.5 points per game and allowing 15. 

Ranked fifth, Lebanon (11-1) beat Camdenton 55-14 in the District 5 title game. 

The Yellowjackets are scoring 46 points per game and allowing 15.

These two teams have one common opponent, as both squads earned wins over Branson. 

Lebanon is in the quarterfinals for the third straight season. The Yellowjackets lost to Webb City in the quarterfinals in both ’21 and ’20. 

The Carthage-Lebanon winner will advance to the semifinals, where they’ll play either Francis Howell or Timberland on Nov. 26.

 

WATCH ONLINE: MSHSAA TV

 

SENECA VS. LIBERTY

In a Class 2 quarterfinal, Seneca (10-1) hosts undefeated Liberty (Mountain View) at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Tom Hodge Field/Earl Campbell Stadium. 

Seneca defeated Mount Vernon 25-21 in last weeks’ district championship game, while Liberty beat Mountain Grove 42-6 to improve to 11-0. 

Seneca is averaging 43 points per game while allowing 19.5. The Eagles average 47 points and allow just nine per game.

Seneca suffered a loss to Mexico in this round last year in Class 3.  

The winner of this game will advance to the semifinals, where they’ll meet either Lamar or Holden on Nov. 26.

 

WATCH ONLINE: MSHSAA TV

 

LAMAR AT HOLDEN

In another Class 2 quarterfinal featuring an area squad, Lamar (10-1) travels to Holden (8-3) for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday. 

Lamar blasted Fair Grove 56-6 in the district championship game, while Holden knocked off Pembroke Hill 32-25 to advance.

The Tigers, last year’s state runner-up, are averaging 46 points per contest and allowing just 10 points per game. The Eagles score 33 per game and allow 19 per contest.

Lamar is no stranger to this round. In fact, the Tigers are in the quarterfinals for the 14th straight season. 

The Lamar-Holden winner meets the Seneca-Liberty winner in the semifinals.  

 

WATCH ONLINE: MSHSAA TV

GIRLS HOOPS PREVIEW: Revitalized Joplin ready to build foundation in 2023

Posted on by Lucas Davis

The Joplin girls basketball team is excited and ready to take the floor for a chance to compete in 2022-23, and that hasn’t always been the case in recent years.

Much of that excitement has to do with new head coach Brad Cox, who was hired to lead the program during the offseason. In the few short months since taking the helm, Cox has seen incredible growth from his squad.

“It has been a good start,” Cox said. “The girls have really bought into what we are trying to do. Our philosophy or motto this year is ‘Turn the Ship,’ just referring to getting this team back on course. I went back through a lot of the records and we haven’t had a winning record as far back as 2005. We need to start doing things the right way to get back on course. The girls are really buying in and working hard. I told them they just need to bring the best versions of themselves every day and everything else will take care of itself.”

“We have to build a foundation and one of the pillars of our foundation is defense,” Cox added when asked about the immediate focus for the program. “We also have to make sure we are tough and make sure we are aggressive. If we can do those three things, we will be in a great position for being successful.”

Though the Eagles graduated a trio of starters and a lot of last season’s scoring in Ella Hafer, Emma Floyd and Brooke Nice, Joplin does return several starters and players with plenty of experience at the varsity level—senior G Brynn Driver, senior G Izzy Yust, junior G Ashley Phillips and sophomore G/F Riley Kelly.

“It all starts with their leadership,” Cox said when asked how important his returning varsity players are to this team in his first year. “Those four girls have been in the gym nonstop, and they’re multiple-sport athletes, which is what we preach here. They have been in the gym, working hard and leading by example.

“Brynn will be our go-to. We are going to look for Izzy to knock down some shots, take care of the ball and play solid defense. Riley will be a very, very key player for us. She can play outside and inside, and she is really tough. She brings that aspect of toughness to the team that we talked about with our pillars of our foundation. Ashley is a hard worker. She comes to the gym every morning and is getting up shots or doing anything to get better.”

A positive sign for the program is the participation interest is trending up, with several new additions to the program. Joining the varsity level this year and expected to make an impact are senior G Jill McDaniel, senior F Serafina Auberry, junior G Bailey Ledford, junior G Maria Loum, junior F Bailey Owens, sophomore G Libby Munn, sophomore G Abby Lowery and freshman G Alyssa Owens. 

“We were able to get some girls out who didn’t play last year,” Cox said. “Serafina will be a very important piece. She is very good down low and has a great outside shot. I don’t know if there is a better on-ball defender than Bailey Ledford. She gets after it. She is athletic and aggressive, which is everything that we want in our program. My goal for the sophomores is to work them in and get them some good varsity experience moving forward for the future.”

While there will certainly be some growing pains along the way as the team learns to play together on the court, the good news is that plenty of the new faces have been through this situation before. Along with varsity returners Yust, Phillips and Kelly, McDaniel, Ledford, Loum, Munn and Lowery are all key members of the Joplin softball program and its resurgence over the last several seasons, including the Eagles’ first 20-win season since 2015-16 earlier this fall.

“I just think that experience helps you develop into a program,” Cox said. “We have some volleyball girls out as well that have experienced some success over the last several seasons. Experience like that will definitely benefit us. They’re not afraid of challenges and they’ve faced adversity. They know what to expect and I think that is going to benefit us in the end.”

With several seniors and a few juniors, Coach Cox will be relying on that leadership from the upperclassmen to help his team get acclimated as the season gets going in his first season in charge. That will be one of the biggest strengths for this team. The other—athleticism.

“Our strengths of our program this season will be our leadership and athleticism,” Cox said. “We will have some amazing leadership from our senior class, and they are determined to help build the foundation for this program. Not only for this year, but for our future.

“I also feel like we are going to be very athletic this year. We have some really good athletes coming out for the team this year, who didn’t play last year. I feel mixing in some of the new athletes with some of our returning athletes will be very beneficial to the team and program.”

Of course, the biggest concern for the Eagles won’t necessarily be on the offensive end. While there is work to be done on that side of the court, Coach Cox is focused on making sure his team cuts down on turnovers and puts more effort in on the defensive end, which will ultimately put the team in a better position offensively to create more high-percentage shots going the other way.

“Being my first year as head coach, I went back and watched film from last season and two of the areas we need to improve on is minimizing turnovers and increasing our defensive effort,” Cox said. “To help with the turnovers, our plan is to focus on a lot of decision-making drills during practices and to develop more individual skill with ball handling and passing. When it comes to effort on defense, our goal as a coaching staff will be to teach them to love defense again. It’s really hard to give great effort at something if you don’t love what you’re doing.”

Joplin opens the season on Nov. 18 in the Kickapoo Invitational before opening up the home portion of the schedule with a game against Mount Vernon on Nov. 22.

 

BOYS HOOPS PREVIEW: Inside presence to lead Thomas Jefferson in 2022-23

Posted on by Lucas Davis

After graduating five players from a year ago, Thomas Jefferson looks to reload on the run as the Cavaliers return plenty of experience with the goal of repeating last year’s success.

“I think the boys are excited about the upcoming season,” Thomas Jefferson coach Chris Myers said. “We have had some success over the past few years, and these boys are ready for their opportunity to keep that success going.”

To reach the 20-win mark, though, the Cavaliers will be relying primarily on the inside presence of returning 6-foot-6 all-conference senior center Jay Ball as well as 6-foot-2 all-conference senior G/F Tyler Brouhard. Thomas Jefferson also welcomes back 5-foot-8 senior G Kip Atteberry and 5-foot-10 senior G/F Levi Triplett. 

Ball averaged 17 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.4 assists per game a season ago. Brouhard averaged 8.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 blocks and two steals per game last year. 

“Our number one strength is our inside game both offensively and defensively,” Myers said. “We have two very proven varsity players in Jay and Tyler, but we will need several other players to step up and fill the void left by last year’s graduating class.

“We are very unproven at the guard position. Our new guards will have to show an ability to handle pressure, and the confidence to get to the rim or hit perimeter shots. I think that confidence will come as the year progresses.”

New additions to make an impact at the varsity level for the Cavaliers figure to be 5-foot-8 senior G Tony Touma, 6-foot-1 sophomore F Ethan Renger, freshman 6-foot-2 F Kohl Thurman and 6-foot-2 senior C Benji Carroll.

“I think we have the pieces to be competitive each night,” Myers said about his expectations for the Cavaliers this season. “We have a solid big man returning, an established shooting guard, and some other players that could step up and help us have a competitive team.”

With several new players getting accustomed to the varsity level this season, it will take time for Thomas Jefferson to gel as a unit. Experience playing together is what builds trust on the court.

“As with any team, our players must buy into their role,” Myers said about the keys for his team’s success. “As stated before, we also must gain confidence quickly at the guard positions in order for us to compete night in and night out.”

Thomas Jefferson opens the season at Exeter on Monday before traveling to Bronaugh on Tuesday. After taking part in the Gem City Classic from Nov. 28 – Dec. 3 in Diamond, Thomas Jefferson is at Everton on Dec. 6 before opening up at home on Dec. 9 against Miami.

GIRLS HOOPS PREVIEW: College Heights girls poised to continue success

Posted on by Jason Peake

The College Heights Christian girls basketball team has the good fortune this season to return every player from last season’s 15-11 overall and district runner-up squad.

Three of the returning starters earned all-Ozark 7 Conference honors last season — senior point guard Jayli Johnson, sophomore post Libby Fanning, and senior Addie Lawrence, with Johnson and Fanning first and Lawrence second team.

Johnson averaged 11 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.7 steals in her floor general role, while Fanning averaged a double-double her freshman season with 10.5 points and 10.3 rebounds and Lawrence averaged 10 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

“We have eight returning lettermen,” College Heights coach John Blankenship said. “We’ve got two out injured right now, but we have everybody coming back from last year.”

The two injured players on the eve of the season are Lawrence and sophomore Kinley Marsh.

“She’s had ongoing knee issues,” Blankenship said of Lawrence. “She’s going to be out for a while. Kinley’s had a hip issue from cross country, but she’s getting close to being ready to return.”

Lawrence battled through a midseason injury during her senior volleyball season.

On the basketball court, the College Heights girls have played for a district title four straight seasons and they won one during a 26-3 overall season in 2020.

“We have high expectations,” Blankenship said at the preseason jamboree hosted by rival McAuley Catholic. “We’re a young team. We have three seniors that will be good leaders for us. With Addie back into the nucleus of things, that will give us more depth, more speed, and more athleticism on the floor. We’re playing a lot of freshmen right now trying to get them some game experience before the season actually starts. Our rotation looked different tonight than what it might normally during the season. We’re confident and we’re looking forward to the season.”

College Heights will start Johnson, Fanning, senior Lauren Ukena, junior Maddy Colin, and either sophomore Ava Lett or fellow sophomore Molly Long to begin the season with Lawrence not available.

“They both provide something different,” Blankenship said. “We need more height; we may go with Molly. We need more guards out on the floor, we’ll go with Ava.”

The Cougars have averaged 19 wins over their past five winning seasons.

“Our speed and our conditioning will probably be our strengths,” Blankenship said. “We’ve got to work on our ballhandling. We didn’t do really well against presses tonight, but again we had some people in there we were rotating through to see how they would do. I think we will be fine there, but we’ve got to be stronger with the basketball.”

At the jamboree, College Heights faced a larger school in Carthage (Class 6 in basketball previous two seasons) and a defending Class 3 district champion in Clever.

“We had the lead after the first quarter and had about a two-minute spurt in the second quarter where we just lost our poise and turned the ball over (against Carthage),” Blankenship said. “We gave them some easy baskets. Take those two minutes away, we’re right in there until the end.

“Clever played really well. They’re physical, they’re quick, and they’re strong. We could have played better against them, but I like where we are at this point in the season.”

Jamborees, scrimmages for two six-minute quarters in basketball, afford teams an opportunity for a dress rehearsal before the first game of the season.

“Jamborees give us a chance to get a feel for our athletes, where we can plug them in, and where their strengths are,” Blankenship said. “It gives us some ideas of things we need to work a little harder on in practice. You go against your second string in practice, and you come here in a varsity game and the defense is just a lot quicker and a lot stronger. Getting our young kids used to playing at that pace will be a big step for us, but when we get there, we’ll be pretty successful.”

College Heights opens the season Nov. 22 at home against Providence Academy, an Arkansas school in Rogers that will already be four games deep into the season before playing College Heights.

The Cougars play in the Gem City Classic (Nov. 28-Dec. 3), the Lancer Classic (Jan. 16-21), and the Mercy/Warrior Classic (Jan. 30-Feb. 4) in addition to their slate of regular season games from November through mid-February.

BOYS HOOPS PREVIEW: College Heights boys reload after historic season

Posted on by Jason Peake

The College Heights Christian boys basketball program enjoyed historic success the past two seasons with a combined 41-15 overall record, the program’s first two district titles, and the program’s first trip to the Class 2 state quarterfinals, where the Cougars lost 53-48 to the eventual state champions Norwood, highlighted a 24-5 campaign last season.

College Heights graduated most of their talent from those historic seasons, but senior and lone returning starter Curtis Davenport and junior and last year’s sixth man Caleb Quade are back and seniors Ben Thomas, Noah Hipple, and Bo Sitton get their opportunity to be more in the spotlight this season.

“We return one starter (Davenport) and it’s his fourth year starting for us,” College Heights coach Eric Johnson said. “Caleb Quade started a couple games last year and he was our sixth man off the bench. He’s improved and he’s grown. Curtis is 6-foot-5 and Caleb’s 6-4, and that gives us some inside people.

“Our other seniors played some last year, but their best learning experience was playing against the group of seniors we had last year every day in practice. Those guys have improved and they’re ready to get their opportunity. They’ve made the best of it so far.”

Davenport, behind 62 percent shooting from the floor, averaged 13 points and eight rebounds during his junior season. He earned all-Ozark 7 Conference second team last season and all-conference honorable mention and all-district his sophomore year.

Hipple and junior Colsen Dickens both played on the inaugural College Heights varsity football team this year, and they both were injured during the season.

“We have two kids that are hurt from varsity football,” Johnson said. “It will be a few more weeks before they’re back.”

The Cougars’ four new starters will include a sophomore floor general.

“Jayce Walker will be our point guard,” Johnson said. “He played mostly JV last year. It will be a lot to learn going against varsity kids all the time. We’re giving him as much playing time as we can, just to see if he can do everything.”

The Cougars will attempt to add the newest chapter to their saga of success that numbers five consecutive seasons with at least 16 wins.

College Heights made the jump last season from 17 to 24 wins behind a great senior group.

“We had a good year last year,” Johnson said. “Obviously, these kids are wanting to do the same thing this year. Early, we may have some turnovers and things from trying to do too much. We’ll find out that we have a target on our back. We beat a lot of teams the last couple years and are learning to play together. Chemistry is the main thing.

“We’ve also expanded our defense a little bit. With the big kids last year, we could hang around inside the 3-point line and deflect a lot of shots. Now, we figure we’ll have to get after it from halfcourt and change it up on defense. So far, the kids have bought into it and hopefully, it will pay off.”

The Cougars open this season Nov. 22 at home against Providence Academy, an Arkansas school that will already be five games into the season before playing College Heights.

College Heights, defending Pierce City Invitational champions, open as the second seed in this year’s edition and will face tournament host Pierce City in the opening round Nov. 29.

The Cougars play nine games in December, do not open conference play until January, face a tough non-conference game Jan. 5 against Springfield Catholic, and play in the Lancer Classic and Mercy/Warrior Classic tournaments in January before getting into the heart of their season in February.

“We get in there against some good teams, our weaknesses will be exposed,” Johnson said. “That just gives you something to work on the next day in practice, trying to solve all that. It could be one of those years, hopefully, where by December we’ll be alright and by February, we’ll be a good team playing our best basketball.

“Last year, we felt like we were playing well from the start and didn’t have a whole lot of room to get better because we were already there by December. This might take a few more weeks, a little bit longer, but, hey, it’s how you finish and not how you start.”

GIRLS HOOPS PREVIEW: Thomas Jefferson enters upcoming season with high expectations

Posted on by Lucas Davis

After Thomas Jefferson saw a six-win improvement under first-year head coach Traci Walker last season, the Cavaliers are entering the 2022-23 year with extreme optimism for what could be in store for them in the very near future.

“I think this will be one of the most successful seasons TJ has seen,” said Walker, who is entering her second season at the helm. “I am returning everyone but one starter. The girls are coming back stronger, more focused and determined to achieve their personal and team goals.”

After graduating just one senior a year ago, Thomas Jefferson returns four starters and several other players with varsity experience—seniors Nico Carlson (F), Tannah Cassatt (F) and Phoenix Wade (G), juniors Gabbi Hiebert (G), Sarah Mueller (G), Alexis Stamps (G/F) and Presley Long (G) and sophomore forward Lannah Grigg.

Hiebert averaged 13.5 points and seven rebounds a game last season, while Grigg averaged 10 points and nine rebounds a contest.

With such a large group of returning players, that experience will be key for the Cavaliers this season. Having already spent a year in Coach Walker’s program, those upperclassmen are much further ahead at this point than last season.
“One of the biggest strengths of this program is the dedication of the players and coaches,” Walker added. “We have a large group of returners who know what to expect from the coaches. We are mentally and physically prepared to have a great season.

“Because we have quite the lineup, most being returners, our successes will be knowing what we are capable of. This group of girls has a unique bond, which translates onto the court. The community can expect great things from the TJ Lady Cavs this season.” 

Of course, the biggest concern for Coach Walker heading into the season is keeping the girls motivated at every turn and every sign of adversity. Those are the moments that help a team looking to take the next step get there.

“One concern for this group of girls is keeping them motivated,”Walker said. “My girls are excited about the group of returners we have, but we must remain humble, but hungry to have the best season TJ has had. It will take constant encouragement from coaches.”

Thomas Jefferson opens the season with a road matchup against Exeter on Nov. 21.

BOYS HOOPS PREVIEW: McAuley returns plenty of experience with high expectations

Posted on by Lucas Davis

With plenty of returning experience leading the way, the McAuley Catholic boys basketball team has extremely high hopes for the 2022-23 season.

The Warriors have good reason for optimism despite a 7-21 record a year ago because experience drives success, and McAuley has a bevy of experience this season. After graduating just one player with starting experience from last season, Jeffrey Horinek, McAuley returns five upperclassmen and a sophomore with starting experience at the varsity level.

“I expect us to be better at the start of this season than we were at the end of last season,” third-year Warriors coach Tony Witt said. “I also expect us to be playing our best basketball at the end of the year. The conference will be balanced and tough this year, as it is most years. We will have to play well to have a chance at a conference championship as well as making a run come districts.”

The list of varsity returners for the Warriors are seniors Noah Black (SG/SF), Joe Staton (SG) and Kable Reichardt (SF), juniors Rocco Bazzano-Joseph (SG) and Bradley Wagner (SF/PF) and sophomore PG Michael Parrigon.

“This season is one I have been looking forward to more than any others in the past,” Bazzano-Joseph said to SoMo Sports. “We lose a very little amount and return five of our starters. We are the most experienced we have been, and I believe we have a good chance to make a run.”

“We have a great group of competitive guys who enjoy playing together,” Staton said to SoMo Sports. “Our goal is to bring home a district championship for the school and have some fun in the process. We want to leave behind a legacy that future teams can look up to, like we did when we were little.”

Expected to make a bigger impact at the varsity level this season will be senior SF Jack Jones and senior C Trey Martinez. With six returning players with starting experience and two more upperclassmen joining the fray, it is clear that experience will be a strength for McAuley this season—perhaps its biggest strength.

“Varsity experience is not an issue for us this year,” Witt said. “We have eight letterwinners coming back as well as two seniors rejoining the team after sitting their junior year out. Out of the eight letterwinners, six started last year in some capacity. And below our top eight, we have seven or eight players not mentioned that could see time as well depending on how quickly they develop. Our practices should be extremely competitive. Every day will be an audition to earn time.”

While the experience the Warriors carry into the 2022-23 season will be the leading strength, McAuley is still going to have to learn how to use that experience to close out winnable games—something that was an issue a year ago.

“We cannot have bad quarters,” Witt said. “We lost five games by a total of 16 points last year due to a bad quarter. We must have cleaner play and cannot give opponents extra possessions and expect to win. We must shoot better from the free-throw line and cannot leave points on the floor. We must be better defensively from top to bottom. Our rotations, communication, and rebounding all must get better. If we can clean up these areas, keep our heads on straight, and stay healthy, we could have a special season.”

McAuley opens the season hosting Liberal on Nov. 22.

GIRLS HOOPS PREVIEW: McAuley ready to compete in transitional season

Posted on by Lucas Davis

After graduating three starters, including two of the school’s top four all-time scorers in program history, the McAuley Catholic girls basketball team is relying on new faces to compete for an Ozark 7 Conference crown in 2022-23.

The Warriors graduated Kayleigh Teeter (1,383 points, 3rd all-time), Kennedy DuRuy (1,379 points, 4th all-time) and second-team all-conference post player Avery Eminger. Fortunately, McAuley does return four players with varsity experience for a foundation to build on as the season progresses. 

“We will probably have some learning curves at the beginning of the year,” McAuley coach Mike Howard said. “That is to be expected when you lose the amount of talent we did. There’s no doubt our patience will be tested. I am confident, however, in our ability to adjust and grow as the season goes along. As long as they foster (our keys for success), we should be able to compete at a high level once districts arrive.”

Leading the list of returners for the Warriors are senior forward Lily Black and junior G/F Kloee Williamson. Williamson averaged 7.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.7 steals per game a season ago, while Black averaged 6.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.1 blocks per contest. Also returning to the varsity squad this year is junior G Kendall Ramsey and junior F Kaitlyn Bates. 

Expected to make an impact at the varsity level for the first time this year includes freshmen G Brooke Righter, F Keira Mays, G Vanessa Diaz and G Crystal Torres.

“Defense will be our strength this year,” Howard said. “If we can rely on our defense to create our offense, then that’s obviously the recipe for success. … Anytime you lose two of the top four scorers in program history, and the top three scorers from last season, offense becomes a focal point. We will need younger players to step up and fill those voids as best they can.” 

While scoring will be something the Warriors focus on improving from the onset, Coach Howard believes much of the concern lies more on the mental side of the game for his group. He feels that once they trust themselves on the court, success will follow.

“Ways to improve starts with changing your mindset about scoring,” Howard said. “We aren’t going to be able to rely on Kayleigh or Kennedy to score most of the points anymore. Our returning lettermen will need to adjust and become more aggressive with the ball in their hands and look to score. The best way to score is forcing turnovers and making layups on the other end. The more we can stay out of the half-court offense, the better we will be.”

McAuley opens the season at home with a matchup against Liberal on Nov. 22.

STATE SOCCER: Webb City’s postseason run ends in quarterfinals

Posted on by Jason Peake

WEBB CITY, Mo. — The Webb City Cardinals held onto a 1-0 lead for 66 minutes, 54 seconds of their Class 3 state quarterfinal match Saturday afternoon against the Glendale Falcons at Cardinal Stadium.

Webb City senior forward Alex Flores put a free kick over the wall of three Glendale defenders and past senior goalkeeper Cole Vincel for the first score only 1:25 into the match.

But Glendale senior Lincoln Wimmer spoiled Webb City’s final four chances with two goals in the final 11:41, including the game-winning goal late in the 88th minute, to lift the Falcons to a 2-1 victory.

Webb City’s best season in nearly a quarter-century comes to an end at 13-12 overall.

“I think we played really, really well,” Webb City coach Nick Harmon said. “For the most part, I thought we played as good as we could have. We executed the game plan the way that we wanted to, and I’m just proud of the guys.”

Webb City’s Alex Flores and a Glendale player both go for the header during the Class 3 quarterfinal at Cardinal Stadium. Photo by Israel Perez.

The match shifted on a penalty kick at 26:33 in the second half.

A Glendale defender fouled Flores in the box, setting up the one-on-one showdown between goal scorer and goal stopper.

Vincel made the save on Flores’ kick and preserved the 1-0 score.

“To be honest, I think that was the momentum shift,” Harmon said. “Credit to their keeper. To be honest, I think that won them the game because the goals they scored weren’t anything fancy. They had some lucky bounces, and their guys capitalized and were able to get on the end of it. But for sure, I think if we bury that PK, I think it’s game over. Alex couldn’t have put it in a better spot. The kid just made a spectacular save.”

Flores’ goal in the first half gave him 29 on the season.

“Spectacular,” Harmon said. “He was a huge goal-scoring threat for us up front and just seemed to find a way in big games and in pressure situations. In games like this, when the season’s on the line, he’s able to hit brilliant shots that win games and keep us in games. I’m proud of him.”

Webb City seniors Flores, Felipe Perez, Isaac Wade and Connor Black played their final games Saturday, but the majority of the Cardinals should be returning next season.

“Overall, we’ve got to be proud of what we’ve done,” Harmon said. “We went farther than any team has in the last 23 years and made history by winning the first district title this millennium. We’ve got a young squad, so we obviously wish that we could have gone further this year, but we’re proud of our seniors for leading the way and we’re excited about our young guys because we’ll be back here next year.”

Glendale improved to 24-4 overall and the Falcons will return to action Friday, Nov. 18, in the semifinals at the World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton.

 

Pictured is Webb City’s Kaulden Hood. All photos by Israel Perez/SoMo Sports.

 

Luis Gallardo battles a Glendale player for possession on Saturday afternoon at Cardinal Stadium.

 

Alex Flores scored Webb City’s lone goal of the game against Glendale.

 

Trevor Peterson is pictured during Saturday’s Class 3 quarterfinal.

 

Webb City goalkeeper Connor Black stops a shot from Glendale’s Dylan Spivy. Glendale defeated Webb City 2-1 in a Class 3 quarterfinal contest on Saturday. All photos by Israel Perez.

STATE SWIMMING: Tigers earn all-state honors in three events

Posted on by Jason Peake

ST. PETERS, Mo. — The Carthage Tigers earned all-state honors in three events at the 2022 MSHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday at the St. Peters Rec-Plex.

The top 16 in each event earn all-state recognition.

Carthage’s 200-yard medley relay team of Kellen Frieling, Braxton McBride, William Wright and Eli Cox finished 15th with a time of 1:44.

The Tigers finished 16th in the 400 freestyle relay, as McBride, Cox, Wright and Frieling recorded a time of 3:27.

A junior, Frieling finished 15th in the 100 backstroke in 55.73 seconds.

Monett senior Matthew Fillinger finished 13th in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:49 to earn all-state recognition. 

Also on Saturday, Webb City freshman Maddox Wood finished 21st in the prelims of the 1-meter diving competition. Wood earned a score of 132.20. 

 

FULL RESULTS: MSHSAA 2022 Class 1 Boys Prelim and Final Results

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