Neosho, Carthage fall in Class 6 District 5 quarterfinals
OZARK, Mo. — The sixth-seeded Neosho Wildcats traded punches with the third-seeded and sixth-ranked Republic Tigers for the first two quarters of their Class 6 District 5 quarterfinal contest on Wednesday night.
Sparked by senior Isaiah Green, who had eight points in the first quarter and 14 overall in the first half, Neosho led 13-12 after one quarter and earned a 24-all halftime score.
Unfortunately, though for the Wildcats, Republic caught fire in the second half and doubled up Neosho after halftime on the way to a 56-40 win.
Neosho senior Kael Smith’s basket maintained the tie score early in the second half at 26, but Republic went on an 11-1 run, including nine unanswered, to go ahead with the first double-digit lead of the night at 37-27. The Tigers then entered the fourth leading 40-31 behind their 16-7 advantage in the third.
Republic threatened pushing the lead out to 20 in the fourth, but the damage had already been done.
Green finished the night with a game-high 25 points, which turned out to be 62.5 percent of the Wildcats’ point production Wednesday night.
Smith added seven points and Collier Hendricks and Jared Siler finished with four each.
Neosho ends the season 19-8 overall and seniors Green, Smith, Siler, Carter Baslee, Michael Day, Carter Fenske, and Brock Franklin played their final high school games.
“We are really proud of this senior group and the guys below them this year,” Neosho coach Zane Culp said. “Just an unbelievable season and the group of seniors that really helped change the program. The best season we’ve had in the last two decades. Most wins since 2003, most Central Ozark Conference wins ever (six), and highest finish in the COC (fourth). These seniors will be very missed and their impact on the program will be lasting.”
The Wildcats earned back-to-back winning seasons and posted a 36-19 overall record.
Republic improved to 24-3 overall and the Tigers will face second-seeded Kickapoo in the semifinals Friday.
Kickapoo 74, Carthage 54
The Carthage Tigers saw their season end at 14-12 overall after their 74-54 loss Wednesday in the Class 6 District 5 quarterfinals against No. 2 seed Kickapoo.
Kickapoo built a 40-18 halftime lead behind a 25-8 advantage in the second quarter, including 16 of the final 19 points before the half.
Carthage outscored Kickapoo 27-22 in the third quarter and knocked five points off that halftime deficit.
Kickapoo extended the lead back out to 20 over the final eight minutes.
Max Templeman paced Carthage with a team-high 17 points, Justin Ray added 16, Britt Coy hit a team-high three 3-pointers on his way to 11 points, Clay Kinder scored five points, Trent Yates had three points, and Kruz Castor rounded out the Tigers’ scoring with two points.
Templeman, Coy, and Kinder, as well as fellow senior Ben Nicholas, each played their final high school games.
Harrison Doennig scored a game-high 24 points to spark the Chiefs, Trae Oetting finished with 17, Brayden Shorter netted 16, Jackson Shorter added 11, and Mason Robb, Shaun Campbell, and Landon Keisker each had two points.
Carthage finished with a winning record in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2010-11.
NEVADA 51, CLINTON 36
PLEASANT HILL, Mo. — The Nevada Tigers advanced to the championship game of the Class 4 District 13 tournament by beating Clinton 51-36 on Wednesday night in the tourney’s semifinals.
The Tigers led 19-7 at the end of the first quarter and 35-22 at halftime. Nevada’s lead was 41-24 at the end of the third period.
Cade Beshore scored 15 points and hit four 3-pointers to lead Nevada, while Drew Beachler and Brice Budd added 10 points apiece.
No. 1 seed Nevada will meet second-seeded Barstow at 7 on Friday night for the district crown.
SENECA 51, MONETT 46
MONETT, Mo. — The Seneca Indians secured a spot in the championship game of the Class 4 District 12 tournament by holding off Monett on Wednesday night.
The Indians went 7-for-7 at the foul line in the fourth quarter to seal the close win over the Cubs.
Morgan Vaughn scored 26 points to lead Seneca, while Ian Waterman scored 12 points for Monett.
Top-seeded Seneca meets second-seeded Aurora at 6 p.m. on Friday for the district title.
Aurora hammered third-seeded Cassville 60-36 in the other semifinal.
