CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Carl Junction girls basketball team came from behind for the second straight night at the 47th annual Freeman Sports Medicine Carl Junction Classic.
The host Bulldogs overcame an early nine-point deficit and used a strong second half to beat Parkview 37-32 on Tuesday night.
After knocking off Neosho on Monday in come from behind fashion, Carl Junction went 2-0 in pool play.
In Tuesday’s opener, McDonald County rode a balanced attack to a convincing 63-35 win over Nevada.
CARL JUNCTION 37, PARKVIEW 32
This one didn’t start out particularly well for the Bulldogs, as the Vikings outscored the hosts 15-6 in the first quarter.
But Parkview standout senior guard Tara Masten left the game with an injury late in the opening period and the Vikings played the remainder of the contest without their primary ball-handler and experienced floor general.
At the same time, Carl Junction senior and Oral Roberts signee Kylie Scott sat out a large part of the second period due to foul trouble.
Carl Junction won the low-scoring second period 7-5, but the Vikings held a 20-13 lead at intermission.
In a big swing, the Bulldogs scored the first 12 points of the third quarter to take the lead for good.
Scott scored eight points during the game-changing surge, but also picked up her third and fourth fouls and had to go to the bench late in the third period.
The Bulldogs took a 25-23 lead into the fourth quarter.
Jadyn Howard, Anna Burch and DeShaye Buerge knocked down key jumpers in the final frame to extend CJ’s lead to nine with just under four minutes to play.
Parkview’s Austin Hall drilled three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to keep her squad within striking distance, but the Bulldogs would never relinquish their lead.
Scott scored 14 points to lead Carl Junction. Also for the Bulldogs, Madison Hembree scored seven points, while Burch had six and Howard and Buerge each scored five. Carl Junction (2-0) was once again without junior guard/forward Dezi Williams.
A senior guard, Hall scored 23 of Parkview’s 32 points. She hit seven 3-pointers.
Parkview plays Neosho at 6:30 on Wednesday night. Carl Junction will return to action on Thursday night.
MCDONALD COUNTY 63, NEVADA 35
Taking control early against a conference foe, McDonald County improved to 2-0 on the season.
Getting most of their points in the paint and getting lots of second and third opportunities with offensive rebounds, the Mustangs built a 19-9 lead by the end of the first period.
Senior guard Clara Swearingen scored all nine of Nevada’s points in the opening quarter on three treys.
Nevada knocked down four 3-pointers early in the second quarter, two each from Clara Swearingen and her sister, freshman Lucy Swearingen, to pull within two at 23-21.
But McDonald County closed the first half on a 9-2 run to take a 32-23 halftime advantage.
The Tigers made eight field goals in the first half, and seven were 3-pointers.
The Mustangs outscored the Tigers 13-8 in the third quarter and led 45-31 entering the final frame.
Three hoops inside from junior post player Roslynn Huston gave the Mustangs a comfortable 54-33 cushion with three minutes remaining and the lead was never in jeopardy down the stretch.
Four players scored in double figures for the Mustangs, as Huston led the way with 16 points. Carlie Martin scored 15 points and Carlee Cooper and Jamie Washam added 10 points apiece.
Clara Swearingen led Nevada with 22 points. A Pittsburg State signee, Swearingen made six 3-pointers.
McDonald County meets Springdale (Arkansas) at 5 p.m. on Wednesday in the final game of pool play.
Nevada (1-2) will play for fifth place against an opponent to be determined at 4:30 on Thursday.
CARL JUNCTION CLASSIC
Pool A: Springdale, McDonald County, Nevada
Pool B: Parkview, Carl Junction, Neosho
Monday’s scores
Springdale 52, Nevada 35
Carl Junction 40, Neosho 34
Tuesday’s scores
McDonald County 63, Nevada 35
Carl Junction 37, Parkview 32
Wednesday’s schedule
5—Springdale vs. McDonald County
6:30—Parkview vs. Neosho
Thursday’s schedule
4:30—Fifth place game
6—Third place game
7:30—Championship game.
