CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Neosho and Seneca both earned victories on the final night of the 46th Carl Junction Classic.
Neosho won the tourney’s fifth-place game 46-35 over rival McDonald County on Thursday night, while Seneca defeated Mount Vernon 54-35 in the event’s seventh-place game.
NEOSHO 46, MCDONALD COUNTY 35
In a game they never trailed, Neosho took control early by establishing a 19-2 lead.
The Wildcats scored 14 unanswered points during the early surge.
Neosho led 22-6 at halftime and a pair of hoops in the paint from senior forward Karlee Ellick gave the Wildcats a comfortable 31-10 lead with 4:35 remaining in the third period.
However, the Mustangs finished the third quarter on an 11-2 run, but they still trailed 33-21.
McDonald County cut its deficit to seven in the fourth quarter, but Neosho never relinquished its lead en route to capturing the consolation championship.
Ellick scored 14 points to lead Neosho, while Beclynn Garrett had 10 and Raine Harris added seven. Ellick was named to the all-tourney team.
McDonald County received 11 points from Carlee Cooper and six from Jamie Washam.
SENECA 54, MOUNT VERNON 35
Sophomore guard Hazley Grotjohn scored 16 points to lead Seneca, while senior forward Parker Long had 14 and junior guard Samarah Mittag added nine.
For the Mountaineers, sophomore Cheyenne Bieber scored 11 and classmate Addie Hall had nine.
The Indians led 14-10 at the end of the first quarter.
The Mountaineers scored the first seven points of the second quarter to briefly take the lead, but the Indians closed the first half on a 14-0 run to take a 28-17 halftime advantage.
Seneca extended its lead to 44-24 by the end of the third quarter and the Mountaineers were unable to rally in the final frame.
