WILLARD, Mo. — The Carl Junction girls basketball program will look to claim its seventh straight district championship on Friday night.
The top-seeded Bulldogs rolled past fourth-seeded Parkview 56-31 on Monday in the semifinals of the Class 5 District 6 tournament at Willard High School.
The Bulldogs will meet second-seeded Willard at 6 on Friday night for the district title.
In Monday’s other semifinal, third-seeded Webb City suffered a 63-41 season-ending setback to Willard.
CARL JUNCTION 56, PARKVIEW 31
Ranked seventh by the MBCA, Carl Junction hiked its record to 21-7 with a convincing win, as the Bulldogs never trailed in this one.
Hali Shorter’s third 3-pointer of the first quarter gave the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.
Carl Junction scored the first 14 points of the second period to take a 28-7 lead.
During the surge, Shorter and Dezi Williams both hit treys, Klohe Burk made two free throws, Williams scored inside and Destiny Buerge recorded two hoops.
The Vikings, who struggled offensively all night against CJ’s active zone defense, finally stopped the run. But a free throw from Kylie Scott and a bucket inside by Buerge gave the Bulldogs a comfortable 31-10 halftime advantage.
The Vikings started the second half on an 8-4 run, but a hoop in the paint by Williams, a 3-pointer from Shorter and two charities from Buerge extended Carl Junction’s lead to 42-18 in the third quarter.
Shorter’s sixth 3-pointer of the game, along with a midrange jumper from Buerge and a trey from Burk gave the Bulldogs a commanding 50-22 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Scott’s hoop in transition made it 52-22 early in the final frame to force a running clock.
A junior guard, Shorter scored 18 points to lead the Bulldogs, making 6-of-7 3-point attempts. Another junior guard, Buerge scored 13 points, while Scott, a sophomore forward, added 11 points.
Sophomore guard Tara Masten scored 15 points for Parkview (9-17).
The Bulldogs beat Hillcrest 75-34 in the quarterfinals this past Saturday. Buerge scored 25 and hit six treys in that one, while Burk had 19 points with five 3-pointers.
Carl Junction has won six straight district titles under Brad Shorter.
WILLARD 63, WEBB CITY 41
A barrage of 3-pointers propelled the Tigers to an 18-point lead by intermission.
Willard connected on five 3-pointers in the first quarter en route to taking a 19-9 lead.
Treys from Brielle Adamson, Carolina Crawford and Morgan Hall extended Willard’s lead to 35-17 at the break. The Tigers hit nine 3-pointers in the first half.
Freshman forward Sami Mancini had 11 of Webb City’s 17 points in the first half.
The Cardinals received hoops from Mancini and Kenzie Robbins, and a trey from Kate Brownfield, but Willard led 51-30 at the end of the third quarter.
The hosts never relinquished their lead in the fourth period.
Willard (13-15) hit 14 3-pointers in the game. Crawford scored 15 points and hit five treys to lead the Tigers, while Kailyn Washington had 14 points and Adamson added 13 points.
The Cardinals, who won their district opener on Saturday, end the season with a record of 12-14.
The 6-foot-5 Mancini scored 17 points to lead Webb City, while Robbins had nine points and Brownfield added eight.
Seniors Robbins, Ripley Shanks, Josie Spikereit and Austyn Mickey played their final game for Webb City.
CLASS 4: NEVADA GIRLS 57, KNOB NOSTER 26
HARRISONVILLE, Mo. — Third-seeded Nevada handled sixth-seeded Knob Noster 57-26 in the quarterfinals of the Class 4 District 13 tournament at Harrisonville High School.
Nevada (17-8) will meet second-seeded Notre Dame de Sion (18-6) at 5:30 on Tuesday night in the semifinals.
In Monday’s win, Nevada led 18-2 by the end of the first quarter.
Grace Barnes scored 19 points for the Tigers, while Clara Swearingen and Maddy Majors added 12 points apiece.
