CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage High School boys basketball team sent its seniors out with a win.
Carthage topped Branson 72-50 on Tuesday in Central Ozark Conference action. The team’s seniors were recognized during the evening.
“I am so happy for our four seniors,” Carthage coach Nathan Morris said of Joel Pugh, Sylas Browning, Caden Kabance and Logan Carmickle. “They are great human beings and ambassadors for our program. They did a fantastic job getting us started during the first quarter tonight. Sylas Browning came out determined for his Senior Night to go well!”
Carthage led 17-10 at the end of the first quarter, but extended the advantage to 37-23 by halftime.
“Branson is a team that can score in bunches and we held them to 23 first half points,” Morris said. “Coach Linehan gave our kids one of the best compliments we can ask for, mentioning that our halfcourt man-to-man was fantastic tonight.”
The Tigers led 49-40 at the end of the third quarter, but the hosts outscored the Pirates 23-10 in the fourth quarter.
Max Templeman scored 18 points to lead Carthage, while Joel Pugh had 16, Clay Kinder added 11 and Tyler Willis had 10. Britt Coy contributed six points, while Sylas Browning and Justin Ray added five points apiece.
“It’s no secret that we ask Max Templeman to do a lot for this team, but he played his most complete game tonight, even with limited minutes in the first half due to foul trouble,” Morris said. “Max had 18 big points, seven rebounds and eight assists tonight.”
Branson’s Kade Goodwin had 17 points and Kyle Scharbrough had 11. Ethan Jones was limited to eight points.
“We asked six different guys to take turns taking away Ethan Jones and Kyle Scharbrough and they were up to the challenge,” Morris said.
The Pirates fell to 7-15 and 0-6 in the COC.
Carthage is now 18-5 overall and 4-3 in the COC.
“This group has been special after the growing pains they experienced last year,” Morris said. “They care about each other, do what is asked, and are enjoying playing the game. It’s no wonder that they are 18-5 on the season with a chance to make some noise in the postseason.”
Carthage is at Ozark on Friday.
BRANSON GIRLS 72, CARTHAGE 65, OT
The game was tied at 61 at the end of regulation before the visiting Pirates outscored the Tigers 11-4 in the extra session to claim the COC win.
Branson led 19-13 at the end of the first quarter and the Pirates were up 36-23 at the break.
The Tigers trailed by seven at the end of the third period but erupted for 21 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
“We didn’t come out with our normal energy to start the game and dug ourselves a 13-point hole at halftime,” Carthage coach Scott Moore said. “However, thanks to a Kianna Yates halfcourt shot at the buzzer, we were able to claw and fight our way back to send the game into overtime. Unfortunately, our game-long foul trouble caught up with us in overtime and four starters fouled out. Branson made their free throws and we could not muster the points we needed to pull out the victory.”
Carthage dropped to 11-13 overall and 2-5 in the COC.
Sophie Shannon poured in 27 points on 11 field goals and five charities for the Tigers.
“The star of the game tonight was senior Sophie Shannon who scored a career-high 27 points on Senior Night,” Moore said. “Branson had no answer for her in the paint and she scored at will on them. Fellow senior Presley Probert had a good game scoring five points and made several good passes that led to baskets for teammates.”
Carthage’s Kianna Yates added 19 points and Lauren Choate had nine. Shannon and Presley Probert are the team’s lone seniors.
Taylor Foster and Chloe Grimm scored 21 points apiece for Branson, while Hadly Houston added 13. The Pirates are now 11-10 overall and 3-3 in the COC.
Carthage travels to Ozark on Thursday.
