JOPLIN BOYS 77, WILLARD 69
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Joplin jumped out to a big lead in the first quarter and preserved that cushion all the way to a win over Willard in the seventh-place game of the Bill Hanson Memorial basketball tournament on Saturday.
The Eagles jumped out to a 12-point lead following the first eight minutes after outscoring Willard 26-14. The Tigers rallied back to cut Joplin’s lead to one by halftime, 39-38, but the Eagles pushed the lead to six to start the fourth and held on for the win.
Terrance Gibson led Joplin with a game-high 32 points, while All Wright finished with 16 points. Whit Hafter had 10 points, while Quin Renfro closed with eight.
Joplin is at Springfield Central on Tuesday.
GALENA BOYS 74, THOMAS JEFFERSON 41
LIBERAL, Mo. — The Galena Bulldogs from Southeast Kansas remained undefeated by beating Thomas Jefferson in the boys championship game of the Tony Dubray Classic on Saturday night at Liberal High School.
“Galena is a great team,” Cavaliers coach Chris Myers told SoMo Sports. “Though outmatched, I felt our kids did a good job of competing in the second half. As a coach, you hope playing teams like this help prepare you for big games down the stretch.”
The Bulldogs raced out to a 21-7 lead. Galena was up 38-16 at halftime and 64-33 by the end of the third quarter.
Thomas Jefferson fell to 11-4.
Tyler Brouhard scored 21 points and hit six 3-pointers for the Cavaliers. Jay Ball added 10 points.
Brouhard and Ball were both all-tourney selections.
Galena’s Tyler Little scored 15 points and was named tourney MVP. Maverick Harmon also scored 15 points for the Bulldogs.
Thomas Jefferson travels to Jasper on Tuesday night.
CARTHAGE BOYS 73, CHANUTE 28
CHANUTE, Kan. — Carthage outscored host Chanute 19-2 in the first quarter and never looked back in a win to wrap the Ralph Miller Classic on Saturday.
The Tigers scored 19 points in the second period, 22 in the third and closed the win with a 14-4 fourth quarter against the Comets.
Max Templeman, named to the all-tournament team, finished with 24 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Justin Ray knocked down four 3-balls on the way to 16 points, while Britt Coy finished with 14 points, also making two triples.
Carthage is at Nevada on Friday.
NEVADA BOYS 57, OWENSVILLE 40
FRONTENAC, Kan. — Nevada’s boys won the Four State Raider Classic’s seventh-place game in convincing fashion on Saturday at Frontenac High School.
Nevada held a 27-19 lead at halftime.
The Tigers outscored the Dutchmen 20-2 in the third period to take a comfortable 47-21 advantage into the final frame.
Three players reached double figures for the Tigers (7-11), as Jack Cheaney scored 13 points, Brice Budd added 12 and Drew Beachler had 10.
Nevada (7-11) is at Carl Junction on Tuesday. The two teams met earlier this season, with Nevada winning on a buzzer-beater.
OLATHE NORTH GIRLS 57, CARTHAGE 53
PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Carthage girls basketball wrapped up play in the Bill Hanson Memorial basketball tournament with a 57-53 loss to Olathe North in the fifth-place game.
Carthage (8-8) trailed by four heading into the second period before outscoring Olathe North 14-7 in the second period for a 25-22 lead by the intermission. Olathe North took a two-point cushion into the fourth quarter and held off Carthage down the stretch to earn the win.
“That was a great high school basketball game,” Carthage coach Scott Moore said to SoMo Sports. “Two teams fighting tooth and nail for 32 minutes. I’m really proud of how our team battled this weekend. However, there are some little things we need to get fixed to make sure the lessons we learn in these tournaments help us down the road when we have similar battles in the COC.”
Kianna Yates led Carthage with a game-high 27 points, which included two 3-pointers and seven free throws. Lauren Choate added 10 points, while Jaidyn Brunert finished seven.
“Kianna Yates had a phenomenal game,” Moore said. “Every time that Olathe North made a little run, Kianna got us a basket to stop their momentum and swing it back our way.”
Carthage hosts Seneca on Thursday.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS SQUADS END LANCER CLASSIC
CHEROKEE, Kan. — The College Heights Christian boys basketball team defeated Riverton 58-52 in the third-place game of the Lancer Classic.
The Cougars improved to 12-4.
The College Heights girls suffered a 41-38 setback to Riverton in the tourney’s third-place game.
“For the second game in a row, we dug ourselves in a hole with a slow start,” College Heights coach John Blankenship said. “We trailed 9-0 before we slowly began chipping away at their lead.”
CHC’s Libby Fanning hit a 3-pointer to pull the Cougars within four at halftime.
“We took the lead late in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t hold it down the stretch,” Blankenship said. “Jayli Johnson almost tied the game on a halfcourt shot that spun out of the basket. We have played two larger schools this week and competed down to the wire. I am proud of my players. I have no doubt we got better this week, which is our primary objective heading into conference games and postseason play.”
Fanning scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and recorded a double-double in every game of the tournament.
Addie Lawrence hit a pair of 3-pointers for six points.
Johnson and Fanning were named to the all-tournament team.
The CHC girls are now 9-8.
The Cougars are at Verona on Tuesday night.
