NEOSHO BOYS 63, LAMAR 57
NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho built an eight-point lead to start the fourth and found itself in a shootout down the stretch on the way to a win over Lamar on Tuesday.
The Wildcats took a 38-30 lead into a fourth quarter that saw a combined 52 points scored, with Neosho coming out on top. The win moves the Wildcats to 14-5 on the season, guaranteeing a winning season for the program for the second time since 2010. It is also coach Zane Culp’s 50th win of his career.
“It was kind of an ugly win, but we played great defense through three quarters,” Culp said to SoMo Sports. “K’dyn (Waters) had a huge second half offensively and really carried us. I am proud of Kael (Smith)’s tenacity. He had a great game on both ends.”
Waters finished with a game-high 31 points, while Smith closed with 12. Isaiah Green added seven, and Brock Franklin finished with five points.
Mason Gastel had 13 points, while Connor Shoff and Gunnar Dillion each finished with 11 points. Joel Beshore scored 10 and Ian Kgugi finished with eight points.
Neosho is at Carl Junction on Feb. 1.
WHEATON BOYS 69, MCAULEY 66 (2OT)
WHEATON, Mo. — McAuley Catholic found themselves on the wrong side of a double-overtime dogfight with Wheaton on Tuesday.
The Warriors took control with a 14-7 lead after the first quarter before Wheaton rallied to take a six-point lead by half. McAuley rallied to tie the contest by the start of the fourth. Each team scored 18 in fourth and eight in the first overtime period before Wheaton outscored the Warriors 7-4 in double overtime.
“I am proud of the effort our guys brought tonight,” McAuley coach Tony Witt said to SoMo Sports. “They could have given up after getting down in the first half, but they responded in the third quarter. Even though this one ended in a loss, there were a ton of positives.”
Rocco Bazzano-Joseph led McAuley with 13 points, while Michael Perrigon and Jeffery Horinek each finished with 15 points in the loss.
Wheaton’s Kelton Park led all scorers with 32 points, while Blake Morgan added 15 in the win.
McAuley is in action next at Jasper on Thursday.
CARL JUNCTION GIRLS 63, PARKVIEW 49
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Three players scored in double figures as the Carl Junction girls basketball team defeated Parkview 63-49 on Tuesday night.
Destiny Buerge scored 25 points to lead the Bulldogs, while Kylie Scott added 18 points and Klohe Burk had 16 points.
Tara Masten led the Vikings with 21 points.
The Bulldogs outscored the Vikings 21-13 in the first period and took a 39-24 lead into the break.
Carl Junction led 51-35 at the end of the third quarter.
The Bulldogs are at Glendale on Thursday.
MCAULEY GIRLS 38, WHEATON 19
WHEATON, Mo. — McAuley Catholic girls basketball built a four-point lead by halftime before holding Wheaton to seven points total in the second on the way to the win.
The Warriors led 16-12 at the intermission and pushed the lead to eight to start the fourth. McAuley blanked Wheaton over the final eight minutes, pulling away with an 11-0 run in the period.
“What a great team effort tonight!,” McAuley coach Mike Howard said to SoMo Sports. “Every girl on my bench stepped up and contributed in one way or another. Our defensive intensity was terrific, especially when it mattered the most at the end of the game. We understand that defense has to be an emphasis as we enter conference and district play. I was very pleased with our energy tonight!”
Kennedy DeRuy had 13 points to lead McAuley in scoring, while Lily Black finished with 10 points. Avery Eminger closed with six points and Kloee Williamson had four.
Allison Whitman had 10 points to lead Wheaton.
McAuley is at Jasper on Thursday.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS GIRLS 74, VERONA 16
The Cougars took control early in this one. College Heights led 18-5 at the end of the first quarter and the Cougars were up 45-12 at halftime.
Addie Lawrence scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Cougars, while Ava Lett added 11 points.
College Heights is now 7-7 and 2-0 in conference action.
The Cougars travel to Wheaton on Friday.
