LOCUST GROVE, Okla. — A strong second half led the Neosho High School boys basketball team to a 71-53 win over Glenpool (Okla.) in the opening round of the Locust Grove Tournament on Thursday afternoon.
With the win, Neosho improved to 10-2 on the season.
The Wildcats were clinging to a one-point lead at the break, 31-30. But Neosho outscored Glenpool 40-23 in the second half.
“We shot the ball really well and clamped down defensively in the second half,” Neosho coach Zane Culp told SoMo Sports. “I’m proud of the effort in the second half. It was a different atmosphere playing at 11 a.m., and the boys figured it out.”
K’dyn Waters and Carter Fenske scored 21 points apiece to lead Neosho, while Brock Franklin added 11 points.
A senior, Waters scored 14 of his points in the second half. A junior, Fenske hit seven 3-pointers, with four in the first half and three in the second half. Waters and Franklin each drilled a trio of treys.
Neosho led 15-13 at the end of the first quarter. Waters scored seven in the opening frame, while Fenske hit a pair of treys.
Franklin and Fenske each buried a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter and Neosho led 31-30 at halftime.
The Wildcats began the second half on a 9-0 run, as Waters had two field goals, Franklin hit a trey and Kael Smith made one free throw for a 40-30 lead.
At the end of the third period, Neosho’s advantage was 51-37.
The Wildcats, who went up by 20 late in the game, recorded 20 points apiece in both the third and fourth quarters.
Neosho meets either Verdigris or Ketchum at 4:40 p.m. on Friday in the tourney semifinals.
NEOSHO GIRLS FALL
Neosho’s girls suffered a 49-37 loss to Coweta (Okla.) in their Locust Grove tourney opener on Thursday morning.
The Wildcats trailed 37-27 at the end of the third quarter.
Neosho pulled within seven with 3:15 remaining after a trey from Beclynn Garrett, but the Wildcats were unable to overcome the deficit in the final frame.
Karlee Ellick scored 12 points to lead Neosho (5-7), while Reagan McInturff added 10 points and Garrett had six.
Macee Matthews scored 18 points for the Tigers.
Neosho will play either Verdigris or Nathan Hale at 10 a.m. on Friday.
