A number of Joplin area prep basketball teams had successful and memorable seasons this winter.
In fact, 11 local teams captured district championships, while six area squads advanced to the quarterfinal round of their respective state tournaments.
Let’s take one last look at how the local squads fared.
STATE RUNNER-UP
Mount Vernon’s girls had a season to remember.
Grant Berendt’s Mountaineers finished as the Class 4 runner-up after falling to Boonville in the state championship game.
It was Mount Vernon’s first title game appearance since 2012. The Mountaineers, who won a district title for the fifth straight season, finished with a record of 28-4.
The Mountaineers were led by a talented senior backcourt. Lacy Stokes is headed to Missouri Southern, while Ellie Johnston will play collegiately at Morningside.
QUARTERFINAL APPEARANCES
Six area squads advanced to the “Elite Eight.”
Thomas Jefferson’s boys and McAuley Catholic’s girls both advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 1 state tournament.
Chris Myers’ Cavaliers ended the season with a loss to St. Elizabeth, a team that went on to win the state tourney’s third-place game.
Thomas Jefferson went 20-6 and reached the final eight for just the second time in program history.
Mike Howard’s McAuley girls ended the season with a loss to Walnut Grove, a team that finished third in the state. The Warriors went 20-9 and reached the quarterfinals for the third time in program history.
Brad Shorter’s Carl Junction girls were in the quarterfinals for the fifth time in six years.
The Bulldogs (18-9) suffered a season-ending setback to West Plains, a team that ended up the state runner-up in Class 5.
Boys teams from Nevada (Class 5) and East Newton (Class 4) also advanced to the quarterfinal round in their respective brackets.
Nevada (22-6) fell to eventual state runner-up Bolivar, while East Newton (26-3) dropped a close quarterfinal contest to Blair Oaks, a team that finished third in the state tourney.
The Miller girls were in the quarterfinals in Class 3. The Cardinals (28-2) fell to Steelville, a team that took third place.
DISTRICT CHAMPIONS
The following local boys basketball teams captured district championships — Thomas Jefferson, Golden City, College Heights, Miller, East Newton and Nevada.
College Heights, Golden City and Miller fell in the sectional round.
Girls teams that won district titles were McAuley, Miller, Mount Vernon, Carl Junction and McDonald County.
Carl Junction won a district crown for the sixth straight season. The Mustangs lost to the Bulldogs in the sectional round.
The College Heights Christian girls fell in a district title game and finished with a stellar record of 22-3.
Boys teams from Webb City and Neosho also ended the season in Class 5 district title games. The Cardinals fell to Nevada, while the Wildcats ended the season with a loss to Logan-Rogersville.
ALL-COC PLAYERS
The following area girls were named to the All-Central Ozark Conference team — Carl Junction’s Destiny Buerge and Jessa Hylton, Carthage’s Hailey Fullerton and Kianna Yates, Webb City’s Jaydee Duda and Neosho’s Olivia Hixson.
Joplin’s Emma Floyd, Webb City’s Sierra Kimbrough and Carthage’s Yates were listed on the all-defensive team.
The following boys were named All-COC — Webb City’s Nickhai Howard and Cohl Vaden, Joplin’s Always and All Wright, Neosho’s Landon Austin and Carl Junction’s Alex Baker.
JOPLIN’S ALL OZARK-7 PLAYERS
Joplin area boys listed on the Ozark 7 Conference team were College Heights’ Miller Long and Curtis Davenport, McAuley’s Daniel Wagner and Thomas Black, Thomas Jefferson’s Dhruv Gheewala, Caden Myers, Jay Ball and Drew Goodhope.
Local girls recognized on the Ozark 7 team were College Heights’ Grace Bishop, Lainey Lett, Catie Secker, Kaynahn Burk and Jayli Johnson, McAuley’s Kayleigh Teeter, Kennedy DeRuy and Gliza Damaso and Thomas Jefferson’s Sydney Stamps and Alivia Beard.
AREA PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Mount Vernon’s Lacy Stokes and Nevada’s Logan Applegate were named area players of the year by the 4-States Basketball Coaches Association.
AREA ALL-STATE PLAYERS
The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association released its all-state teams for the 2020-21 season.
BOYS
College Heights Christian’s Long was selected to the Class 2 squad. Thomas Jefferson’s Gheewala was named all-state in Class 1, along with Golden City’s Lane Dunlap and Lockwood’s Max Schnelle.
East Newton’s Kyson Lahman was named to the Class 4 team, while Nevada’s Applegate was selected in Class 5.
GIRLS
Carl Junction sophomore Buerge was an all-state pick in Class 5.
Mount Vernon’s Stokes and Johnston were both selected all-state in Class 4. Miller’s Claudia Hadlock and Kaylee Helton were picked on the Class 3 team.
STEPPING DOWN
At the conclusion of the season, Jeff Hafer stepped down as Joplin’s boys basketball coach.
Hafer was in charge of the program for seven seasons, and he led his alma mater to a pair of district championships (2018, ’20).
FINAL RECORDS
Here are the final records for our main area schools:
BOYS
Thomas Jefferson 20-6
Webb City 18-9
College Heights 17-10
Neosho 13-13
Joplin 12-13
McAuley Catholic 9-16
Carl Junction 7-19
Carthage 7-19
GIRLS
College Heights 22-3
McAuley Catholic 20-9
Carl Junction 18-9
Carthage 15-11
Neosho 10-15
Webb City 9-15
Joplin 7-19
Thomas Jefferson 1-20
