Area prep basketball squads earned victories at their respective holiday tournaments on Monday.
FULLERTON LEADS CARTHAGE GIRLS PAST BRANSON
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Led by Hailey Fullerton’s 22 points, the Carthage High School girls basketball team earned a 51-37 win over Branson on Monday at the Pink & White Tournament at Kickapoo High School.
Carthage used a 19-8 run in the second quarter to take a 24-13 lead at the half. The Tigers led 39-22 entering the fourth quarter.
“We were a little sloppy and rusty to start the game after being off for a few days,” Tigers coach Scott Moore told SoMo Sports. “We made a good run in the third quarter to push the lead to over 20 for a while. I’m proud of the way the girls came out and played Carthage basketball in the second half. We will need to play better tomorrow against Waynesville.”
In addition to Fullerton’s game-high 22 points, Kianna Yates scored 12 and Brinna Ream added seven. Katie Crowe and Presley Probert chipped in three points apiece, while Landry Cochran and Sophie Shannon had two points apiece.
Rachel Riveros scored nine points for Branson.
Now 8-3 on the season, the Tigers play Waynesville at 6 on Tuesday night. Waynesville earned a 68-63 win over Buffalo.
CARTHAGE BOYS EARN LOPSIDED WIN
ROLLA, Mo. — The Carthage boys basketball team opened the Rolla U.S. Bank Holiday Tournament with a convincing 72-43 victory over the Rolla junior varsity squad on Monday at Rolla High School.
The Tigers were originally scheduled to open the event against St. Pius X, but the squad from Festus is currently in quarantine and was unable to attend the tournament.
Against the Rolla JV, Carthage led 22-7 at the end of the first quarter, 37-19 at the break and 56-32 heading into the fourth quarter en route to victory.
Three players scored in double figures for the Tigers, as Max Templeman led the way with 14 points, while Patrick Carlton and Silas Templeman contributed 13 points apiece.
In all, 10 different players scored for Carthage. Caden Kabance added nine points for the Tigers, while Justin Ray and Tyler Willis added seven points apiece. Britt Coy and Sam Feurt added three points apiece, while Clay Kinder and Hudson Moore scored two points apiece.
The Tigers (4-3) will play again on Tuesday night.
NEOSHO GIRLS ROLL IN TOURNEY OPENER
WEAUBLEAU, Mo. — In a dominant performance, Neosho’s girls cruised to a 75-12 victory over Humansville on Monday afternoon at the Doug Loehr Holiday Classic at Weaubleau High School.
The top-seeded Wildcats built a comfortable 61-7 lead by the end of the third period against an eighth-seeded Tigers squad that features only sophomores and freshmen.
Neosho (6-2) advances to the tourney semifinals, where they’ll play No. 5 Lakeland at 6:30 on Wednesday. Lakeland defeated No. 4 Golden City 51-35 on Monday night.
STOKES LEADS MOUNT VERNON GIRLS PAST CLEVER
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Lacy Stokes poured in 26 points to lead the Mount Vernon girls to a 55-44 win over Clever on Monday at the Pink & White Tournament.
Stokes, a Missouri Southern recruit, hit three 3-pointers. Ellie Johnston scored 13 points and Allie Schubert added 11 for the Mountaineers.
Grant Berendt’s Mountaineers improved to 7-0. Mount Vernon plays Strafford at 6 on Tuesday night at Springfield Central High School.
