NEOSHO GIRLS ADVANCE TO TITLE GAME
WEAUBLEAU, Mo. — Neosho’s girls basketball team advanced to the championship game of the Doug Loehr Holiday Classic by earning a 54-38 victory over Lakeland in the tourney semifinals on Wednesday night at Weaubleau High School.
Neosho plays tourney host Weaubleau in the championship game at 8:15 on Friday night.
Neosho led 16-8 at the end of the first quarter. With a strong second quarter, the Wildcats extended their lead to 34-12 by halftime.
Neosho held a comfortable 45-28 advantage by the end of the third period.
Olivia Hixson scored 16 points to lead Neosho, while Reagan McInturff added 10.
Weaubleau defeated Verona 52-31 in the other semifinal.
BLUE EYE 50, CARTHAGE GIRLS 43
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Carthage’s girls basketball team suffered a 50-43 setback to Blue Eye on Wednesday at the Pink & White Tournament.
Up 13-12 after the opening period, Blue Eye used a 14-5 run in the second quarter to take a double-digit lead at the break, 27-17.
Carthage trailed 35-25 at the end of the third period. The Tigers outscored the Bulldogs 18-15 in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
Hailey Fullerton scored 15 points and Kianna Yates added 13 for the Tigers, who dropped to 8-5 on the season with the loss. Yates hit three 3-pointers.
Avery Arnold scored 20 points to lead Blue Eye and Riley Arnold had 11.
Carthage is at Strafford on Tuesday.
WAYNESVILLE 78, CARTHAGE BOYS 57
ROLLA, Mo. — The Carthage boys dropped a 78-57 decision to Waynesville in the third-place game of the Rolla U.S. Bank Holiday Tournament.
Waynesville raced out to a 24-9 lead by the end of the first quarter. The early deficit was too much to overcome for Carthage.
After the first period, Carthage played nearly even with Waynesville, as Nathan Morris’ squad was only outscored 54-48 after the first quarter.
Max Templeman poured in 23 points to lead Carthage, hitting three 3-pointers. Patrick Carlton added 15 points and Silas Templeman scored 11.
Jared Hyatt scored 20 points for Waynesville and Xzavia McArthur added 17.
Carthage (4-5) plays at Strafford on Jan. 5.
KICKAPOO 65, MOUNT VERNON GIRLS 39
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Kickapoo defeated Mount Vernon 65-39 in the semifinals of the Pink & White Tournament at Parkview High School.
The Mountaineers suffered a loss for the first time after earning eight wins to start the season.
Lacy Stokes scored 22 points to lead Mount Vernon, while Ellie Johnston added nine points. Stokes hit four treys.
Indya Green scored 28 points to lead the Chiefs (10-2).
Ranked third in Class 4, the Mountaineers trailed 13-10 at the end of the first quarter, but the Chiefs pulled away in the second period with an 18-7 spurt for a 31-17 halftime advantage.
Ranked second in Class 6, Kickapoo led 46-30 entering the final frame.
Mount Vernon meets Skyline at 10 a.m. on Thursday at Kickapoo in the Pink Division’s third-place game.
MILLER GIRLS 47, WALNUT GROVE 37
WALNUT GROVE, Mo. — Miller’s girls basketball team defeated Walnut Grove 47-37 in the championship game of the Walnut Grove Holiday Tournament.
Kaylee Helton scored 14 points and was named the tourney’s MVP. Claudia Hadlock and Lili Merrick added 12 points apiece.
Walnut Grove entered the night ranked first in Class 1, while Miller is ranked 10th in Class 3.
