NIXA, Mo. — Seneca’s girls and Lamar’s boys fell short in their respective Class 4 sectional basketball contests on Tuesday night at Nixa High School.
In girls action, Ava defeated Seneca 48-30.
Ava (22-5) will meet Helias Catholic (22-7) in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Lebanon.
On the boys side, Willow Springs rode a hot start to a 66-42 win over Lamar.
Willow Springs (22-5) will take on Father Tolton (20-8) in the quarterfinals at 2:45 on Saturday.
AVA GIRLS 48, SENECA 30
The Bears scored nine unanswered points in the first quarter en route to a 15-7 lead.
Seneca’s Hazley Grotjohn made three 3-pointers in the second quarter, but Ava’s Olivia Gastineau hit two of her own to give the Bears a 25-18 halftime advantage.
Ava took its first double-digit lead of the game at 31-20 and Hazley Grotjohn fouled out with just over three minutes to play in the third quarter.
Aliya Grotjohn knocked down two treys late in the third period, but Seneca trailed 33-26 entering the fourth quarter.
Ava began the fourth quarter on a game-changing 11-0 run to take a 18-point lead.
Seneca ends the season with a record of 22-7.
A senior guard who is headed to Cottey College, Aliya Grotjohn led the Indians with 16 points.
A freshman guard, Hazley Grotjohn scored 11 points.
For Ava, Hannah Evans scored 16 points, while Sara Mendel and Gastineau added 10 points apiece.
WILLOW SPRINGS BOYS 66, LAMAR 42
The Bears raced out to a 21-4 lead and never looked back in this one.
Willow Springs led by 20 early in the second quarter and the Bears were up 37-15 at halftime.
Lamar used an 11-2 run to pull within 13 at 39-26. During the surge, Lamar’s Mason Gastel hit a trey before Conner Shoff hit two treys and Gastel connected on two free throws.
But Willow Springs ended the third period on an 8-4 run for a 47-30 lead.
The Tigers kept coming, but the Bears’ lead was never in jeopardy in the final frame.
Scottie Osborn scored 21 points to lead Willow Springs, while Owen Duddridge added 17.
Shoff and Gastel scored 12 points apiece to lead Lamar.
The Tigers end the season with a record of 17-12.
