HOLLISTER, Mo. — Webb City’s boys track and field squad captured the Class 4 District 6 championship on Saturday at Hollister High School.
The Cardinals compiled 169 points and Marshfield was second with 144.
The Webb City girls were second in the team standings with 140 points. Marshfield was first with 168.
At the district meet, the top four finishers in each event advanced to next Saturday’s sectional meet in West Plains.
WEBB CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Webb City’s boys won six events and took second in four events.
Overall, Webb City advanced 19 entries to the sectional in 15 events. The Cardinals had two qualifiers in four different events (javelin, pole vault, 110 hurdles, 1600).
Defending state champion Grayson Smith was the district champ in the pole vault after clearing 15-7 and senior Trey Roets won the javelin with a toss of 177-3.
Webb City junior Evan Stevens won a pair of individual events, the 1600 in 4:38 and the 3200 in 10:06.
Nate Miller was the runner-up in the discus (145-4), Jordan Thornburg took second in the 100-meter dash (11.15 seconds) and Mason Hedger was second in the 800 (2:03).
Ryan Reid placed third in the high jump, Tucker Liberatore was third in the javelin, Jadon Brisco took third in the pole vault and Noah Moss finished third in two events, the 400 and the 110 hurdles.
Eric Lathan (shot put), Atticus Luzadder (1600) and Jace Jones (110 H) all finished fourth.
Webb City’s boys advanced in all four relays.
The Cardinals won the 4×800 relay in 8:26, with Hedger, Dakota Grove, Noah Lankford and Stevens competing.
Webb City’s 4×100 team took first in 43.24 seconds and Webb City was second in the 4×200.
The Cardinals placed third in the 4×400.
Webb City’s girls won five events and advanced to the sectional in 11 events.
Webb City senior standout Abi Street won two individual events and finished second in another.
A Kansas signee, Street won the 1600 in 5:43 and also crossed the line first in the 3200 in 12:30.
Street was the runner-up in the 800 with a time of 2:25, as her teammate Brooke Hedger took first in 2:21. A freshman, Hedger took second to her teammate Street in the 1600.
Cardinals junior Dawsyn Decker won the javelin with a toss of 131-2.
Also, Lily McCaw was the runner-up in the pole vault, Essence Robinson took second in the 400, Chase Stilley placed third in the high jump, Emily Countryman was third in the 3200 and Aubree Lassiter placed third in the discus.
The Webb City girls also fared well in the relays.
Featuring Robinson, Stilley, Aspen White and Hedger, Webb City’s girls won the 4×400 relay in 4:14.
The team of White, Kristina Bundy, Countryman and Street finished second in the 4×800 relay.
The Cardinals were also second in the 4×100, with Kylie Jennings, Stilley, Alyssa Moreno and Robinson running.
CARL JUNCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Carl Junction sophomore Sydney Ward won two events, the 100-meter dash in 12.33 seconds and the 200 in 25.91.
Also for the CJ girls, Bella Montez crossed the line first in the 300 hurdles in 49.59 seconds, while Acadia Badgley won the pole vault by clearing 10 feet even.
Madilyn Olds finished fourth in the javelin.
Carl Junction’s 4×200 relay team of Olivia Battagler, Destiny Buerge, Dezi Williams and Ward took third.
The Bulldogs were third in the 4×100, with Battagler, Buerge, Bella Montez and Ward competing.
For the Carl Junction boys, Donnie Keith placed third in the discus, Braxton Dodds was fourth in the javelin and Dexter Merrell finished fourth in the 300 hurdles.
MCDONALD COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
McDonald County’s 4×400 relay team of Dominic Cervantes, Hunter Leach, Dalton McClain and Josh Pacheco took first in 3:30.
The Mustangs were third in the 4×800 relay, with Tyler Rothrock, McClain, Miguel Mora and Leach competing.
The Mustangs also finished third in the 4×100 relay, with Samuel Barton, Esteban Martinez-Olvera, Cervantes and Josh Pacheco running.
Pacheco took third in the triple jump, while Leach was third in the 800, Toby Moore finished third in the shot put and fourth in the discus and Cervantes placed fourth in the 400.
The Mac County girls took second in the 4×400 relay, with Clara Horton, Corina Holland, Ireona Nirka and Anna Price competing.
The team’s 4×800 relay finished fourth, with Horton, Kate Cheney, Dallie Racher and Price competing.
Holland placed third in the 400 and Lacey Nix finished fourth in the pole vault.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Monett’s Konner Poynter won three events, the 110 hurdles, the 300 hurdles and the 200-meter dash. He was also fourth in the 100.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Carl Junction High School has announced the appointment of Ryan Odaffer as the new head girls basketball coach.
Previously, Odaffer served as Carl Junction High School’s boys basketball coach from 2008 to 2012.
After stepping out of administration with a return to the classroom, Odaffer’s journey has come full circle as he takes the reins of the girls basketball program.
Odaffer’s coaching experience spans various age groups, and he has also organized multiple skills nights to nurture player development.
Ryan Odaffer
Odaffer noted he’s thrilled and ready to dive back into the coaching circle, determined to build on the program’s recent success and propel it to even greater heights.
“I have always had a passion for great basketball, and one way I wanted to give back was to try and develop younger players in the Carl Junction School District,” Odaffer said in a press release. “I had no clue that I would one day get the chance to coach these kids when they got to high school. The timing seemed right, and I am really excited for this upcoming season.”
Stepping into a program with a rich history, Odaffer is well aware of the achievements of his predecessor, Brad Shorter, who led the team to multiple conference and district championships and this year’s state runner-up finish.
“Shorter is a class act and has put this program in amazing shape,” Odaffer said. “My hope is to continue that legacy in the way this program has competed, and the way Coach Shorter carried himself.”
Odaffer’s basketball background is impressive. He began his playing career at Labette County High School in Altamont, Kansas, where he led his team to a state runner-up finish and was honored as the 4A Player of the Year and a top five All-Class/All-State player.
Odaffer then continued his basketball journey at Pittsburg State University from 2000 to 2005.
He was an assistant boys basketball coach in Webb City before taking over the head coaching duties in Carl Junction.
During the current school year, Odaffer had the opportunity to coach his own daughter as the Carl Junction junior high 7th grade coach, stating, “It’s been great to have had the last eight years to watch my own kids play.”
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The host Carl Junction Bulldogs and the visiting Pittsburg Dragons combined for 29 runs, 29 hits, 10 errors, 24 RBI, seven extra-base hits, eight walks, six hit batters and nearly 300 pitches during a wild and crazy 17-12 win for the guests from Kansas.
Pittsburg scored four runs in the first, third and seventh with one in the second and the fourth and three in the fifth, while Carl Junction plated two in the first and the sixth, seven in the third and one in the fourth.
The Bulldogs erased an early 9-2 deficit with their seven-run third and then knotted the score again at 10 with their run in the fourth.
The Bulldogs scored two in the sixth to narrow the deficit to 13-12, before the Dragons closed out the scoring with four insurance runs in the seventh.
“That’s the positive, that they had every opportunity to just quit, and they didn’t,” Carl Junction coach Phil Cook said. “We swung the bat well all day. We scored 12 runs, and you should win. They’re a good team, I know they’ve won a lot of games and they’ve got some guys at the top of their lineup that can flat out swing it. I think we’ve got a good team, too.
“We walked or hit nine … nine free ones. What happened with those nine? Here lately, some of the games that we’ve lost and lost close, even Willard the other day, we walked 14 … Springfield Catholic, we walked 11 … and then nine (Friday). You can’t do that and expect to win. You can’t put nine guys on free and expect to beat anybody. We’ve got to clean that up.
“We are swinging it well. We had a couple errors, so did they. It’s a tough day out there. That field is hard as a rock. We need some rain. I’m discouraged. I hate getting beat, that’s what it boils down to, but I am encouraged by the fight that the kids had and the way they swung it.”
Logan Eck and Wyatt McAfee combined for half of Carl Junction’s 12 hits with three each and Arlen Wakefield, Bentley Rowden, Lucas Vanlanduit, Drew Massey, Deacon Endicott and Mekhi McGarry each had the other half of the 12 hits with one apiece.
Endicott provided one of the game’s most thrilling moments with his three-run inside-the-park home run in the third. Eck added a RBI single and McAfee tied it up at 9 with his RBI single.
Eck put the Bulldogs on the board with a RBI triple in the second that brought home Vanlanduit after he led off the inning with a walk.
Massey’s RBI triple tied it at 10 in the fourth.
Endicott finished with four RBI, his first on a sacrifice fly that plated Eck in the second, while Vanlanduit scored three runs and Eck drove in and scored two.
Eck took a no-decision and he allowed 10 runs (four earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts and four walks over four innings.
Endicott ended with the loss and he allowed seven runs (four earned) on 10 hits with one strikeout and no walks over his three innings of relief.
Beau Pasteur led Pittsburg’s 17-hit attack with four and the trio of Dawson Stegman, Tucker Akins, and Ethan Rhodes each had three hits.
Webb Fern’s two-run triple only three batters in opened the scoring and Pittsburg’s catcher finished his day with four RBI, all in the first three innings.
Jackson Turnbull added three RBI for the Dragons.
Pittsburg starter Garrett Hanson also did not factor in the final decision and he allowed nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 2 2/3 innings.
Quentin Fears earned the win in relief with three runs (one earned) on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks in 4 1/3 innings.
Carl Junction dropped to 7-12 overall on the season and the Bulldogs return to Central Ozark Conference action Tuesday on the road against their rival Webb City.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Carl Junction’s quest for its first-ever state championship fell just short.
The Bulldogs had their chances late, but Lutheran St. Charles made more winning plays down the stretch on the way to a hard-fought 44-39 victory in the championship game of the Class 5 Show-Me Showdown on Saturday night inside Great Southern Bank Arena.
“I thought our kids played hard until the end,” Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter said. “We gave ourselves a chance there late, but it just didn’t go our way. You tip your hat to a team like that. They’re a good ballclub… That’s a tough one. I’m really proud of my girls. What happened tonight doesn’t define us. It’s tough right now, but it was a fun season. It stings right now, but what we did as a team will last forever.”
The state title game was close all the way.
Up 15-13 at halftime, the Bulldogs built a seven-point lead in the third period before the Cougars used a 10-0 burst to pull ahead.
Members of the Carl Junction Bulldogs react to falling short in the Class 5 Show-Me Showdown state championship game against Lutheran St. Charles on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield. All photos by Michael Gulledge/Special to SoMo Sports.
Carl Junction trailed by six with just over a minute to play, but the Bulldogs reeled off six straight points with a spirited rally to tie the game at 39 with 40 seconds to play.
Lutheran took the lead for good on a layup from Kennedy Stowers.
Next, in a key moment, Carl Junction senior standout Destiny Buerge was called for an offensive foul with 25 seconds left, her fifth foul of the night.
Still, the Cougars turned the ball over with 15 seconds left. After a timeout, and trailing by two, Carl Junction was unable to get a potential game-tying shot up, as the Bulldogs turned the ball over on an out of bounds play.
The Cougars made 3-of-4 free throws late for the final margin.
“Carl Junction hasn’t won a state championship, so that’s what we really wanted to do,” Coach Shorter said. “As tough as 2020 was, this is probably even tougher. We were right there on the verge of winning a state championship. But it’s just a basketball game. Our kids showed a lot of toughness and a lot of grit, and I know they’re going to be very successful in whatever they do. I’ll always remember that they were resilient. They kept fighting. I’m very proud of them.”
A STELLAR SEASON
Carl Junction’s Destiny Buerge (23) puts up a shot during the Class 5 Show-Me Showdown state championship game against Lutheran St. Charles on Saturday in Springfield.
Carl Junction ends a remarkable season with a record of 30-2.
The Bulldogs set a school record for wins, captured a district championship for the eighth straight season and brought home the runner-up plaque, tying the program’s best-ever finish at state.
Playing their final game for the Bulldogs were seniors Buerge, Hali Shorter, Klohe Burk and Allie Wrestler.
“I appreciate what they’ve done all season long and for the last four years,” Coach Shorter said of his seniors. “They’ve been fabulous. They’re a terrific group of kids…very respectful, very classy and just great kids. And I got to be with my daughter for two more hours every day. So, no regrets.”
Carl Junction was in the Final Four for the fourth time in seven years. The Bulldogs also finished second in 2018.
“I can’t even explain how amazing this team is,” Hali Shorter said. “We really love each other. I think we’re crying right now because we lost, but also because it’s over. We’re going to miss seeing each other every day in practice and we’re going to miss spending time with each other on the bus. We’re upset because of how awesome this season has been.”
LOW-SCORING FIRST HALF
Carl Junction’s Kylie Scott (10) looks for a shot during the Class 5 Show-Me Showdown state championship game against Lutheran St. Charles, Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield.
The first quarter was deadlocked at four, with junior forward Kylie Scott scoring Carl Junction’s first two buckets inside.
Carl Junction’s Burk buried a 3-pointer from the right wing to give the Bulldogs a 7-4 advantage heading into the second period.
Also of note, Buerge picked up two fouls in the first period and had to go to the bench.
The Cougars started the second quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 9-7 lead, but the Bulldogs responded with four straight points, as Buerge scored in transition and Burk converted a steal into a layup.
The game was tied at 13 late in the first half when Buerge connected on a pair of free throws to give the Bulldogs a two-point cushion at intermission, 15-13.
Overall, the first half could be described as a defensive struggle, as neither team shot particularly well in the first 16 minutes.
Carl Junction went 5-for-18 from the field (28 percent) and Lutheran made just 6-of-24 attempts (25 percent), including 1-of-11 from beyond the arc.
SECOND HALF SURGES, WILD FINISH
Carl Junction’s Dezi Williams (1) looks to score against Lutheran St. Charles on Saturday at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield.
After six straight points from Buerge, the Bulldogs were up 22-18 in the third period.
But the Pittsburg State signee picked up her third and fourth fouls in a short span and went to the bench with 4:46 remaining in the third quarter.
Scott knocked down a 3-pointer from the right wing to put the Bulldogs up seven at 25-18, their biggest lead.
But the Bulldogs wouldn’t score again in the third period, as they struggled with empty possessions.
On the other end, the Cougars finished the third period on a game-changing 10-0 run to take a 28-25 lead into the final frame. Freshman guard Kyrii Franklin scored all 10 points during the spurt.
The Cougars held a six-point lead, 39-33, with 1:30 left in the game, but the Bulldogs weren’t done.
Sophomore Dezi Williams scored inside after a nice feed from Buerge, Williams grabbed a steal on the full-court press and Buerge made two free throws. Next, Buerge scored on a strong drive through the lane to tie the game at 39 with 40 seconds left on the clock.
“Destiny came back in and got a couple of buckets and she really opens things up for our other kids,” Coach Shorter noted.
Lutheran’s Stowers got free for her go-ahead layup before Buerge fouled out when she was whistled for pushing off near the top of the key with 25 seconds remaining.
With that, CJ’s floor general and leading scorer was done for the night. It was an unpopular call to the CJ faithful.
“In a game that physical, that call was a tough one to swallow,” Coach Shorter said. “It was tough. I thought we saw an arm extend the very next time down from them. Destiny is quite a player. You hate for it to come down to something like that. Again, one play didn’t decide the game. But that call certainly changed things. It was frustrating. But that’s not the reason we lost. We missed shots. And they did more than we did.”
With Lutheran clinging to a two-point lead, both teams had empty possessions down the stretch before the Cougars hit their game-sealing charities in the final seconds.
“We had the mindset the whole game that we could win,” Burk said. “The other team wanted it just as bad as we did. But we put our hearts into it tonight.”
In the end, the Cougars were the team celebrating and the Bulldogs were the team left in tears.
“We didn’t have our best game offensively, but we made the plays down the stretch…the hustle plays, the rebounds…to get the win,” Lutheran St. Charles coach Erin Luttschwager said. “Championships are not supposed to be easy. Shots weren’t falling, but we kept focusing on the defensive end and that helped build our confidence. We were doing our job on the defensive end.”
Carl Junction’s Klohe Burk (2) moves the ball during the Class 5 Show-Me Showdown state championship game against Lutheran St. Charles, Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield.
NAMES & NUMBERS
Carl Junction made 13-of-40 field goal attempts (32.5 percent), including just 2-for-15 on 3-pointers (13 percent).
“That was a tough game, and it was a tough weekend scoring for us,” Coach Shorter said. “A lot of that had to do with the defense of our opponents and sometimes we just missed shots.”
The Bulldogs went 11-for-18 at the charity stripe.
The program’s all-time leading scorer who had been battling an illness, Buerge compiled 18 points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes of action before fouling out in the finale of her stellar prep career.
The 6-foot-3 Scott recorded another double-double with 12 rebounds and 11 points. She also blocked three shots.
Williams contributed six points and Burk added five points.
The Cougars went 17-for-47 on field goal attempts (36 percent), with 3-for-19 from long distance (16 percent). Lutheran (27-5) had a slight advantage in rebounds, 35-29.
Six-foot-2 senior forward Megan Aulbert scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Cougars, while Franklin added 10 points and eight boards. Sophomore guard Chloe Reed contributed nine points.
In the Class 5 third-place game, West Plains edged Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) 42-38.
Carl Junction reacts to falling short in the Class 5 Show-Me Showdown state championship game against Lutheran St. Charles, Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield. Carl Junction finished the season with a record of 30-2 and is the Class 5 runner-up. All photos by Michael Gulledge/Special to SoMo Sports.
The numbers are definitely up for the Carl Junction boys tennis program and first-year head coach Craig Fox heading into the 2023 season.
The Bulldogs have tripled their roster size from last season.
“We went from eight players with no seniors or freshmen to 24 players this year, so there is a lot of excitement for the season,” Fox said. “Most have never played tennis before, so it will be a season of learning, but we are looking forward to improving our tennis skills and building toward the future.”
The Bulldogs’ returning players are juniors Blaine Wilkerson, Dan Hodson, Jayden Wolf, Sam Cory and Mayan Gandhi and seniors Ben Morey, Will Russell and Cameron Ball, while their newcomers are senior Keaton Amos, freshman Cameron Anderson, junior Luke Battagler, freshman Seth Brown, freshman Ethan Conklin, senior Brock Feken, freshman Joshua Frakes, sophomore Jake Garrett, senior Ethan Hughes, junior Jack Lawson, senior Jordan Markham, senior Elliott Parker, freshman Daniel Rice, freshman Alexz Schneickert, senior Rowan Stamper and freshman Hayden Wilkerson.
“Our strength will be in numbers and growing our program from the ground up,” Fox said. “It will take time, but the future looks bright for the Carl Junction boys tennis program. Blaine Wilkerson, Dan Hodson, Ben Morey and Jordan Markham have been having a strong preseason so hopefully that will translate to a solid start to our regular season. We also have a couple freshmen that show great potential.
“Lack of experience is certainly a concern. Those who are returning are also young tennis players but have a lot of skill and show great leadership. We will struggle through growing pains but will be better for it. Through perseverance, we will be much stronger as the season progresses.”
Not only do some of the younger players have the chance to crack the varsity lineup, but so do some of the upperclassmen.
“The other boys who played last year, Will Russell, Jayden Wolf, Cameron Ball, Sam Cory and Mayan Gandhi have an opportunity to play varsity this year so it will be exciting to see who steps up and grabs those positions,” Fox said. “Their experience will certainly help them in our preseason competitions.”
The Bulldogs finished 2-10 overall in dual competition the past two seasons and last season ended on a 5-0 loss against Webb City in Class 2 District 7 competition.
Carl Junction, who practice and play home matches at the Joplin Athletic Complex, opens the new season March 29 against Thomas Jefferson.
The Bulldogs’ other home duals are Carthage (April 4), Willard (April 6), Neosho (April 11), Republic (April 20), and Ozark (April 25), while the Bulldogs play on the road against Clever (April 10), Branson (April 13), Webb City (April 18), Nixa (April 27), and then Joplin (May 2) to close out the regular season.
Conference, districts (both team and individual), and possibly state competition begin in early May following the dual against Joplin.
SEDALIA, Mo. — The Carl Junction Bulldogs are heading back to the Final Four.
Carl Junction started fast and held on late for a hard-fought 55-51 victory over Lincoln College Prep on Saturday afternoon in a quarterfinal contest of the MSHSAA Class 5 state girls basketball tournament at State Fair Community College.
“I didn’t think we played particularly well throughout the entire game, but we got off to a great start and that proved to be the difference,” Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter told SoMo Sports. “It was a good game for us. Our kids had to be protective and strong with the ball because Lincoln Prep was extremely physical. Our kids withstood Lincoln Prep’s physical play and did a great job. That team was really good. So a tip of the hat to our kids. They played really well and did some nice things today.”
Riding a 24-game winning streak and now 29-1 on the season, Carl Junction will meet Cape Girardeau Notre Dame (23-5) in the Class 5 semifinals at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 17 at the Hammons Student Center on the campus of Missouri State University.
Carl Junction is headed to the Final Four for the fourth time in seven years.
The Bulldogs finished fourth in 2017 and were the runner-up in ’18. Of course, the Bulldogs advanced to the semifinals in 2020 before the tourney was canceled due to the pandemic. Carl Junction fell one win short of the semifinals last year.
“It feels great to be going back to the Final Four,” Shorter said. “Our kids still have a sour taste in their mouths from not getting to play in the Final Four in 2020 and then from getting knocked out last year by West Plains. We’ll continue to work hard and hopefully progress. Hopefully good things will happen for us next weekend.”
Also of note, 29 wins is a school record for the Carl Junction girls basketball program.
QUARTERFINAL RECAP
The Bulldogs got off to a great start, leading 10-1 after seven points on three field goals from senior guard Destiny Buerge and three free throws from junior forward Kylie Scott.
Dezi Williams, Hali Shorter and Scott all recorded baskets late in the first quarter, and the Bulldogs held a 21-8 lead.
Lincoln hit a 3-pointer late in the opening frame to pull within 10 at 21-11.
The 6-3 Scott picked up her third foul early in the second quarter and had to go to the bench for the rest of the half.
Lincoln College Prep started the second period on a 9-0 run to pull within one. The remainder of the first half was close, with Carl Junction taking a 29-26 advantage into the break.
After being down 10 at the end of the first quarter, the Blue Tigers outscored the Bulldogs 15-8 in the second period.
A back and forth third quarter ended with Carl Junction clinging to a 39-37 lead.
But the Bulldogs began the final frame on an 8-2 surge to pull away for good at 47-39.
Klohe Burk started the period by making 1-of-2 free throws before Buerge scored CJ’s next seven points. Buerge hit a trey in transition, scored on a strong drive through the lane and converted a hoop after a post-up in the paint.
“That was huge,” Shorter said. “Every possession counts. Getting our kids to understand that is something we as coaches are constantly working on. It’s a possession game throughout the game. When it’s late in the year and you’re really playing for something, every possession is important. It was huge to stretch out the lead just a little bit and it made it just a big tougher for them (Lincoln).”
Scott fouled out near the four-minute mark, but the Bulldogs never relinquished their lead in the final frame.
Carl Junction outscored Lincoln 16-14 in the fourth period to secure the season-saving win.
“They beat us in the second and third quarters and they almost got us in the fourth, so that quick start was good for us,” Coach Shorter said. “Obviously, Kylie getting in foul trouble didn’t help. You could really see the difference when she was off the floor because they were able to make their runs.”
Buerge scored 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Carl Junction, while Scott scored nine points and had nine rebounds before fouling out.
A sophomore, Williams added eight points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Also for the Bulldogs, Jadyn Howard had four points and Hali Shorter and Burk contributed three points apiece.
Senior guard Ramyiah Logan led the Blue Tigers with 29 points. Lincoln College Prep ends the season with a record of 17-10.
NOTES: Notre Dame defeated John Burroughs 46-35 in their quarterfinal.
The second semifinal will feature Lutheran St. Charles (25-5) vs. defending state champion West Plains (23-7).
The Class 5 title game is scheduled for 8 p.m. on March 18. The third-place game is slated for noon on March 18.
WEBB CITY, Mo. — In more ways than one, the number eight is suddenly quite meaningful for the Carl Junction High School girls basketball team.
For starters, top-seeded Carl Junction captured the program’s eighth straight district championship by beating second-seeded Webb City 67-42 on Tuesday night in the title game of the Class 5 District 7 tournament inside a packed Cardinal Dome.
The number eight is significant for another reason, as the Bulldogs are now one of the final eight teams still playing in Class 5.
“It feels good to keep the streak going,” Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter said. “Our kids believed. I thought we did a good job of limiting their opportunities. They usually got one shot and that was it. It’s all about rebounding and defense. When we do those two things well, we’re pretty tough to beat.”
Carl Junction’s seniors have contributed to four straight district titles.
“This is very exciting,” Carl Junction senior guard Destiny Buerge said moments after scoring 36 points. “We’ve won four district championships in the four years I’ve been playing high school basketball. It’s the best. It means a lot to keep the streak going. It shows how much work we’ve put in.”
The district title streak started in 2016.
“Those first district championships started a long time ago and I got to be a part of those on the bench,” Carl Junction senior guard Hali Shorter said. “We used to be little kids in the stands, so to be a part of this now means a lot to us. We wanted to keep the tradition going.”
After building an 11-point lead by intermission, the Bulldogs scored the first 11 points of the third period to put the game away.
“That was huge for us,” Coach Shorter said of the third quarter surge. “I think that proved to be the difference in the game.”
Carl Junction senior guards Klohe Burk (2) and Hali Shorter (15) look to trap Webb City’s Kirra Long during Tuesday’s district title game inside the Cardinal Dome. Photo by Derek Livingston.
NAMES & NUMBERS
Ranked first in Class 5 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, Carl Junction improved to 28-1 with a 23rd straight victory.
Buerge made 12-of-24 field goal attempts and 10-of-14 free throws to finish with a game-high 36 points. Buerge, a Pittsburg State recruit, also compiled 12 rebounds and four assists.
Senior guard Klohe Burk had 12 points, making a trio of 3-pointers to go with three steals.
Junior forward Kylie Scott scored seven points and handed out four assists, while freshman Jadyn Howard had five points, sophomore Dezi Williams added four points and Hali Shorter contributed three points, two assists and two steals.
“I thought Jadyn Howard and Anna Burch did a great job off the bench with Kylie (Scott) got into a little foul trouble,” Coach Shorter noted. “They played huge for us. Obviously, Destiny and Klohe were tough for us. They did some great things.”
The Bulldogs shot 41 percent (24-of-58), including 6-of-21 from 3-point range (29 percent). Carl Junction went just 13-of-27 at the charity stripe.
Carl Junction senior guard Hali Shorter knocks down a 3-pointer against Webb City’s Izzy Lopez during Tuesday’s Class 5 District 7 title game. Photo by Derek Livingston.
Carl Junction’s suffocating zone defense limited the Cardinals to 35 percent shooting (17-of-49). Webb City made just 5-of-25 attempts from beyond the arc (20 percent). The Cardinals also left quite a few points out there by going 3-for-11 at the foul line.
Webb City had 18 turnovers to Carl Junction’s seven.
Webb City’s game plan was no secret, as the Cardinals looked to work inside-out by pounding the ball inside to 6-foot-5 sophomore center Sami Mancini for hoops in the paint or kick-outs to the team’s perimeter shooters.
Mancini finished with 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting to go along with 19 rebounds. But no one else for Webb City scored more than six points.
“She’s such a presence inside and she’s going to get her points,” Coach Shorter said of Mancini. “She’s a great player. I thought we did a good job on her when we were at full-strength.”
After Mancini’s 23 points, junior point guard Mia Robbins scored six, junior guard Malorie Stanley and sophomore guard Kirra Long each scored five and senior guard Izzy Lopez had three.
Senior guard Kate Brownfield handed out five assists and grabbed four boards.
Webb City concludes the season with a record of 18-11. The 18 wins are the most for the program since 2014.
Brownfield and Lopez played their final game for the Cardinals, who were attempting to win a district title for the first time since 2014.
“I’m proud of our girls and I’m proud of the progress we made this year,” Webb City coach Lance Robbins said. “I think our program is headed in the right direction. We’ve raised the bar. We’re going to miss our two seniors. Kate and Izzy did a great job and they’re great leaders. I’m confident our team will work hard to get better and hopefully we’ll find ourselves playing for a district title next year.”
GAME RECAP
When these two teams met at the end of the regular season, Carl Junction held on late for a three-point win. There was no suspense in the final minutes this time around.
Faced with a win or go home scenario, and playing in an electric environment, Carl Junction led 15-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Webb City senior guard Izzy Lopez handles the ball against the pressure of Carl Junction’s Klohe Burk on Tuesday night. Carl Junction won the game 67-42.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 28-15 after treys from Shorter, Buerge and Burk and a hoop inside from Howard.
The Cardinals trimmed their deficit to eight after two hoops in the paint from Mancini and another from Stanley.
Led by Buerge’s 16 first half points, Carl Junction held a 32-21 lead at halftime.
After the break, the Bulldogs put together their game-changing 11-0 run to pull away for good. A 3-pointer from the top of the key from Burk capped the spurt and made it 43-21.
Webb City responded with nine straight points, but the tourney hosts trailed 47-30 entering the fourth quarter.
Free throws from Scott and Buerge, followed by a layup from Buerge after a Webb City turnover gave CJ a comfortable 52-32 lead with six minutes to play.
Webb City’s only lead of the night came at 2-0.
“We didn’t get off to a very good start offensively,” Coach Robbins said. “Defensively, we missed some assignments early in the game and that gave them some open looks that they knocked down. I thought Carl Junction was playing with more confidence than we were early in the game. We were able to keep it close in the first half, but Destiny kind of took over in the third quarter. We didn’t have an answer for her. Carl Junction is a good basketball team, and when Destiny is playing like that, and their role players can shoot it like they did tonight, they’re tough to beat.”
Carl Junction’s Dezi Williams and Webb City’s Mia Robbins are pictured during Tuesday’s district championship game inside the Cardinal Dome. Photos by Derek Livingston.
PACKED DOME
Webb City’s Cardinal Dome was packed on Tuesday night, making for a great atmosphere for the district title game.
“It was a fantastic environment for the girls,” Coach Robbins said. “It was a packed house and that’s great for girls basketball in Southwest Missouri.”
“It was an awesome atmosphere tonight,” Hali Shorter said. “I’ll remember this atmosphere for a long time. It was awesome.”
“It might have been the best environment we’ve played in,” Buerge said. “That might have been the best student section we’ve ever had. I’m glad they showed up for this game.”
“It was great in here tonight,” Coach Shorter added. “It was two teams getting after each other.”
ELITE EIGHT
Carl Junction advances to the quarterfinals of the Class 5 state tournament and will play District 8 champion Lincoln College Prep (17-9) at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday at State Fair Community College in Sedalia.
“We’re starting to figure some things out and we want to peak at the right time,” Coach Shorter said. “We hope that’s coming at some point.”
“We have to keep pushing game by game,” Buerge added. “We just have to keep working hard in the gym.”
DISTRICT TITLE STREAK
Since falling to McDonald County in the district title game in 2015, Carl Junction’s girls basketball program has now won eight consecutive district championships.
Below is a look back at Carl Junction’s title streak.
Carl Junction’s recent district championships
2016 — Carl Junction 52, Carthage 46
2017 — Carl Junction 57, Cassville 26
2018 — Carl Junction 51, Webb City 37
2019 — Carl Junction 42, Webb City 14
2020 — Carl Junction 72, Webb City 32
2021 — Carl Junction 55, Webb City 52
2022 — Carl Junction 65, Willard 60
2023 — Carl Junction 67, Webb City 42
Carl Junction senior guard Destiny Buerge looks to score in the lane against the Webb City Cardinals, including Sami Mancini. Buerge scored 36 points in her team’s 67-42 victory. All photos by Derek Livingston/SoMo Sports.
Webb City sophomore center Sami Mancini puts up a shot in the lane against Carl Junction’s Kylie Scott and Dezi Williams.
Destiny Buerge scores inside against Webb City on Tuesday night inside the packed Cardinal Dome.
Carl Junction senior Destiny Buerge, with her fellow seniors Allie Wrestler, Klohe Burk and Hali Shorter behind her, accepts the district title plaque from Webb City High School Assistant Principal Jeff Wilkie on Tuesday night.
The Carl Junction Bulldogs pose with the district championship plaque on Tuesday night. It’s Carl Junction’s eighth straight district championship. Photos by Derek Livingston.
(1) Carl Junction (27-1) vs. (2) Webb City (18-10)
When: Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Where: Webb City’s Cardinal Dome
THE CARL JUNCTION BULLDOGS
Brad Shorter’s Carl Junction Bulldogs are looking to secure the program’s eighth straight district championship. This is their ninth straight appearance in a district title game.
Ranked first in Class 5 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, Carl Junction is on a 22-game winning streak. Their lone loss came to Sapulpa (Okla.) on Dec. 10 at the Fort Smith (Ark.) Tournament of Champions.
Carl Junction went undefeated in the always-tough Central Ozark Conference this season.
The Bulldogs beat Ruskin and Grandview in their first two district games to earn a spot in Tuesday’s title game.
Carl Junction is scoring 64 points per game and allowing 44.
The Bulldogs will likely go with a starting lineup of seniors Destiny Buerge, Hali Shorter and Klohe Burk, junior Kylie Scott and sophomore Dezi Williams.
Buerge, a Pittsburg State recruit, is Carl Junction’s all-time leading scorer. Buerge poured in 31 points in the district semifinals.
THE WEBB CITY CARDINALS
Webb City’s 18 wins are the most for the program since 2014.
The Cardinals won five conference games this season, the most for the program in nearly a decade.
Lance Robbins’ Webb City squad knocked off Belton and Bolivar in district play to advance to the title game.
The Cardinals are averaging 48 points per game while giving up 44 per contest.
Webb City’s probable starting lineup features seniors Kate Brownfield and Izzy Lopez, junior Mia Robbins and sophomores Kirra Long and Sami Mancini.
The 6-5 Mancini is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. Mancini scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the district semifinals.
Webb City is looking to win a district championship for the first time since 2014. That Webb City squad was coached by Shorter and featured Mikaela Burgess and Desirea Buerge.
THIS ‘N THAT
Carl Junction owns wins over three teams that defeated Webb City this season—Republic, Nixa and Ozark.
The regular season meeting between the rivals was close throughout, with Carl Junction pulling out a 56-53 win on Feb. 20.
These two teams also met in district title games in four straight seasons from 2018-21. Carl Junction beat Willard in last year’s district title game.
Expect a great environment for a high school basketball game on Tuesday night in the Cardinal Dome, as both communities have shown great support for these teams this season.
MOVING ON
The District 7 champion advances to the quarterfinals of the Class 5 state tournament and will play the District 8 champion (Lincoln College Prep or Platte County) at 1:45 p.m. on March 11 at State Fair Community College in Sedalia.
BELTON, Mo. — Second-seeded Webb City took control early on the way to a 56-37 victory over seventh-seeded Carl Junction on Wednesday in a quarterfinal contest of the Class 5 District 7 tournament at Belton High School.
Webb City (17-10) will meet third-seeded Ruskin (18-8) at 7 on Friday night in the semifinals.
The Cardinals led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, with senior forward Alex Martin scoring eight in the opening frame.
In the second quarter, Webb City pulled away for a 26-12 lead after hoops from Eli Pace, Barron Duda and Martin.
At the half, the Cardinals held a 30-14 advantage. Webb City made 13 field goals in the first half to Carl Junction’s six.
The Cardinals extended their lead past 20 at 37-16 early in the third period after a trey from senior guard Joe Adams.
Webb City senior Alex Martin scored 22 points to lead the Cardinals past the Carl Junction Bulldogs on Wednesday in Class 5 District 7 play. Photo by Darris Strickland.
By the end of the third quarter, Webb City held a comfortable 43-26 advantage.
The Bulldogs pulled within 14 at 49-35 with just under three minutes to play after a 3-pointer from freshman guard Cooper Vediz, but the Cardinals never relinquished their lead in the fourth quarter.
Martin paced Webb City with 22 points and nine rebounds. The 6-5 Martin, a Fort Scott Community College recruit, made 11-of-14 field goal attempts.
Sophomore guard Holton Keith compiled eight rebounds, eight assists and six points, while junior guard Barron Duda added 10 points and seven boards.
Webb City shot 46 percent from the floor, making 25-of-54 field goal attempts.
The Bulldogs shot 28 percent (15-of-54).
Ayden Bard scored 14 points and grabbed nine boards to lead Carl Junction, while Lucas Vanlanduit and Vediz added 10 points apiece.
Carl Junction ends the season with a record of 8-19.
The team’s seniors are Bard, Vanlanduit, Ky Warren, Xavier Perkins, Braxton Dodds, Luke Jones and Nathan Planchon.
Carl Junction’s Xavier Perkins shoots a jumper against Webb City on Wednesday night at Belton High School. Photos by Darris Strickland.
Webb City junior guard Barron Duda hoists a 3-pointer against Carl Junction on Wednesday night. The Cardinals beat the Bulldogs in the district quarterfinals.
Carl Junction freshman guard Cooper Vediz shoots a 3-pointer over Webb City sophomore Eli Pace on Wednesday night in Belton. Webb City beat Carl Junction 56-37 in district tournament play. Photos by Darris Strickland.
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The McDonald County Mustangs, the Carl Junction Bulldogs and the Neosho Wildcats all finished in the top 10 of the team standings as the 2023 MSHSAA Boys Wrestling Championships wrapped up on Saturday night at Mizzou Arena.
McDonald County and Carl Junction finished in fifth and sixth in Class 3 with 88 and 83 points, respectively, while Neosho finished seventh in Class 4 with 77 points.
McDonald County juniors Samuel Murphy (215 pounds) and Jayce Hitt (285) each won state titles at their respective weights Saturday night.
Murphy (44-1) defeated Branson’s Cade Grimm on a 6-1 sudden victory for the state title one week after Murphy defeated Grimm with a sudden victory for the district crown. Earlier in the semifinals Saturday, Murphy won a 3-2 ultimate tie-breaker against Willard’s Alex Nunez.
Hitt (26-0) pinned DeSoto’s Isaac Foeller in 1 minute and 42 seconds in the championship match and won 7-3 against Grandview’s Derek Joiner in the semifinals.
McDonald County seniors Blaine Ortiz (138) and Colter Vick (175) closed out their prep careers with state medals, Ortiz finishing third and Vick sixth.
Ortiz (43-7) rebounded with two victories after losing 3-0 in the semifinals against Whitfield’s A.J. Rallo, winning a 6-1 sudden victory against Bolivar’s Cooper Moore for third and a 6-4 decision against Jefferson City’s Braden Werdehausen in the consolation semis.
Vick (35-14) lost 5-0 against Willard’s Jase Motlagh in his final high school match.
Carl Junction will return home with five state medalists, including two state runners-up in junior Sam Melton (120) and sophomore Tony Stewart (165).
Melton (43-6) lost 7-0 against North Point’s Kaden Purler in the championship match, while Stewart (41-12) lost by pinfall against Hillsboro’s Griffin Ray in his title match.
Carl Junction’s Carter Foglesong (41-6) and Lukas Walker (46-3) placed fourth at 106 and 113 and Cayden Bolinger (31-15) finished sixth at 285.
Webb City’s lone state qualifier, junior Colt Taylor, lost both his matches at 132 on Friday and finished his season 28-19 overall.
In Class 4, Neosho earned four state medals with Carter Howard (138) and Eli Zar (165) taking second, Nico Olivares (285) fourth, and Collyn Kivett (157) fifth.
Howard lost by pinfall against Liberty’s Christopher Coates, now a three-time state champion, in the championship match and finished his freshman season 21-6 overall.
Zar (48-3) closed out his outstanding high school wrestling career with a 7-2 tie-breaker loss against Francis Howell Central’s Aidan Hernandez.
Olivares and Kivett finished their senior seasons 36-6 and 38-9 overall, respectively.
Carthage finished 18th overall in Class 4 with 34 points and the Tigers bring home three state medals with Davion King (30-4) in fourth at 165 and Bradyn Tate (48-8) and Grey Petticrew (32-12) both in sixth at 132 and 150.
King’s two losses at state came against Grain Valley’s Tanner Barker and Tate and Petticrew also had opponents who beat them twice at state in Oak Park’s Jamison Tunstill for Tate and Poplar Bluff’s Lucas Robertson for Petticrew.
Joplin’s lone state qualifier, Draven VanGilder (215), rebounded from semifinal and consolation semifinal losses to win a 5-4 decision against Staley’s Jack Stoffel for fifth and to finish his senior year on a winning note and with a 29-10 overall record his last season.
On the girls side, Joplin’s Erika Washom (31-12) finished 2-2 overall at state in her Class 2 135 weight class. She pinned St. Joseph Central’s Ashley Slade and Park Hill’s Rylin Beatty in her first two consolation matches, but Joplin’s first girls wrestling state qualifier finished her junior season 31-12 with a loss in the third consolation round.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Neosho Wildcats achieved their most overall wins in a season since 2003 with 18 and their most ever wins in Central Ozark Conference play with five, by coming into hostile territory and spoiling the Senior Night festivities with a 64-47 victory over the host Carl Junction Bulldogs on Tuesday night.
Carl Junction’s Ayden Bard pulls up for a jumper in the Bulldogs’ loss to Neosho on Tuesday. Photo by Sloan Uebinger.
Neosho trailed just once when Carl Junction senior Ayden Bard opened the scoring early on and the Wildcats already built a 16-4 lead late in the first from a pair of 8-0 scoring runs.
The Wildcats led 16-7 after one, 32-19 at halftime, and 52-32 after three quarters.
Neosho senior Kael Smith alone proved responsible for all eight points in the first 8-0 spurt and finished with all 14 of his points in the first half.
Fellow senior Isaiah Green scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the second half and his last point Tuesday extended Neosho’s lead to 62-38 with nearly four minutes remaining in regulation.
“Kael played great,” Neosho coach Zane Culp said. “He just put us on his back and took care of business that whole first quarter. Isaiah just does what he does. We know that he’s going to reach that 16-point mark every night, whether it’s free throws or whatever it is he has to do, he just does it.
“We’re playing so well right now. We feel like we were the favorite in this game and just took care of business. That’s always fun.”
Carter Baslee added 10 points, Jared Siler seven, Carter Fenske six, Michael Day three, Tyrone Harris two, and Brock Franklin one point for the Wildcats (18-5 overall, 5-1 COC).
Neosho’s Isaiah Green absorbs contact on a drive to the hoop during the Wildcats’ win over Carl Junction on Tuesday. Photo by Sloan Uebinger.
The Wildcats are 8-1 overall, including their 5-1 start in conference play, since their 44-38 comeback win over Carl Junction in the Kaminsky Classic in early January.
“We’ve had only one loss since then and that was a hard-fought one (77-69) against Joplin,” Culp said. “It was the turning point in our season. We played Francis Howell and didn’t play well at all, lost to William Chrisman in overtime, and we realized those are the teams that we want to be competing against. We dug in and have taken care of business since then.”
Neosho returns to action Friday on the road against Republic, one of two 20-win teams faces during the last three games of the regular season.
Bard led Carl Junction (8-16, 1-6) with 13 points, while Xavier Perkins added seven, Jett Hocut and Ky Warren six each, Cooper Vediz five, Braxton Dodds four, and Wyatt McAfee, Brody Pant, and Shea Perkins had two points each for the Bulldogs, who are back on the court Thursday on the road against Ozark.
Bulldog seniors Bard, Dodds, Luke Jones, Xavier Perkins, Lucas Vanlanduit, and Warren were honored before the game Tuesday.
CARL JUNCTION GIRLS 74, NEOSHO 31
The Carl Junction Bulldogs improved to 23-1 overall and 7-0 in the Central Ozark Conference after their commanding win over the visiting Neosho Wildcats on Tuesday night.
Carl Junction’s Kylie Scott scores in the paint during the Bulldogs’ win over Neosho on Tuesday. Photo by Sloan Uebinger.
Carl Junction’s girls, winners of 18 straight games overall and ranked first in Class 5 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, trailed just once early on at 4-2 and the Bulldogs never looked back as they outscored Neosho 16-2 the rest of the first quarter on their way to a 18-6 lead after one.
The Bulldogs then ended the first half on an 11-0 run and entered the lockers with a 39-12 halftime lead, then they continued their scoring run in the second half with eight more unanswered points for a 47-12 lead.
Carl Junction entered the fourth ahead 65-24, behind a 47-18 advantage in the second and third quarters.
“I thought our kids did a solid job defensively pressuring the basketball and making looks inside tough for them,” Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter said. “You hate to see kids injured like they’ve got multiple injuries that have forced them into setbacks. I’m proud of our kids. We moved the ball well tonight. We got some good flow and rhythm offensively. Just proud of them and our effort.”
Destiny Buerge finished with a game-high 24 points to pace the Bulldogs, who surpassed 70 points for the fourth straight game, all conference games.
Kylie Scott added 15 points, Dezi Williams 14, and Klohe Burk had 11 points to complete the quartet in double figures, while Jadyn Howard scored four points, Hali Shorter three, Anna Burch two, and DeShaye Buerge one.
Carl Junction seniors Destiny Buerge, Burk, Shorter, and Allie Wrestler were honored between the girls and boys varsity games.
“I don’t know how many wins these seniors have been a part of, but it’s a lot,” Coach Shorter said. “They started as freshmen and we were 28-0, Destiny was a huge part of that and some of those others got a little bit of time. Wins aside, they’re great kids, they’ve grown up to be great young ladies, and they’re going to be successful at whatever they choose to do, whether it’s on the basketball court or in college or trade. We’re going to miss them.
Neosho’s Jazmyn Washington lets go of a jumper during the Wildcats’ game with Carl Junction on Tuesday. Photo by Sloan Uebinger.
“It’s been a treat to coach Hal. She’s been my water girl since she could sit on the bench. That makes it tough to lose her because she’s such an intelligent player and she’s not some prolific scorer or some outstanding athlete, but she gets the job done and she does a lot of the little things … a lot of it is coaching on the floor and she’s a great teammate, one of the most unselfish, most selfless individuals I know. She’s terrific and I’m going to miss her.
“Destiny is a scoring machine. She has matured so much over the four years, and she’s become more of a great team player that we can utilize when needed. She’s always willing to take on a challenge.
“Klohe has been a fabulous addition. Just shoots it, her defense is unbelievable, and she can put teams at a disadvantage immediately with her speed and quickness.
“Allie didn’t come out last year and we talked her into coming back out this year. Just a great kid and can give us quality minutes off the bench. That’s big for us moving forward.
“Hopefully, we can continue playing and get a few more games out of them.”
The Bulldogs are 92-18 overall so far during the past four seasons.
Carl Junction returns to the court Thursday on the road against Ozark.
Karlee Ellick paced Neosho on Tuesday with 10 points and the trio of Meredith Baldwin, Avyn Blair, and Jazmyn Washington each produced four points for the Wildcats (10-12 overall, 1-4 COC), who are back on the road on Thursday against Republic.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — After a close first half, Carl Junction outscored Branson 22-7 in the third quarter to pull away for good on Thursday night in Central Ozark Conference girls basketball action.
Ranked first in Class 5, Carl Junction hiked its record to 22-1 overall and 6-0 in the Central Ozark Conference.
Up 21-17 at the end of the first quarter, the Bulldogs were clinging to a 33-28 lead at intermission.
But Carl Junction dominated the third period and built a 55-35 lead heading into the final frame.
Standout senior guard Destiny Buerge scored 25 points to lead the Bulldogs, while junior forward Kylie Scott had 23 points and senior guard Klohe Burk added 12 points.
Taylor Foster paced Branson with 18 points.
The Pirates slipped to 9-10 overall and 1-3 in the COC.
Carl Junction hosts Neosho on Tuesday in the team’s final home date.
OZARK GIRLS 49, NEOSHO 42
NEOSHO, Mo. — Ozark led by three heading into the final eight minutes of action and held off Neosho for a Central Ozark Conference and district win on Thursday.
The Tigers (11-10, 4-1 COC) went into halftime up three and the lead was the same as both teams entered the fourth quarter. Ozark got the first bucket of the fourth and kept that pace down the stretch. The Tigers pushed the lead to six early in the period before the Wildcats (10-11, 1-3 COC) cut it back to three with three minutes left. Unfortunately, that would be as close as Neosho got before Ozark pushed the margin out to seven and held on to the final horn.
Ozark’s Jordyn Foley started the final periodoff with a 3-pointer from the top of the key before Karlee Ellick scored on the inside for Neosho.
Ellick earned a steal for a layup on the break by Autumn Kinnaird the other way to trim the lead back to three, 41-38, with 3:11 to left in regulation.
After a pair of free throws from Sydney Hampton, Molly Rushing earned a steal for a fast-break score with 2:15 to play to give the Tigers a 45-38 cushion and essentially put the game out of reach.
Ellick led the Wildcats in scoring with 15 points, while Meredith Baldwin and Courtney Thomason each scored seven points. Raine Harris finished with six and Kinnaird closed with five.
Neosho is at Carl Junction on Tuesday.
Ozark hosts Republic on Monday.
Webb City’s Malorie Stanley drives to the hoop against Republic’s Alex Price on Thursday night inside the Cardinal Dome. Photos by Derek Livingston.
REPUBLIC GIRLS 66, WEBB CITY 53
WEBB CITY, Mo. — The Webb City girls basketball team hung tough with Class 6 No. 3 Republic for a large part of the night, but the Tigers rode a strong third quarter to a COC win over the Cardinals on Thursday inside the Cardinal Dome.
Webb City’s Sami Mancini scores inside against Republic on Thursday night.
After a close first half, the Tigers outscored the Cardinals 23-7 in the game-changing third period to take control.
Webb City fell to 14-8 overall and 4-2 in the COC.
Sophomore post player Sami Mancini scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Webb City. On Wednesday, Mancini announced on Twitter that she’s received an offer from Vanderbilt.
Kate Brownfield added 10 points for the Cardinals, while Mia Robbins and Kirra Long added seven points apiece.
Republic improved to 19-3 and 4-1 in the conference.
Missouri State commit Kaemyn Bekemeier led Republic with 22 points and 10 rebounds. A senior guard, Bekemeier has scored more than 2,000 points during her prep career.
Lauren Chastain added 15 points for the Tigers.
Webb City took a three-point lead after Mancini’s hoop inside and Long’s trey, but the Tigers reeled off five straight points to take a 15-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Tigers began the second period on a 13-6 run to go up nine. During the surge, the Tigers were able to force the Cardinals into a number of turnovers with their full-court press.
Webb City’s Robbins hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut her team’s deficit to 28-22 at halftime.
Ignited by their pressure defense, the Tigers used a 16-2 run in the third quarter to pull away for good.
By the time the third period ended, Republic held a comfortable 51-29 lead.
The Cardinals had one last run in them. Brownfield scored eight straight points and Mancini hit the second of two foul shots, cutting Webb City’s deficit to 11 with 4:20 left.
But the Tigers wouldn’t be denied.
Webb City is at Joplin on Monday night.
NIXA GIRLS 68, CARTHAGE 37
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Nixa held a seven-point lead after the first quarter and expanded upon it over the remaining three quarters en route to a conference and district win over Carthage on Thursday.
The Eagles (16-5, 3-2 COC) outscored the Tigers (9-13, 1-5) by 14 in the second quarter to push the lead more than 20 by the intermission. Nixa held pace in the second half on the way to victory.
Sadie Conway had 13 points to lead Nixa, while Norah Clark finished with 12. Laila Grant added 10 for three players in double figures.
Carthage’s Kianna Yates led the Tigers with 17 points, including three 3-pointers. Lexa Youngblood added seven points, while Maggie Boyd and Lauren Choate each finished with five in the loss.
LEBANON, Mo. — Propelled by a barrage of 3-pointers, Carl Junction advanced to the championship game of the Lebanon I-44 Lady’s Classic Basketball Tournament by beating Lee’s Summit West 75-43 on Friday night inside Boswell Auditorium.
Ranked first in Class 5, the Bulldogs will meet tourney host Lebanon in the championship game at 3:30 on Saturday.
The Bulldogs, now 17-1, hit 15 3-pointers in the game.
Carl Junction put together a 15-2 run late in the first quarter to pull ahead for good.
During the surge, Klohe Burk made a trey, while Destiny Buerge hit a trio of 3-pointers and also converted an old-fashioned 3-point play to give her team a 23-13 lead.
The Titans scored just before the buzzer to trim their deficit to eight entering the second period.
The Bulldogs knocked down four 3-pointers in the second quarter, one apiece from Burk, Buerge, Dezi Williams and Hali Shorter, and CJ took a 39-24 halftime lead.
Carl Junction hit 10 3-pointers in the first half.
Treys from both Burk and Buerge, along with Kylie Scott’s hoop and free throw, made it 55-34 in the third quarter.
Buerge then buried 3-pointers on three straight possessions to extend CJ’s advantage to 64-34.
The Bulldogs took a comfy 68-39 lead into the fourth quarter, and there was a running clock in the final frame.
Buerge, a Pittsburg State signee, scored 32 points for the Bulldogs. Buerge made eight 3-pointers.
Burk scored 17 points and hit five treys. Scott, who missed most of the first half due to foul trouble, also reached double figures with 12 points. Williams added nine points, Shorter had three and Anna Burch chipped in two points.
Bailey Burns scored 13 points for the Class 6 Titans.
Lebanon defeated Troy Buchanan 57-47 in the other semifinal.
Todd Hafner is returning to Carl Junction to lead the high school football program and serve as the Carl Junction Junior High Athletic Director, the school district announced on Thursday.
Hafner’s earlier stints at Carl Junction include assistant football coach in 1994 and head football coach for four seasons from 1997 to 2000.
Todd Hafner
“I’m so excited to be coming back to Carl Junction,” Hafner said in a press release. “I plan to bring a renewed spirit and energy and continue building on the foundation at Carl Junction. We will work on building relationships that encourage kids to be a part of the team, to work hard, to get stronger, and get tougher.”
Hafner recently left William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he was the head football coach for 19 years. Before joining the Statesmen, Hafner served as the Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach at Emporia State University (KS), focusing on quarterbacks and running backs.
A Frontenac, Kansas native, Hafner went to Pittsburg State University, where he was a backup quarterback for the Gorillas from 1989-1993. During a medical red-shirt year, Hafner served as an assistant student coach for PSU and found his passion for coaching.
“I knew then what I wanted to do,” said Hafner.
He graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education and landed his first teaching and coaching job at Carl Junction High School.
“I am excited to see where Coach Hafner will take our football program,” said Carl Junction Athletic Director Rich Neria. “His experience developing players and building programs at the high school and college level will be an asset for Carl Junction. I’m looking forward to working with Coach Hafner again.”
Hafner will be in town next week to meet with the coaches and players and to start putting the plan in motion for the 2023 season.
“My wife, Mandy, and I are looking forward to being back in Carl Junction. We believe being active in the community is part of building a strong connection for the team,” said Hafner.
Todd and Mandy (Stillwell) have four children. Tyler and his wife, Ashley, live in North Carolina with their daughter, Nora; Emma, Austin, and Ryan will remain in Oskaloosa, attending WPU.
Coach Hafner comes from an education and coaching family. His father, Greg Hafner, had a long career as a football coach. Locally, he coached at Frontenac High School before moving into the principal and superintendent positions in Frontenac.
His stepmother, Karen Hafner, was a teacher and coach at Carl Junction High School from 1985-2006, where she was inducted into the Carl Junction Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.
Highlights of Coach Hafner’s career include:
2017-2022 – Won 100th game as collegiate head coach in 2019. Overall record (112-93-1)
2016 – Finished the season 7-4 (4-1). Ranked #23 in the NAIA football poll. Conference Champions and Conference Coach of the Year
2013-2015 – Finished back-to-back regular seasons 7-4 and ranked #19 and #23 in the NAIA (2014-15).
2012 – MSFA Mid-West League Champions 5-1 conference record. Conference champions. The team finished the regular season 9-2, competing in the NAIA national playoffs for the first time in 37 years. They ranked #13 in the final regular season poll. Hafner became the winningest coach in William Penn Football History (61).
2011 – The team finished the regular season 9-2, ranked #16 in the final regular season poll, and had a 19-3 record over the last two seasons.
2010 – Led team to first conference championship since 1976 (10-1), and finished 6-1 in the conference, and a final #12 Ranking in NAIA Coaches Poll. Named Conference Coach of the Year by peers. Named AFCA Regional Coach of the Year. Named NAIA National Coach of the Year by the Victory Sports Network. The team was named Team of the Year by Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau.
2008-2009 – Named Conference Coach of the Year in 2008. A back-to-back winning season for the first time since 1975-76. Seven wins each year.
2004-2007 – The rebuild of a decades-long slump in the William Penn Football program began. In 2005, we had the first winning season since 1976. Helped initiate the conversation for a $25M recreation/athletic facility, completed in 2010.
2003 – Defeated First Round NCAA Division II Playoffs at Emporia State University.
2002 – Mineral Water Bowl Champions – Emporia State University
ANDERSON, Mo. — For the third time in as many weeks, the Carl Junction Bulldogs will play for a tournament championship.
Ignited by fast starts to both the first and third quarters, Carl Junction rolled to a 68-44 victory over Springdale (Arkansas) on Tuesday night in the semifinals of the Lady Mustang Classic at McDonald County High School.
Carl Junction will meet Bentonville West in the tourney title game at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
It’s the third tourney championship game of the young season for Carl Junction. The Bulldogs won their own CJ Classic two weeks ago and were the runner-up at last week’s Taco Bell Tournament of Champions in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Ranked fourth in Class 5 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, Carl Junction improved to 7-1 on the season.
Just two weeks ago, Carl Junction edged Springdale 62-58 in the semifinals of the CJ Classic. The rematch was all CJ. Simply put, the Bulldogs dominated for most of the night.
Carl Junction raced out to an 18-5 lead by the end of the first period, with senior guard Destiny Buerge scoring nine in the frame.
Springdale started the second quarter on an 11-2 surge, with many of those points coming on hoops in transition.
But Carl Junction weathered the storm and closed the first half on a 13-4 spurt for a 33-20 halftime advantage.
During the late run, Kylie Scott scored six points, Klohe Burk converted an old-fashioned 3-point play and Dezi Williams and Jadyn Howard both scored baskets in the paint.
After the break, Carl Junction began the third period on a 17-0 run to blow the game open.
Buerge scored 14 points in the third period to Springdale’s nine, and Brad Shorter’s Bulldogs held a comfortable 56-29 lead by the end of the third quarter.
Carl Junction owned a 64-34 cushion in the final frame, and both coaches got their reserves plenty of time on the court late in the game.
A Pittsburg State signee, Buerge scored 25 points to lead CJ.
Scott added 14 points, while Williams had 11, Burk scored seven and Anna Burch contributed six.
Kaiya McCoy scored 13 for Springdale and Jakayla Bunch added 11.
In the other semifinal, Bentonville West beat Fort Smith Southside 56-53.
In Tuesday’s consolation semifinals, Farmington edged Gentry 60-59 and Webb City beat McDonald County 38-35.
See a related story on the Webb City-McDonald County game.
ANDERSON, Mo. — A dominant first half propelled Carl Junction to a 67-37 victory over Gentry (Arkansas) on Monday in an opening-round contest of the 2022 Lady Mustang Classic at McDonald County High School.
Carl Junction will meet Springdale (Arkansas) in the semifinals at 6:30 on Tuesday night.
Clicking on all cylinders from the start, the Bulldogs built a 19-4 advantage by the end of the first period and held a commanding 38-15 lead by intermission en route to the lopsided win.
Ranked fourth in Class 5 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, Carl Junction is now 6-1 on the season.
Carl Junction scored 14 unanswered points in the opening period, and Destiny Buerge’s buzzer-beating runner in the lane gave the Bulldogs a 19-4 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs extended their lead right away in the second period.
Treys from Hali Shorter and Buerge, hoops inside from Kylie Scott and Dezi Williams and two free throws from Klohe Burk gave Carl Junction a commanding 36-9 lead.
The Bulldogs held a comfortable 38-15 lead at intermission.
A pair of hoops from Buerge pushed CJ’s lead to 51-22 with four minutes left in the third period.
Gentry hit three unanswered 3-pointers to cut their deficit to 20, and Carl Junction held a 51-31 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs’ lead was never in jeopardy in the final frame. Buerge’s old-fashioned 3-point play made it 59-35.
A senior guard, Buerge poured in 33 points to lead Carl Junction.
Also for the Bulldogs, Burk scored nine points, while Shorter and Williams added six points apiece. Scott, who missed most of Saturday’s Tournament of Champions title game with a sore ankle, contributed five points.
Alyssa McCarty scored 20 points for the Pioneers (4-3).
Springdale overcame a nine-point halftime deficit to beat Farmington 51-47 in overtime.
Just two weeks ago, Carl Junction edged Springdale 62-58 in the semifinals of the CJ Classic. The rematch will determine who plays for the Lady Mustang Classic championship.
In Monday’s other tourney action, Fort Smith Southside defeated McDonald County 51-37 and Bentonville West topped Webb City 66-36.
McDonald County and Webb City will meet in the consolation semifinals at 5 on Tuesday night.
FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE 51, MCDONALD COUNTY 37
The game was deadlocked at halftime before Southside took control by winning the third quarter 19-5 en route to knocking off the tourney hosts.
Eight points in the paint from Megan Elwood gave McDonald County a 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Mustangs led 17-10 after a hoop from Carlie Martin and free throws from Carlee Cooper, but Southside used an 11-1 run to take a 21-18 lead.
After Mac County’s Cooper hit a game-tying trey from the top of the key, the visitors scored in the lane. But Elwood answered with a hoop inside of her own, tying the game at 23 at halftime.
The Mavericks put together a game-changing 13-2 run in the third quarter to pull ahead for good.
McDonald County’s deficit was 42-28 entering the fourth quarter, and the Mustangs were unable to rally late. McDonald County pulled within nine early in the final frame, but the Mavericks reeled off seven straight points.
A senior forward, Elwood scored 11 points to lead the Mustangs (3-4). Cooper scored eight points and hit two 3-pointers, while Anna Clarkson had seven and Martin added six.
BENTONVILLE WEST 66, WEBB CITY 36
Playing without a key performer, Webb City got down early and never recovered in this one.
The Cardinals (3-3) played without the services of 6-5 post player Sami Mancini for undisclosed reasons.
Webb City junior guard Mia Robbins scored eight points in the opening frame, but Bentonville West held a 21-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Cardinals managed only a single tally in the second quarter, a free throw from Malorie Stanley.
On the other hand, West hit seven 3-pointers in the first half and led 41-13 at halftime.
Bentonville West’s lead was 55-25 at the end of the third quarter.
Robbins scored nine points to lead the Cardinals, while Dawsyn Decker had seven. Kirra Long scored five points, Kate Brownfield and Kylee Sargent contributed four points apiece and Stanley had three.
FORT SMITH, Ark. — Destiny Buerge poured in 31 points to lead Carl Junction to a 52-47 victory over Fort Smith-Southside on Thursday in the opening round of the 2022 Taco Bell Tournament of Champions.
A senior guard, Buerge made 12 field goals, including a 3-pointer, to go along with six free throws.
Junior forward Kylie Scott added 10 points and senior guard Hali Shorter scored six on a pair of treys for the Bulldogs, who improved to 4-0.
The Bulldogs led 43-27 at the end of the third quarter.
Southside outscored Carl Junction 20-9 in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs held on for the win.
Carl Junction will meet Bergman in the semifinals at 8:30 on Friday night. Bergman beat Jones 53-45.
WEDNESDAY’S RESULT
NEVADA 47, CLINTON 41
NEVADA, Mo. — Nevada’s girls basketball team improved to 4-2 on the season with a 47-41 win over Clinton on Wednesday night inside Wynn Gymnasium.
The Tigers built a 30-23 halftime lead and were up 38-32 entering the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was even, 9-9.
Clara Swearingen scored 21 points to lead the Tigers, while Maddy Majors added 13 points. Swearingen hit five 3-pointers, while Majors connected on a trio of treys.
The Carl Junction Bulldogs won seven matches by fall on their way to a 57-18 win over Joplin on Thursday night.
Carl Junction’s Carter Foglesong (106), Lukas Walker (120), Sam Melton (126), Marcus Lopez-Durman (157), Dexter Merrell (165), Cody Berry (190) and Cayden Bollinger (285) all won their respective matches by fall.
Winning matches by fall for Joplin were Alex Short (144) and Draven VanGilder (215).
At 132 pounds, Joplin’s Andrew Burke earned a 10-7 decision over Keaton Colburn, while CJ’s Max Matthews recorded a 9-3 win over Freddy Cerrato-Martinez at 138. Joplin’s Orion Norris defeated Nevan Challenger 4-2 at 150 pounds.
CJ’s Cole Beezley (113) and Tony Stewart (175) won by forfeit.
MCDONALD COUNTY 42, SENECA 39
McDonald County edged Seneca 42-39 on Thursday night in a boys wrestling dual.
Mustangs coach Josh Factor told SoMo Sports that he believes this is McDonald County’s first ever dual win over Seneca.
Seneca’s Paxton Bruegal (106), Keatin Burleson (126), Eli Manley (132), Brady Roark (138), Trentyn Raney (144) and Andrew Manley (150) all won their matches by fall.
Seneca’s Hunter Hanes edged Robinson Yoshino 15-13 at 113 pounds. McDonald County’s Colter Vick won by fall at 190 pounds.
McDonald County’s Paden Vance (120), Levi Smith (157), Brady Bogart (165), Huxley Wardlaw (175), Samuel Murphy (215) and Jayce Hitt (285) all won their matches by forfeit.
The Mustangs also defeated Diamond 45-22.
At 144, Mac County’s Blaine Ortiz earned a tech fall, 20-4, over James LaFever. Ortiz earned his 100th career victory.
Also for the Mustangs, Smith won by fall at 157 and Vick earned a major decision, 14-2, at 175.
Eberson Perez (106), Kevin Blancas (126), Bogart, Murphy and Hitt all won by forfeit.
Diamond’s Braydon Pelt earned a tech fall, 18-2, at 113, while Connor Pelt won by fall at 120 and Alex Stevens earned an 8-4 decision over Yeison Lopez-Duenas at 132.
Diamond’s Cody Neal (150) and Brayden Clement (190) both won by major decisions.
Seneca defeated Diamond 57-12.
The Indians received pins from Bruegal, Hanes, Eli Manley, Andrew Manley, Nash Crane and Gentry Barnes. Raney defeated LaFever 8-6 at 144 and Jace Renfro won by DQ at 190.
Diamond’s Brandon Calentine won by fall at 157.
GIRLS RESULTS
McDonald County and Seneca tied 24-24 in a girls dual.
Winning matches by fall for Seneca were Louzella Graham (120), Tessa Kinslow (135) and Liberty Cornell (155). Isabella Renfro won by forfeit at 235.
Winning by forfeit for Mac County were Jaslyn Benhumea (110), Kimberly Torres-Blancas (115), Jazmynn Brewer (145) and Helen Martinez-Mazariegos (170).
McDonald County defeated Diamond 30-18.
In the lone contested bouts, Diamond’s Callie Montgomery (135) and Allison Calentine (145) won their matches by fall over Rylie Huston and Brewer.
Seneca beat Diamond 21-6.
In contested matches, Seneca’s Kinslow defeated Montgomery 12-8 and Cornell won by fall over Calentine.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — After seeing a 21-point lead nearly evaporate, the Carl Junction Bulldogs got the job done when crunch time arrived.
In a physical back and forth clash, Carl Junction held on late for a 62-58 victory over Springdale (Ark.) on Tuesday night in the semifinals of the 46th Freeman Sports Medicine CJ Classic.
“These are the kind of games we want early in the season,” Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter said. “Springdale plays so hard and they are going to win a lot of games this year. We saw two completely different brands of basketball the last two nights. Neosho has size and Springdale has quickness. We were able to handle both of them, so we feel good. We had some kids step up and tonight was a good game for us for sure.”
Carl Junction built a 21-point lead in the second half, but the host Bulldogs had to withstand Springdale’s late surge for what could be described as a hard-fought win.
Springdale cut its deficit to four late in the game, but the hosts never relinquished their lead.
“Our kids kept fighting,” Shorter said. “It could have easily went south, but they hung in there and kept fighting. We needed a game like this because it’s hard to simulate that kind of speed in practice. This game is going to be good for us later in the year.”
The tourney hosts will meet Nevada at 8:30 on Thursday night in the championship game. It’s a rematch of last year’s title game that the Bulldogs won.
In a showdown between Bulldogs, Carl Junction raced out to a 16-4 lead after a pair of hoops from senior guard Destiny Buerge. The hosts’ lead was 16-8 at the end of the first frame.
Carl Junction took a 23-13 lead after back-to-back putbacks by Kylie Scott, but Springdale forced the hosts into a number of turnovers with their full-court pressure defense, and in the process, the visitors cut their deficit down to two.
But the hosts finished the first half on an 8-0 surge, as Buerge and Scott had one bucket apiece and Dezi Williams scored twice in the paint.
Those points gave Carl Junction a 31-21 halftime advantage.
Carl Junction scored the first nine points of the second half, as Scott made a free throw, Klohe Burk and Buerge buried treys and Burk knocked down a midrange jumper for a 40-21 cushion.
The visitors stopped the run, but CJ soon held a 21-point lead at 45-24 with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Springdale didn’t quit, however, as the visiting Bulldogs reeled off 12 straight points to pull within eight.
Buerge drained a key 3-pointer to stop Springdale’s spurt, giving CJ a 49-38 lead entering the fourth period.
Carl Junction held a 57-45 lead with three minutes to play when Springdale used a 10-2 run to get within four with 45 seconds remaining.
The hosts wouldn’t be denied. Buerge sank two charities, the visitors turned the ball over and Williams made one of two attempts at the foul line to seal the win. Springdale hit a late trey for the final margin.
“It was a game of runs,” Shorter said. “And it’s November basketball, so it can be pretty ugly at times. But we’ll get there.”
Ranked third in Class 5 by the MBCA, Carl Junction improved to 2-0.
A Pittsburg State signee, the 5-foot-8 Buerge poured in 25 points to lead Carl Junction. She hit four treys, grabbed five boards and had four steals.
A 6-3 junior forward, Scott recorded a double-double with 15 points and 21 rebounds.
Burk added 11 points and Williams had nine points and four steals.
Hali Shorter handed out four assists and grabbed three rebounds.
Three players reached double figures for Springdale, as Adriana Hernandez scored 17, Charleen Hudson had 15 and Aubriana Wilson added 14.
Coach Shorter noted Springdale’s speedy guard-oriented team was not easy to defend. The visitors, who are now 4-1 on the season, hit 10 3-pointers and forced CJ into more than 20 turnovers.
“We tried to rest Destiny, but we didn’t handle the ball very well,” Coach Shorter said. “But seeing those things means we know what we need to work on. Our girls realize that.”
In the other semifinal, Nevada topped Parkview 61-55.
In Tuesday’s consolation action, Neosho pounded Mount Vernon 66-38 and McDonald County beat Seneca 51-38.
NEOSHO 66, MOUNT VERNON 38
Neosho scored the game’s first 11 points and never looked back.
The Wildcats led 20-5 at the end of the first quarter before extending their lead to 20 late in the first half at 38-18.
Up 40-24 at halftime, Neosho started the third quarter on a 14-0 run to take a 30-point lead and put the game way out of reach.
Senior post player Karlee Ellick scored 27 points on 13 field goals and a free throw to lead Neosho. The 6-2 Ellick scored 18 points in the first half.
Sophomore Beclynn Garrett added eight points and senior Maelynn Garrett had seven for the Wildcats (2-3).
Sophomore Addie Hall led the Mountaineers (1-2) with 19 points, while classmate Cheyenne Bieber added 10. Grant Berendt’s Mount Vernon squad features just one senior and no juniors.
MCDONALD COUNTY 51, SENECA 38
The Mustangs led 13-8 at the end of the opening period.
McDonald County was up 27-15 at halftime and the Mustangs held a 39-30 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Junior Anna Clarkson led the Mustangs (2-1) with 16 points and freshman Carlie Martin scored 14 points.
Sophomore Hazley Grotjohn led Seneca with 14 points, while senior Parker Long and junior Samarah Mittag added nine points apiece for the Indians (1-2).
NEVADA 61, PARKVIEW 55
The game was tied at 12 at the end of the first quarter before Nevada took a 31-24 lead into intermission.
The Tigers (2-1) led 47-39 at the end of the third quarter and they never surrendered their lead in the final frame.
Senior Abbey Heathman scored 26 points for Nevada, while junior Clara Swearingen added 22 and senior Maddy Majors chipped in 11.
Ranked fourth in Class 5 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, Carl Junction improved to 7-1 on the season.
