Wildcats turn in two-win week
The Cassville boys basketball team (9-6) turned in a two-win week ahead of this week’s Spokane tournament, the last before the conference slate sets in. The Wildcats won a thriller on the road on Jan. 10, defeating conference and district foe Seneca in double overtime, 70-68. Cassville followed up that victory with a 48-40 win at home over Barry County neighbor Southwest. This week, the Wildcats play in the 38th Annual Spokane Invitational. The No. 3 seed opened against No. 6 Blue Eye on Tuesday, with results not available by presstime. Cassville will face either No. 2 Spokane or No. 7 Bradleyville on Thursday or Friday at 7:30 p.m., depending on the result. The championship game is on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Lady ‘Cats limp into Bolivar tournament
The Cassville girls basketball team (11-5) suffered a difficult week on the road, cropping a pair of conference games ahead of the final tournament of the regular season. Cassville fell to conference and district foe Seneca on Jan. 10, 40-29, then dropped another Big 8 clash to Lamar on the road, 44-24. Against Seneca, Madison Halterman led the team with 10 points, Pazlee Burbridge aded 7, Ashlynn Bryan had 6, Marianne McCrackin put up 4 and Hailey Gautney scored 2. Against Lamar, McCrackin led wth 7, Bryan had 4, Halterman 4, Burbridge 3, Gautney and Kyler Hayward 2, and Macie Walker 1. The Lady Wildcats opened the Gary Keeling Tournament in Bolivar as the No. 6 seed and facing the host team, No. 3 Bolivar, and falling, 67-28. Cassville faced Camdenton on Tuesday, with the result not available at presstime. The squad will play again Thursday at 4 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.
Wrestlers battle against Reeds Spring, Hollister
The Cassville boys and girls wrestling teams met Reeds Spring and Hollister on the mats last week, going 4-4 against the Wolves in contested matches and sweeping the Tigers, 3-0.
Results against Reeds Spring:
113: Mason Turner (Reeds Spring) over Noah Uria (Cassville) (fall, 3:48)
120: Shane Pearson (Reeds Spring) over Jaret Hinson (Cassville) (decision, 6-2)
126: Brian Lopez (Cassville) over Miles Hodges (Reeds Spring) (fall, 0:32)
132: Brody Bekebrede (Reeds Spring) over Kaid Williams (Cassville) (fall, 2:49)
144: Colton Roark (Cassville) over Zachary `Zach` Preston (Reeds Spring) (fall, 1:00)
157: Tristan Thompson (Cassville) over Trace Haddock (Reeds Spring) (fall, 3:13)
215: Josh Lowe (Reeds Spring) over Ethan Sizemore (Cassville) (fall, 1:09)
120: Extra: Bradley Stumpff (Cassville) over Brayden Colon (Reeds Spring) (fall, 1:04)
Results against Hollister:
144: Colton Roark (Cassville) over Grant Jones (Hollister) (fall, 1:10)
157: Tristan Thompson (Cassville) over Devon Girard (Hollister) (fall, 3:20)
215: Ethan Sizemore (Cassville) over Dylan O`Rourke (Hollister) (fall, 3:32)
The Lady Wildcats had two wrestlers compete against Reeds Spring, splitting results. They are as follows:
145: Ariah Brandsma (Reeds Spring) over Saige Holman (Cassville) (fall, 1:30)
155: Rebekah Fry (Cassville) over Lindsey Keithley (Reeds Spring) (fall, 1:27)
The Wildcats hit the road this week to face Berryville (Ark.) on Thursday, and the Big 8 Boys Conference Tournament is n Friday at 4 p.m. in the Cassville High School gym. The Lady Wildcats hit the road today for the Big 8 Girls Conference Tournament in Nevada.
Trojans 2-1 on week
The Southwest boys basketball team (8-4) picked up a pair of wins last, including a district victory over Sarcoxie. The Trojans defeated the Bears on Jan. 10 at home, 71-47, then defeated Verona on the road two days later, 88-75. Southwest fell on Friday to Cassville on the road, 48-40. The Trojans play in the Spokane Tournament this week as the No. 5 seed, falling 45-39 on Monday against Reeds Spring. They will play again on Thursday at 6 p.m. against Exeter.
Lady Trojans pick up wins
The Southwest girls basketball team (6-8) earned two victories last week, one on the road and one at home, and one so far this week at home. The Lady Trojans defeated Thomas Jefferson, 64-49, on Jan. 10, then returned home to defeat School of the Ozarks, 53-38. They played Verona at home on Monday, earning a 75-39 victory. Southwest takes the No. 5 seed into the Galena Lady Bears Classic this week, facing No. 4 and host Galena at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Lady Eagles bag win over Wheaton
The Purdy girls basketball team (3-13) earned a revenge win over Wheaton last week. The Lady Eagles, who fell to the Lady Bulldogs, 61-47, in the Southwest tournament on Dec. 29, earned a win over the same Barry County foe on Jan. 9 at home, 45-38. Purdy then fell to Pierce city at home on Thursday, 52-26, then to Miller on the road, 60-22. The Lady Eagles face Crane on the road today.
Lady Bulldogs tracking a win in 2023
The new year has been unkind to the Wheaton girls basketball team (3-14) is searching for its first win of the calendar year after dropping two games last week. The Lady Bulldogs fell to Purdy on the road, 45-38, on Jan. 9, then to Thomas Jefferson at home on Thursday, 35-30. Wheaton faced Sarcoxie on Monday, with a result not available at presstime. The Lady Bulldogs are in action on the road next, facing McAuley Catholic on Tuesday.
Eagles battle through stiff competition
The Purdy boys basketball team (10-7) fell last week to a pair of teams with a combined record of 24-6. The Eagles lost to College Heights Christian at home on Jan. 10, 52-44, then to Sparta on Friday, 66-49. Purdy was on the road at Sarcoxie on Tuesday and returns home on Friday to host Verona at 6 p.m.
Exeter teams downed in four
The Exeter boys and girls basketball teams each played two games last week, coming up on the wrong end of all four. The Tigers fell to Diamond on the road, 63-31, and College Heights at home, 66-26. The Lady Tigers fell at home both games, 51-38 to McAuley Catholic and 59-19 to College Heights. The Tigers take the No. 8 seed into the Spokane tournament this week, falling 84-25 to No. 1 Ash Grove on Monday.
