Local hoops wrap up

All local basketball teams’ seasons ended in the last two weeks. Exeter’s boys and girls fell in the opening rounds of the Class 1, District 4 tournaments. The Tigers (4-21) were downed by Niangua, 65-34, and the Lady Tigers (0-26) fell to School of the Ozarks, 54-32. Wheaton’s teams met the same fate in Class 2, District 12. The Bulldogs (7-20) fell to College Heights, 61-40, and the Lady Bulldogs (5-22) lost to Purdy, 37-31. Purdy’s boys and girls each made the semifinals of their respective Class 2, District 12 tournaments. The Eagles (17-11) bested Miller, 56-40, but fell to College Heights, 61-59. After the Lady Eagles (5-23) defeated Wheaton, they also fell to College Heights, 62-34. For Southwest, the Lady Trojans (11-16) dropped a first-round matchup with Clever, 49-39. The Southwest boys (21-8) went the furthest of any team in the postseason, defeating Diamond, 62-45; Lamar, 72-69; and Stockton, 56-42, to win a district title. The Trojans fell to Sparta in the sectional round, 74-52.

First spring sports games set

Spring sports begin in less than two weeks, with the Cassville baseball and girls soccer teams taking the lead. The Wildcats baseball team will play in a jamboree in Clever on March 10, and the Lady Wildcats Soccer team will play in the Cassville/Monett Tournament on March 17-18. The baseball team will also host the 16th Cassville Classic on March 18. The girls soccer home opener is on March 23 against New Covenant, and the baseball home opener is on March 27 against Purdy. The boys and girls track teams kick off the season on March 23 at the McDonald County Meet. The Cassville Wildcat Relays are set for April 18.