Wildcats go 1-2 in Neosho
The Cassville boys basketball team (7-4) earned a win and fell twice in the Neosho Holiday Classic Dec. 28-30. The Wildcats fell in their opener to Neosho, 61-43, but bounced back with a 55-52 overtime win over East Newton, 55-52. The tournament finished with a 55-42 loss to Sapulpa (Okla.). Cassville returns to action Friday, traveling to Miami (Okla.). The Wildcats will be home next on Jan. 13 against Southwest.
Wheaton fourth at Southwest
The Wheaton boys basketball team (4-9) came up just short of taking third place in the Southwest Holiday Tournament on Thursday, falling to Commerce (Ark.), 55-53. Down by 4, a Bulldogs 3-pointer brought it to a single point with 37.3 seconds left in the game. After a deliberate foul, Commerce struck both free throws, and on a foul the other way, Wheaton hit 1-of-2. With 10.8 seconds left, another deliberate foul put Commerce on the line with a chance to make it a two-possession game, but both attempts clanged off the iron. The Bulldogs took the rebound and drove to the basket for the tie, but the ball ended up loose and players from both teams scrambled to force a jump ball in Wheaton’s favor with 2.7 seconds to go. The Bulldogs inbounded from the baseline, kicking out to the corner for a 3-pointer at the buzzer that bounced off both sides of the rim, but not in the basket. Wheaton returns to action Thursday, hosting Southwest at 6 p.m.
Lady Bulldogs 7th in Southwest
The Wheaton girls basketball team (2-10) finished in seventh place at the Southwest Holiday Tournament on Thursday, defeating Purdy in the last game of the tourney, 61-47. The Lady Bulldogs are back in action on Thursday, traveling to Pierce City for a 6 p.m. tip.
Southwest Girls All-Tournament team named
The Southwest Holiday Tournament Girls All-Tournament has been named, with three local athletes making the list. The girls team includes: Alyssa McCarty, Gentry (MVP) Kaitlyn Caswell, Gentry Shelby Still, Gentry Reece Hester, Gentry Marianna McCrackin, Cassville Pazlee Burbridge, Cassville Olivia Stanphill, Pierce City Keishia Delgado, Pierce City Anna Church, Southwest Kenzie Clendenning, Billings
