Sports

A young squad is going through the grind this season in Wheaton, learning as much as they an on the floor with the hope of a significant numbers boost next year. Jessica Dermott, Wheaton girls basketball coach, said the team is in a transitional period between a large senior lass last year and large eighth-grade class this year, leaving the Lady Bulldogs (2-8) with only 7 on the roster.

Security Bank of Southwest Missouri has donated $500 to the newly established Cassville High School Pickleball Club. CHS Pickleball Club began this year and currently has nearly 20 members. The donation from Security Bank will be used to purchase T-shirts for participants as well as medals for an upcoming tournament. Front row, from left: Dixon Reid, Jacob Martinez, Kyler Hayward, Elly Ramaeker, Dulce Rivera, Lorelei Vanderhoeff, Elizabeth Butler, Kyla Bowling and Corbin Rhodes. Back row: Security Bank President Jon Horner, Simon Gates, Ashton Wheeler, Andrew Gray, Ethan Bohmke, Caleb Leach, Eli Stokes and Jackson Ray. Contributed photo

The Cassville girls basketball team (7-2) saw a five-game win streak snapped on Wednesday with a 40-36 loss to Blue Eye. The Lady Wildcats won the five prior, defeating Greenwood, 47-46 in overtime; Mt. Vernon, 44-38; Wheaton, 55-22; Sarcoxie, 36-32; and Reeds Spring, 35-18. The Lady Wildcats are playing in the Southwest Tournament this week, where they were runners-up last year. Cassville opened play Monday against Wheaton. The final game of the tournament is today.

CS Bank has made a donation that will benefit both the boys and girls basketball teams at Cassville High School. In partnership with CS Bank, the Cassville basketball teams have purchased a basketball shooting machine for athletes to use during practices. The machine acts as an automatic rebounder, instantly rebounding a made or missed shot and giving a direct return pass for another shot. Front row, from left: Cassville players Ashlynn Bryan and Marianne McCrackin; Morgan Mitchell and Marla Shore, with CS Bank; and players Macie Walker and Maci Barton. Back row: Cassville players Caleb Leach, Hernan Hernandez, Isaac Hadlow, Peter Littlefield, Ethan Lamborn, Aidan Cook and Mason Gautney.

The Purdy boys basketball team has already accomplished something this season it has never done before, at least as far back as MSHSAA records go. With a win over Wheaton on Friday, the Eagles moved to 10-2 on the season, marking the first time on record they have produced double-digit wins by the end of December.

In the 106-pound bracket at the Bentonville West Invitational Dec. 10, the winning wrestler was on the mat four times, but never for more than a minute.

A total of 13 girls wrestled in two 120-pound brackets at the Nixa Girls Invite on Dec. 12, but none were any match for the tandem of Kailey Artherton and Annie Moore.

The Exeter boys basketball team played in the Pierce City Invitational Nov. 28 through Dec. 3, falling to Marshfield in the opening round, 77-44, Verona in the consolation semifinal, 86-73, and Crane in the seventh-place game, 74-66. Nathan Tackett is pictured pulling in a rebound for the Tigers in the game against Verona.