Sports
Scoreboard, Jan. 15
The Purdy boys basketball team (10-6) has split games to start the new year, and the win was a significant one. The Eagles bested Marionville in overtime, 80-73, on Jan.

Lady ‘Cats earn holiday hardware
It has been four years since the Cassville girls basketball team lifted the Southwest Girls Holiday Tournament trophy, and for the fourth time in the competition’s 11-year history, the Lady Wildcats are title-holders again.

Coaches reflect on tourney performances
A total of 15 teams participated in the Southwest hoops tournaments from Dec. 27-30, 2024, with one local team winning a title and another taking third.

Two grand
Southwest senior Kasen Holder reached a milestone with this off-balance layup, tallying his 1,000th and 1,001st career points with the 2-point play in the opening minutes against Gentry at the Southwest Holiday Tournament on Dec. 30, 2024.

Top 10 sports stories of 2024
The top 10 sports stories of 2024 includes Faith James' wrestling state title and Southwest repeating its boys hoops district championship.
Lady ‘Cats compete in Christmas Clash
Winchell pins way to gold medal The Cassville girls wrestling team competed Dec. 20-21 at the Lady Mustangs Christmas Clash, with one Lady Wildcat rising to the top of the podium.
Wildcats win medals in Harrisonville
The Cassville boys wrestling team competed Dec. 20-21 at the Harrisonville Christmas Tournament, with 165-pounder Tristan Thompson earning the best overall placement.

Wrestling squads compete in Christmas tournaments
Publisher’s Note: The Cassville boys and girls wrestling teams each competed in separate tournaments over the weekend. The Wildcats wrestled in the Harrisonville Christmas Tournament, and the Lady Wildcats in the 2024 Lady Mustangs Christmas Clash. Due to the Cassville Democrat's holiday print deadline, results were not available at presstime. Coverage of both events will be in the Jan. 1 issue.

Southwest volleyball players honored
Eight Southwest High School volleyball players earned Academic All-State. They were: sophomore Olivia Hnem; juniors Rylee Hobbs, Emma Outhouse and Marissa Freeman; and seniors Montana Skelton, Riley Flippo, Laura Henry and Kaleigh Tull. The varsity grade-point average was 3.87. In other postseason honors, Freeman and Henry were each recognized. Henry, a setter, was named to both the Class 2 All-District team and All-SWCL Conference team. She led the team in assists and serve percentage. Freeman, a middle, was named to the All-SWCL Conference team. She led the team in kills, blocks and aces.
3 local schools head to tourney
11th Annual Southwest Girls Holiday Tournament starts Friday BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com The Southwest, Cassville and Wheaton girls basketball teams will play a trio of games over the holiday break, as all three will participate in the 11th Annual Southwest Girls Holiday Tournament. Action begins on Friday, with No.