Sports

Lady Wildcats look for late-season push
A back-and-forth season when it comes to results, the Cassville girls basketball team is using its last four regular-season contests to prep for a Class 4, District 12 tournament run from the middle of the pack.

Hopping along to JeffCo: Hoppes signs letter of intent
A three-time All-State softball player seeking a school record fourth award this season, Purdy senior Jessi Hoppes will be a hop, skip and a jump away from home in the fall, signing a letter of intent on Jan. 29 to continue her career at Jefferson College.

Once an Eagle, always an Eagle: Lee signs for college ball
Once an Eagle; always an Eagle. Purdy baseball senior Hunter Lee will not change mascots as he prepares to move to the next level, signing a letter of intent on Jan.

Cole crosses 1,000-point mark
An Aurora girls basketball player with a Barry County connection has crossed the 1,000-point mark in her prep career. Junior Kylee Cole was 14 points shy of 1,000 going into a Jan. 29 Warrior Classic contest against East Newton. Cole put up 28 points in the 55-24 victory, achieving the milestone in the process. Cole averages 22 points per game. She is the granddaughter of the late John Cole and Linda Cole, of Exeter, and Howard and Jackie Burns, also of Exeter. Her great-grandmother, Gwen Hilburn, lives in Seligman, and she has numerous aunts and uncles from both Barry County towns.

Cassville wrestling winding toward districts
The Cassville wrestling program tossed around its weight in the Big 8 last week, testing the waters against potential road blocks in the fast-approaching district and state tournaments. Cassville’s boys and girls squads hosted Seneca for a dual on Jan.
Scoreboard, Jan. 31
The Cassville boys basketball team (8-11) took fifth place in its second consecutive tournament recently, and the Wildcats are heading into Big 8 Conference play. Cassville opened the 39th Annual Spokane Invitational Jan.

Next-level decision made; Keeven signs for volleyball
Another Cassville volleyball senior has signed a national letter of intent, committing to continue playing her sport at the college level in the fall. On Jan. 24, Josie Keeven, Cassville libero and defensive specialist, signed to Missouri Valley College in Marshfield after initially choosing forgo volleyball after high school.

Wheaton boys hoops enjoying 3-game win streak
The Wheaton boys basketball team is heading into its Ozark 7 Conference slate this week at 1-0, hoping to make a run for a conference title and shot at the Class 2, District 11 championship. Seth Lash, Wheaton boys basketball coach, said the Bulldogs (11-6) started off much stronger than last season, going 7-3 in its first 10 games compared to 3-7.
Wildcats wrestle way to 3 golds at Big 8 Conference tourney
Three Cassville wrestlers swept their way to gold medals at the Big 8 Conference Tournament in Marshfield on Saturday, with only one of 12 matches going the distance and all 11 others ending in pins. The Wildcats had three medalists out of 12 competitors: Riley James at 150 pounds, Tristan Thompson at 157 pounds and Colton Roark at 165 pounds.

10 Cassville girls medal in Big 8 Conference tourney
The Cassville girls wrestling team took 13 members to the Big 8 Conference tournament on Jan. 17, and 10 Lady Wildcats brought home a piece of hardware, half for the first time at the varsity level.