Sports

Full-court pressure and steals early, sustained momentum boosts from a large crowd and a final rally in the last half of the fourth quarter spelled one result for the Southwest boys basketball team — Holiday Tournament champions. The Trojans overcame Diamond in the title match, 78-54, led by MVP Lucas Paulsen and surrounded with story lines and history that will leave their marks on the proud program.

For the second consecutive year, Cassville met Gentry (Ark.) in the title game at the Southwest Holiday Tournament, and for the second consecutive time, the Lady Wildcats hoisted the second-place trophy. The Lady Pioneers put the game out of reach early, sinking 12 total 3-pointers in the first half and another 4 in the second to defeat Cassville, 65-20.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.