Junior High Boys Basketball Falls Short In Championship Game

The McDonald County seventh- and eighth-grade basketball teams reached the finals of last week's Big 8 Conference Junior High Boys' Basketball Tournament only to come up short in the championship game.

Seneca rallied in the fourth quarter to pull out a 23-20 win in the eighth-grade tournament on Nov. 13 at Seneca High School.

McDonald County led 16-14 entering the final quarter, only to be outscored 9-4 in the final period.

Destyn Dowd led McDonald County with eight points, followed by Josh Pacheco with six, Sam Barton four and Toby Moore two.

McDonald County earned a trip to the finals with wins over East Newton and Cassville.

Against East Newton in the opener, McDonald County struggled to a 32-27 win, outscoring the Patriots, 12-8, in the fourth quarter.

Dowd scored 15 points and Moore had 12 to lead McDonald County. Rounding out the scoring for the Mustangs were Barton with three points and Pacheco with two.

In the semifinals, McDonald County cruised to a 49-33 win over Cassville.

McDonald County was led by Moore with 18 points, followed by Barton with 11 points, Dowd nine, Tucker Walters seven, Cooper Sprenkle thee and Pacheco one.

The eighth grade is 9-4 for the season heading into this week's Wild West Tournament in Carthage to close out the season.

Seventh Grade

The McDonald County seventh grade fell to 10-3 for the season with a 39-33 loss to Nevada in the championship game. Scoring was unavailable.

In the semifinals, McDonald County defeated Cassville, 43-22, behind 32 points from Holten Keith. Rounding out the scoring for the Mustangs were Trey Hardin with four points, D.J. Jack with three and Johnny Miller and Angel Moreno with two each.

McDonald County opened the tournament with a 56-25 win over Monett.

Keith scored 35 points and Miller added 11 to lead the Mustangs. Rounding out the scoring for McDonald County were Hardin with four points and Jack, Moreno and Logan Myrick two each.

McDonald County hosts the seventh-grade Wild West Tournament this week to close out the season.

Sports on 02/20/2020