Tag Archives: High School Sports

Luke Gall (Carthage) sweeps COC Player of the Year awards

Posted on by

CARTHAGE, Mo. – Carthage High School senior RB/LB Luke Gall has swept the COC Player of the Year awards, being named both the league’s Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year.

Defensively, Gall led the Tigers with 92 tackles heading into Saturday’s state semifinal game vs. Francis Howell. That includes 7 tackles-for-loss. He also had a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Offensively, Gall had 1,896 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns heading into Saturday’s game. He also had 13 receptions for 326 yards and 2 touchdowns receiving.

Gall and the Tigers finished the season with an 11-2 overall record, falling to Francis Howell in the state semifinals Saturday afternoon. He is committed to play at Air Force in college.

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

Carthage aims to return to state championship game

Posted on by

CARTHAGE, Mo. – The Carthage Tigers host the Francis Howell Vikings on Saturday in the Missouri Class 5 state semifinals.

Carthage is 11-1 heading into the weekend, while the Vikings are a perfect 12-0.

With a win, the Tigers would earn a spot in the state championship game for the first time since 2019 – and a shot to bring home the second state title in program history.

“That’s the goal. That’s been the goal since the first week of June, and these guys have stuck to it,” says Carthage head coach Jon Guidie, “I think it would mean the world to these guys and to our community. We do have some kids who played on that state championship team in Luke Gall and Hudson Moore. Those guys bring a certain level of experience because of that.”

“It’s been a completely different environment out here this week,” says senior DT Micah Lindsey on the week of preparation leading up to Saturday’s game, “We had an extra day. We grinded that day and we had a good early-morning practice on Thanksgiving. It was a great week.”

“This is a great place to be on any Friday night, but even more so in the playoffs and in the state semifinals,” Guidie adds on getting to play at home Saturday, “I believe this is the second one we’ve hosted in the last few years. It’s a special time, it really is. I’m hoping for a huge crowd and lots of fun.”

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is at 1 PM in Carthage.

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

Seneca prepares to face Lamar in state semifinals

Posted on by

SENECA, Mo. – The Seneca Indians hit the road tomorrow to face Big 8 rival Lamar in the class 2 state semifinals.

Seneca and Lamar met once already this season, back in week four. The Indians handed the Tigers their only loss of the season 36-33.

“The win over Lamar helped our kids understand how good we could be,” Seneca head coach Cody Hilburn says. “Beating a team like Lamar with the run that they’re on was huge and kind of catapulted us into to what we did this year. I’m sure they’re looking forward to playing us again, but I think at this time of year when you’re playing a semifinal game you shouldn’t need much extra motivation.”

“I think they’re going to come out swinging,” says Seneca linebacker Lincoln Renfro. “I know they’re hungry for revenge and I think anyone would be too. I think if we just steady the pace and keep going, we’ll be fine. We want to be the group to do it and we want to be the group that sets the standard for years to come.”

Saturday’s game starts at 1pm.

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

McDonald County knocks off Joplin in season opener

Posted on by

JOPLIN, Mo. – (WATCH) McDonald County knocks off Joplin 61-59 in their season opener Tuesday night.

All Wright leads the way for Joplin with a game-high 30 points, while Cross Dowd leads the Mustangs with 24 points.

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

Lamar preps for Big 8 rematch with Seneca in state semifinals

Posted on by

LAMAR, Mo. – The Lamar Tigers will host Big 8 rival Seneca in the Missouri Class 2 state semifinals on Saturday.

Both teams are 11-1 heading into the weekend.

Seneca was the only team that was able to beat Lamar in the regular season – topping the Tigers 36-33 all the way back in week four.

“There’s a motivation because that was the game where we slipped up earlier in the year,” says Lamar head coach Jared Beshore, “It’s a state semifinal game, and we’re ready to go no matter who it is. It’s just a little added motivation that it’s a team that we got to play earlier in the year.”

“You can tell in practice and stuff. After that game, practice demeanor changed,” says Lamar senior RB/LB Austin Wilkerson on the regular season loss to Seneca, “It’s all kind of intensified. To get another shot at Seneca, we know we let that game slip away. It’s something that we’ve all been waiting for and we’re beep prepping for it.”

It’s rare for conference rivals to meet so late in the state bracket – and the Tigers are expecting a unique atmosphere with their southwest Missouri rivals coming to town with a spot in the state championship on the line.

“It’s going to be an old school atmosphere,” Beshore says, “It’s not going to feel like half the crowd is at home streaming the game. It’s going to feel like they’re all here. Seneca is going to bring their whole town up here. The whole town of Lamar is going to want to come over here and watch this thing. It’s going to be a special game.”

“Our community is always great at giving us a good atmosphere,” Wilkerson adds, “Going down there, it was still a great atmosphere with their fans and our fans. I’m hoping with everything going on and it being here, it will be an even better game.”

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

Seneca advances to state semifinals with win over Liberty

Posted on by

SENECA, Mo. – (WATCH) Seneca tops Liberty-Mountain View 28-14 Saturday afternoon in the Class 2 state quarterfinals.

Seneca travels to face Big 8 rival Lamar in the state semifinals next week.

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

Carthage tops Lebanon to advance to state semifinals

Posted on by

LEBANON, Mo. – (WATCH) Carthage beats Lebanon 35-14 in the Class 5 state quarterfinals Saturday.

Carthage advances to host Francis Howell in the state semifinals next week.

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

Four Webb City seniors sign to play college baseball

Posted on by

WEBB CITY, Mo. – Four Webb City High School seniors signed on Friday afternoon to continue their baseball careers in college.

Kenley Hood is headed to Highland CC in Kansas, while Walker Sweet, Cy Darnell and Kaylor Darnell signed to play in Joplin for the Missouri Southern Lions.

“My main goal is to get bigger and to keep throwing harder,” Kaylor Darnell says, “I want to be a starter for Missouri Southern and just be a good player for them. It’s a great fit for me. It’s also a great fit for my education. Some of the other schools that offered me really didn’t have that fit.”

“The atmosphere is good and I like the players there. I like the all turf field, too. I think the location is probably one of the big reasons,” says Cy Darnell, whose father, Bryce, is the head coach at Missouri Southern, “I like the assistant coach,” he adds with a laugh, “Yeah, I like the assistant coach.”

“They’ve had really successful seasons year in and year out,” Sweet says of signing to MSSU, “The communication they keep with their players and atmosphere they have is really what stood out to me. The first year I really just want to develop as a player and a teammate, and hopefully get some playing time my freshman year.”

“Coach Hay is a great guy. I’ve been in contact with him for a couple years now,” Hood says of why he chose Highland CC, “It really just seemed like home. It’s a small college up there and it’s a great town.”

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

Carthage standouts Cochran, Jackson sign to play college softball

Posted on by

CARTHAGE, Mo. – Carthage High School softball standouts Landry Cochran and Ashlynn Jackson signed Thursday afternoon to continue their careers in college.

Jackson signed to pitch at Fort Scott Community College, while Cochran is headed to Division II Drury University to play in the outfield.

“It’s all surreal. This has been my dream since I was six years old,” Cochran says, “Now that it has finally come full circle, it’s just awesome. I first met the Drury coaches at a camp before my junior year. I just really liked the way he interacted with the players and the way he talked about campus and everything. This summer I had a chance to play in front of him and I went and toured their campus. I just loved it. I loved the way they talked about their softball program, and everything was just awesome.”

“Everybody is just like a family there,” Jackson says on why she chose Fort Scott CC, “They’re all behind each other and they all have each others’ backs through everything.”

Jackson was an All-COC selection and an All-District pick for Carthage this fall.

Cochran is a 4X All-COC pick, a 4X All-District selection – and set program records at Carthage for both single season hits and career hits.

“It’s awesome to think about. When I was here in high school I just wanted to make memories and have fun and to the best I can while I was out there. I think that’s what I did,” Cochran says of setting records at Carthage.

“I would love to earn the leadoff spot at Drury,” Cochran adds of her goals at Drury, “That’s the spot I love, and I would love to play center field. That’s what I’m going for.”

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

Quapaw aims to stay rolling in playoff matchup with undefeated Hominy

Posted on by

QUAPAW, Okla. – The Quapaw Wildcats are still alive in the Class A state football bracket.

The Wildcats will hit the road to face undefeated Hominy in the second round on Friday night. Quapaw beat Sallisaw-Central 28-22 in their playoff opener last week – the team’s 7th straight win.

“That’s my first playoff win of my high school career. It felt nice to come out with a lot of fans and put on a good show,” says senior Seth Stand-Johnston, “We’ve had it rolling all season. Our only loss was early in the season, so it felt good to go on the streak to end the year. We’re rolling in here feeling good and we just want to keep it going.”

Quapaw is 10-1 heading into Friday night. It’s the fourth 10-win season in program history.

The Wildcats’ offense has been explosive all season long.

Quarterback Jack Deringer has thrown for 2,800 yards and 38 touchdowns this season. He has four receivers who have over 250 receiving yards this season in Zane Stand (1,058 yds, 15 TD), Peyton Shapp (751 yds, 7 TD), Seth Stand-Johnston (570 yds, 12 TD) and Deacon Shapp (276 yds, 4 TD)

The team has also rushed for 1,220 yards this season – with junior Kyle Forbis leading the way (668 yds, 10 TD).

“It feels good knowing that it’s not a one-man show,” Stand-Johnston says of the offense, “It’s nice putting that on teams and making them stress about that.”

“It’s win or go home. Every play matters,” Stand-Johnston adds, “You take one play off and they bust a touchdown. You lose by six and you go home. As a senior, it’s a lot of pressure, but we love it.”

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.