Lady Tigers to host Webb City in first round of district play

After the Nevada High School girls basketball team's win at Cassville on Feb. 5, few would have guessed that the Lady Tigers would see their district bracket before they saw their next opponent.

But after two weeks of postponements and cancellations due to winter weather, that's exactly what happened Friday when the Missouri State High School Activities Association revealed its Class 5 District 12 girls' tournament seeding.

After NHS closes out its regular season Saturday against El Dorado Springs and next week against McDonald County and Bolivar, the Lady Tigers — whose 10-9 record earned them the No. 2 seed out of four teams — will host No. 3 seed Webb City (7-12) at 7 p.m. Monday, March 1, inside Wynn Gymnasium.

"We're really happy with it," said first-year head coach Blake Howarth, who helped lead the team to three straight district titles as an assistant in 2018, 2019, and 2020. "We've got our work cut out for us, but it can only help being at home to start the postseason."

As for the long layoff, Howarth didn't sound too worried.

"When you're out of school and can't even run outside or else catch pneumonia, it's easy to fall out of shape," he said. "I'm proud of our girls for still working hard. They feel rejuvenated. It's like a whole new season now."

On the other side of the bracket, No. 1 seed Carl Junction (14-7) will host No. 4 Harrisonville (9-9) at the same time.

The championship game will tip off at 7 p.m. March 4 in the gym of the highest remaining seed.