NMS seventh-graders take third-place at Tri-County

JOPLIN ---- After narrowly missing out on an opportunity to play in the Tri-County Tournament championship game, the Nevada Middle School seventh-grade girls basketball team instead settled for a 33-0 blowout win over Neosho in the third-place game.

With the victory, NMS finishes the season 13-2, with both losses coming against Webb City.

Nevada head coach Danny Penn said he hopes his team will build off this experience.

"I'm very happy with our season," he said. "We obviously wish we'd been more successful in the Tri County Tournament, but it definitely gives us a goal for next year.

"This is a very talented group of girls who have a nice combination of speed, size, and a high basketball IQ. They also have a good work ethic and a desire to get better. More important than anything, individually, they're a good group of intelligent, responsible young ladies."

Nevada point guard Calli Beshore finished with a game-high 14 points, while Teagan Charles added 10.

"I've very much enjoyed this season and having the opportunity to coach them this year," Penn said. They made the season fun for me and I looked forward to practices and games."