Host basketballers take second in Willard tourney

Lady Tigers fall to Strafford in Willard championship game
 
The Willard High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams hosted their annual Willard Basketball Classic last week, with both teams finishing second in the tournament.
Boys
The Tigers played Bolivar for the tournament championship Saturday, Dec. 4, and lost 55-53.
The Liberators jumped out to a 19-7 first quarter lead but Willard cut that lead to 29-20 by the half. Willard scored 21 points in the third quarter but still trailed Bolivar 42-41 heading into the final quarter of play. Bolivar was able to hold on by outscoring Willard 13-12 in the fourth quarter to win by two points.
Gavin Davis led Willard with 18 points and Trey Pulford added 17 points in the loss.
Willard defeated Greenwood, 61-56, in the semifinals on Friday, Dec. 3 and Camdenton, 79-35, in the opening round on Wednesday, Dec. 1. The coaching staff provided no statistics for any of these games.
Willard is now 3-1 on the season and are scheduled to play at Springfield Hillcrest on Friday night.
Girls
On the girls’ side, the Lady Tigers hosted but lost to Class 3 powerhouse Strafford in the championship game on Saturday, Dec. 3, 70-43.
The Lady Indians led 21-10 at the end of the first quarter and 43-25 at the half. Strafford increased their lead to 56-32 by the end of the third quarter and outscored Willard 14-11 in the fourth quarter.
Kailyn Washington was the only Lady Tiger to score in double digits, as she ended the game with 12 points.
Willard reached the championship game by defeating Harrison, Ark., 60-45, in the semifinals on Friday, Dec. 3. Brielle Adamson led Willard with 13 points and Carolina Crawford added 11 in the
win.
The Lady Tigers opened the tournament by defeating Bolivar, 63-33, on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Four Lady Tigers scored in double figures with Adamson and Crawford each scoring 12 points, while Maddie Mills added 11 points and Washington ended the game with 10 points.
Willard is now 3-1 on the season and have no games scheduled for this week.