The Houston eighth grade boys’ basketball team defeated Mountain Grove 54-40 Saturday in the championship game of the Willow Springs Tournament.
Devin Garrett led three players in double figures with 22 points. D.J. McNew scored 14 and Kolby Walker had 12.
Houston (9-4) lost to Mountain Grove two times last season, including once by 20 points.
“They deserve all the credit for the way they continue to work and play as a team,” Tigers coach Willy Walker said. “I think sometimes student-athletes and parents get a little jealous of others, but I have not seen that with this team. They just want to win. Each kid on the team has endured sacrifices to get where they are today.”
The Tigers led 24-12 at the half.
On Friday, McNew scored 14 points in a 33-15 romp of Thayer. Garrett added 12 points.
Seventh grade: Whitley Welch had 10 points in the Tigers’ 36-30 loss Saturday to Mountain Grove in the third-place game of the Willow Springs Tournament.
Zach Gregory had seven points for Houston (9-4), which trailed 21-13 at the half.
On Friday, Dylan Coulter and Welch had four points each in a 44-24 loss to West Plains.
Box scores
EIGHTH GRADE
Saturday’s game
Mtn. Grove 7 5 16 12 — 40
Houston 12 12 6 22 — 54
HOUSTON (54) – Ryan Bowlin 3. Austin Foster 3. D.J. McNew 14. Devin Garrett 22. Kolby Walker 12.
Friday’s game
Thayer 4 3 5 3 — 15
Houston 6 12 7 8 — 33
HOUSTON (33) – D.J. McNew 14. Jordan Russell 1. Tanner Cantrell 2. Kolby Walker 3. Devin Garrett 12.
SEVENTH GRADE
Saturday’s game
Mtn. Grove 9 12 5 10 — 36
Houston 6 7 8 9 — 30
HOUSTON (30) – Cody Hayes 3. Austin Shock 2. Skylur Malam 4. Zach Gregory 7. Whitley Welch 10. Keegan Spurlin 4.
Friday’s game
West Plains 10 13 13 8 — 44
Houston 0 5 11 8 — 24
HOUSTON (23) – Dylan Coulter 4. Nathan Poynter 2. Cody Hayes 3. Austin Shock 2. Skylur Malam 2. Whitley Welch 4. Richard Rees 2. Keegan Spurlin 3.
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