Monett Sparks claim tourney championship

They are the champions. The fourth grade Monett Sparks basketball team won the Lockwood Winter Warm-Up Tournament last Saturday. Pictured above in the front row, from left, are: Cassidy Abramovitz, Katie Schmidt, Randi Prock and Hailee Etter. Second row: Allysa Williams, Miya Washburn, Twilah Carrasquillo, Kellie McCallister, Kristen Abramovitz and Coach Brad Kilgore. Not pictured is Coach Jack Williams.

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The Sparks defeated Lamar (19-2), Lockwood (22-8) and Pittsburg (Kan.) (12-11) en route to claiming the championship.

"I was very proud of the fourth grade Sparks," said Coach Brad Kilgore. "The championship game was very intense with high emotions and lots of crowd noise, but the girls stayed focused despite a Lady Bullets' late rally."

With Christmas rapidly approaching, Coach Kilgore was presented with an early present.

"The girls decided that if they won the tournament they wanted to give me the trophy as an early present," said Kilgore. "I was very touched by the gift."

Sixth grade Sparks

Last Saturday, the Monett Sparks sixth grade girls basketball team placed fourth at the Lockwood Winter Warm-Up Tournament.

The Sparks started the tournament off with a 12-8 win over Neosho. But Monett suffered tough losses to Pittsburg (Kan.) and Spokane.

"I was proud of the sixth graders," added Kilgore. "They overcame a 8-0 deficit to beat Neosho 12-8,\ and both games against Pittsburg and Spokane were against much bigger and physical girls."

Both teams will be in action on Saturday, Dec. 18 at the Southwest High School Winter Classic in Washburn.