Mt. Vernon and East Newton advanced to the Class 4 District 12 semifinals on Tuesday night with wins over Monett and Cassville, respectively.
Mt. Vernon and Monett opened up the tournament with the Mountaineers using a big fourth quarter to come back for a 57-50 win. No. 5 seed Monett trailed 27-22 at the half, but used a 16-10 advantage in the third quarter to claw back into the lead at 38-37 going into the final quarter. Mt. Vernon exploded for 20 points in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win.
PHOTOS: Mt. Vernon vs. Monett – CLICK FOR PHOTOS
Jarrett Zerby scored nine of his team-high 25 points in the decisive fourth quarter for Mt. Vernon. Landon Jones was also in double figures with 15 points. Monett was led by a game-high 26 points from Landyn Brandt.
Mt. Vernon advances to face top-seeded Seneca at 6 pm on Thursday in Mt. Vernon. Seneca won the regular season matchup 58-51 on Feb. 22.
In the second game of the night, No. 6 seed East Newton upset No. 3 Cassville 62-59 in overtime. East Newton held a three-point lead after one quarter, a four-point lead at the half and a three-point lead entering the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, Cassville outscored East Newton 14-11 to force overtime.
PHOTOS: East Newton vs. Cassville – CLICK FOR PHOTOS
In the overtime period, Caden Youngblood scored five of East Newton’s 10 points to help the Patriots complete the upset. Youngblood finished with a game-high 22 points. Braxton Wolfe added in 16 points. Eli Stokes led Cassville with 21 points.
East Newton will play No. 2 seed Aurora at 7:30 pm on Thursday in Mt. Vernon. Aurora won the regular season matchup 76-49 on Dec. 15.
Monett 57, Cassville 50 – FINAL
Monett – 11-11-16-12 – 50
Mt. Vernon – 11-16-10-20 — 57
MO: Landyn Brandt 26, Aiden Copeland 7, Ian Waterman 5, Evan Witt 4, Alexander Meeks 4, Miles Young 2, Crockett 2
MT: Jarrett Zerby 25, Landon Jones 15, Juliun Hernandez 7, Hunter Conway 5, Hunter Dawson 5
East Newton 62, Cassville 59 – FINAL
East Newton – 15-11-15-11-10 – 62
Cassville – 12-10-16-14-7 — 59
E: Caden Youngblood 22, Braxton Wolfe 16, Isaac Bales 9, Joshua Mathis 8, Chase Sorrell 4
C: Eli Stokes 21, Ethan Bohmke 14, Cadyn Smith 12, Jonathan Dunbar 6, Simon Gates 3, Joseph Craft 3, Haze Hagedon 3
