Hartville Eagles fall to Nixa in Gold Division finals

Through some moments in the first half, it appeared the Hartville Eagles’ basketball team was going to knock off another Goliath as the state’s No. 1 Class 2 program led Class 6 and state-ranked Nixa by 10 points in the second quarter.
Unfortunately, Nixa was able to take advantage of a few turnovers late and did just enough late to win the Gold Division title with a 57-50 victory.
Early in the game, Hartville missed their first five shots and found themselves trailing 4-0.
The offense did soon wake up as they made four, 3-pointers to take a 16-6 lead with 1:46 remaining in the frame.
Truett Coryell made two of the big shots from behind the perimeter, scoring six points.
Nixa would get the lead down to three late in the second quarter when Jordan O’Quinn hit a big 3-pointer. He made two of them during the frame, but Nixa scored at the buzzer to tie things at the break at 28-28.
In battling foul trouble, Mason Cogdill came out in the third and made a difference with six points. Coryell added a 3-pointer own, but his Eagles trailed 41-37 entering the fourth.
Coryell then made another 3-poitner early in the fourth to close the gap to one before Nixa answered with a 3-pointer and never looked back.
Cogdill did hit two free throws with 1:11 left in the game, but Nixa was able to pull the game out in the final minute.
Hartville made seven, 3-pointers in the first half and 11 total in the loss.
Mason did lead his team with 17 points, four rebounds and two steals; Coryell made four, 3-pointers for 12 points, three rebounds and one assist; Boone Garrison scored nine points, seven assists and four rebounds; O’Quinn had nine points two assists and one rebound; Gus Sinning scored two points, five assists, four rebounds and one steal; and Brock Jones had one point and one rebound.
In the semifinals, Hartville drew another large school team in West Plains.
Their defense responded by holding the Zizzers to 10 points or less in all four quarters of a 65-38 victory.
O’Quinn helped the offense with a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter and Cogdill scored seven points during a 17-point frame.
Gus Sinning scored six points in the second to help Hartville go up eight at halftime.
Hartville pulled away in the second half as they went on a 37-20 run.
Cogdill scored 10 of his 17 points in the second half.
Gus Sinning led the team with 22 points; O’Quinn had nine; Garrison scored eight; Coryell had six; Jones had two points; and Hayden Johns scored one point.
One round earlier, the Eagles opened up the game against Mt. Vernon on an 18-7 run and cruised to a 61-43 victory.
Gus Sinning scored nine points and Garrison added a pair of 3-pointers in the opening frame.
Cogdill’s six points before the break kept his team up eight at halftime.
He would take over the game in the second half with 14 of his 20 points to help Hartville to the win.
Gus Sinning had a team-high 21 points, with seven of them coming during a 15-point fourth quarter.
Garrison had 10 points; O’Quinn scored five; Coryell had three; and Jones had two points.
In the opening round, a 25-point first quarter paced the Eagles to a 59-28 dominant win over Spokane.
The Eagles held the Owls’ offense to 10 points or less in all four quarters.
Cogdill took over the game early scoring 15 of his team’s points in the first quarter as Hartville led 22-6 at one time in the frame.
Gus Sinning scored six points before halftime and added eight more in the third quarter.
Hartville went on a 14-0 run in the third and turned the mercy clock on in the fourth.
Cogdill led his team with 25 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals; Gus Sinning had 16 points, five rebounds, five steals and one assist; Garrison tallied 12 points, seven assists, three rebounds and three steals; Jones had five points and five rebounds; Coryell added four points and two assists; while Cole Sinning had two points.
After the tournament, Hartville returned home and cruised to a 64-29 victory.
Coryell made seven, 3-pointers as he picked up from where he left off in the finals of the Blue & Gold Tournament.
He finished with the 21 points.
Cogdill had 15 points; O’Quinn added eight; Gus Sinning scored six; Johns had five; and Garrison scored three points.