The Carthage boys are seeded last and the girls fifth as both Tigers basketball teams prepare to host their Carthage Invitational tournaments next week.
The school will welcome seven other teams for the 72nd Carthage Boys Basketball Invitational, which begins Monday. Joplin is the top seed, followed by Nevada, Rogers, Arkansas, West Plains, Belton, Seneca, Neosho and Carthage.
The Eagles are looking to defend their 2017 tournament title. Joplin defeated Nevada 62-58 in last year’s title game. Carthage defeated Neosho 48-47 in the consolation final.
Tournament action begins Monday at 6 p.m. when Rogers and Seneca play in the auxiliary gymnasium. Nevada will take on Neosho at 7:30 p.m. in the main gym.
Carthage will open against Joplin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the main gym. That game follows a 6 p.m. contest between West Plains and Belton in the auxiliary gym.
Semifinal games are set for Thursday and Friday of next week. Carthage will play at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the main gym with a win over Joplin, or at 6 p.m. Friday in the auxiliary gym with a loss. The other championship semifinal is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, and the other consolation second-round game is 6 p.m. Thursday.
Saturday’s schedule features seventh, fifth and third-place games, with the championship at 5 p.m. in the main gym.
Carthage Lady Tigers Basketball Invitational
Strafford is the top seed in the girls tournament, followed by Mount Vernon, West Plains, Har-Ber, Carthage, Lamar, Hillcrest and Joplin.
Strafford finished last season as the top-ranked team in Class 3 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and went on to beat California 77-36 to win the Class 3 state championship and finish a 33-0 perfect season. Mount Vernon was ranked ninth, and finished 27-2 after losing to Strafford in the sectional round.
Mount Vernon defeated Har-Ber 60-48 to win last year’s tournament title. Carthage beat East Newton 53-28 to win the fifth-place game.
Strafford plays Joplin at 6 p.m. Monday in the main gym, Har-Ber plays Carthage at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the main gym, Mount Vernon plays Hillcrest at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the auxiliary and West Plains plays Lamar at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the auxiliary.
Carthage would play at 6 p.m. Thursday with a win, or 7:30 p.m. Thursday with a loss.
Saturday’s schedule features seventh, fifth and third-place games, with the championship at 3:30 p.m. in the main gym.
