Sports
Box Score and Seven Years Ago: Ava drops Mountain Grove, 77-48
By Jason Hoekema /[email protected] The Ava Bears had a big win on Friday, ending a nine-loss streak held since 2013 against the Mountain Grove Panthers with a 77-48 win on the home maple. Ava and Mountain Grove are deep-seated rivals and when the two schools meet things can get… Heated. Even during the schools’ meeting…
Read MoreThis Close: Lady Bears Work, Thayer Squeaks By
By Jason Hoekema /[email protected] The Lady Bears hosted the Thayer Lady Bobcats Thursday and put on a spectacle, dropping the game by inches, 49-46. Thayer girls’ basketball is a state-ranked team. Keep that in mind. Ava is not, and was inches off from tying the game at the horn. Literally. Dropping Bombs One of the…
Read MoreRough Weather: Bears Bounce Back Over Hollister
By Jason Hoekema /[email protected] A cross court pass to Blake King with the solo layup sealed the 47-35 win over the Hollister Tigers on a stormy Friday night. It did not, however, start that way. Five Points Not to be confused with “Five Stars,” the Bears were a near no-show in the first quarter allowing…
Read MorePoor Takes: Ava, Mansfield Suffer from Poor Officiating
By Jason Hoekema / [email protected] The Ava Lady Bears had the lead going into the half thanks to a buzzer-beater by Emaly Keyes. Should it have counted? It might have been late. Poor officiating fouled the competitive spirit of basketball Thursday with both teams suffering from missed calls and whistles which clearly were not. Ava…
Read MoreDown One, Up a Lot: Lady Bears Breeze Past Willow Springs Minus Evans
By Jason Hoekema / [email protected] Hannah Evans missing off the starting five was an attention getter Monday as the Lady Bears hosted Willow Springs and kept the victory at home, winning 54-33. Evans had suffered a fall during the game against Mansfield and was concussed according to coach Nathan Houk. He hopes for her return…
Read MoreBombs Away: Ava Drops Conway with Two, 24-Point Quarters
By Jason Hoekema /[email protected] Unleashed is the term to describe how the Ava Bears came out at the start of Tuesday’s game on the road against Conway. Quickly, the Conway Bears found themselves in a corner led by Ava, 24-12 at the end of the first quarter. Five three-pointers made the net in the first…
Read MoreNew Year, New Look: Donation Delivers New Padding in Ava High Gym
By Jason Hoekema The Ava Bears and Lady Bears athletic programs received an early Christmas present to ring-out the end of 2019 and bring in a new look for 2020. Thanks to the generosity of the local Town & Country Bank branch and the assistance of the branch’s Senior Vice President, Sheldon Shaver, the Bears’…
Read MoreMixed Bag – Lady Bears Return at 1-1 in New Year
By Jason Hoekema / [email protected] Monday was a big win for the Ava Lady Bears who topped Mountain Grove, 60-38, to usher in the new year with a record of 6-1. However, the Lady Bears fell short to Forsyth scoring 47-43 Tuesday night. Shaking off rust The Lady Bears came up with a whopping, 31-20,…
Read MoreBlue and Gold Roller Coaster: Ava Steps Further into Annual Tourney
By Jason Hoekema / [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Nothing can be as frustrating as getting the lead with a minute left in spite of poor officiating, then losing the lead because of the same reason. It wasn’t just hand checks or pushes, at one point an official allowed a free throw from the volleyball boundary instead of…
Read MoreMiddle School Lady Bears Update
The Middle School Lady Bears are rounding out their seasons. The Lady Bears have had a few full weeks of back to back games. On December 12th, they hosted the Reeds Spring Wolves for their final home game. The 8th graders played first and the 7th graders were only able to play one quarter because…
Read More