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Gordon (6-0) and Isaac Behm (6-3). The Mustangs, who lost to Joplin 62-58 in the season opener on Nov. 23, return to action today against ESTEM in the Battle at The Ridge Tournament in Pea Ridge, Ark. "We know what we are capable of, but continuous practice time will only get us so far," Joines said. "We are just ready to compete a ga i n s t s o m e o n e o t h e r than ourselves again. The high-energy, quick-paced finish to the Joplin game is the style we feel most comfortable playing." Tipoff for the ESTEM ga m e i s s c h e d u l e d fo r 8:30 p.m. "A solid tournament at Pea Ridge against good opponents will be a nice way o f m e a s u r i n g o u r current level of play and establish what needs to be improved in order to elevate our play consis- tently to compete later in the season," Joines said. "Our first-round game with ESTEM out of Little Rock should be fairly fast-paced as they have an uptempo style looking for transi- tion opportunities off of rebounds or turnovers." 8B McDonald County Press Thursday, December 9, 2021 W i n t e r S p o r t S Together We Grow Southwest City • Goodman • Lanagan Pineville • Tiff City www.thecornerstonebank.net 417-762-3257 Lending officers available at Pineville, Southwest City & Goodman locations. Go Mustangs! AL GASPENY/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS The Mustangs run a play during practice Monday at McDonald County High School. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2B BOYS: Tipoff For ESTEM Game 8:30 p.m. Lady Mustangs Build Wrestling Program McDonald County's girls wrestling team doubled in numbers and features return- ing starters for the first time. And the Lady Mustangs want to take more steps forward this season as the fledgling program — in its third year of sanctioned competition — continues to grow. "I feel optimistic about our chances at getting our first state qualifier on our girls wrestling team this season," McDonald County coach Josh Factor said. T h e t h r e e r e t u r n e e s — s o p h o m o r e s Ja s l y n B e n h u m e a ( 1 0 5 - p o u n d w e i g h t c l a s s ) , S t a c y Lopez-Apolinar (141) and G i s e l A r a g o n ( 1 5 9 ) — spark Factor's optimism. Benhumea finished third in the district tournament and second in the Big 8 Confer- e n ce l a s t ye a r. A ra go n was fourth in the district and third in the league. Lopez-Apolinar placed third in the Big 8. Top newcomers include juniors Teryn Torrez (141-149) and Kadence Akins (235). Akins was the runner-up in the Lady Mustang Tourna- ment last month. Factor saw promising signs in the Frontenac Tournament last Friday. Lopez-Apolinar (3-1) finished second in the 143-155 class, and Akins (2-1) placed second in the 191-215 division. Torrez (2-2) took third at 143-155. "Both Stacy Lopez-Apo- linar and Kadence Akins taking second place is excit- ing," Factor said. Last Thursday, McDonald County defeated Diamond 18-12. Cassandra Buzzard (120), Torrez and Akins posted victories. One of the biggest hurdles for McDonald County is having the numbers needed to compete. There are nine Lady Mustangs currently listed on the roster. "Our weakness is obvious in not being able to fill all of our girls weight classes," Factor said. But a strong commit- ment at the individual level can help the team reach its potential. "Our girls have to be will- ing to put in the time that it takes to be successful," Factor said. "They need to set goals for themselves and their team." GETTING FIRST STATE QUALIFIER IS BIG GOAL By Al Gaspeny Special to McDonald County Press AL GASPENY/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS Wrestlers practice Monday at McDonald County High School. McDonald County Winter Sports Schedules Boys basketball Date Level Opponent Time Dec. 1-4 9th at Webb City Tournament TBD Dec. 9-11 V at Battle at The Ridge TBD Dec. 16-18 V Mustang Classic TBD Dec. 17 9th at Carthage 5:30 p.m. Dec. 20 9th/JV/V Gravette 4:30 p.m. Dec. 28-30 V at Neosho Holiday Classic TBD Jan. 3 9th/JV/V at Carl Junction 4:30 p.m. Jan 4 9th/JV/V at Webb City 4:30 p.m. Jan. 6 9th/JV/V Carthage 4:30 p.m. Jan. 14 9th/JV/V at Seneca 5 p.m. Jan. 17-22 9th at Mt. Vernon Tournament TBD Jan. 18 9th/JV/V Neosho 4:30 p.m. Jan. 25 9th/JV/V Cassville 5 p.m. Jan. 28 JV/V Lamar 5 p.m.* Jan. 29 JV at Cassville Tournament TBD Feb. 1 9th/JV/V Strafford 4:30 p.m. Feb. 4 9th/JV/V East Newton 5 p.m. Feb. 8 9th/JV/V at Monett 5 p.m. Feb. 11 9th/JV/V Nevada 4:30 p.m.# Feb. 15 9th/JV/V Big 8 Crossover 5 p.m. Feb. 18 9th/JV/V at Mt. Vernon 5 p.m. Feb. 26-March 5 V District Tournament TBD *— Senior night #—Homecoming Girls basketball schedule Date Level Opponent Time Nov. 29-Dec. 2 V at Carl Junction Tournament TBD Dec. 6 JV/V East Newton 6 p.m. Dec. 6 9th Mt. Vernon 5 p.m. Dec. 7 9th/JV/V at Marshfield 5 p.m. Dec. 9 JV/V at Bentonville West 5:30 p.m. Dec. 11 JV at Cassville Tournament TBD Dec. 13-15 V Lady Mustang Classic TBD Dec. 17 9th at Carthage 5:30 p.m. Jan. 3 9th/JV/V at Carl Junction 4:30 p.m. Jan. 6 9th/JV/V Carthage 4:30 p.m. Jan. 10 JV/V at Reeds Spring 6 p.m. Jan. 11 JV/V Clever 5 p.m. Jan. 14 JV/V at Seneca 5 p.m. Jan. 17 JV/V at Monett 6 p.m. Jan. 18 9th/JV/V at Joplin 5 p.m. Jan. 25 JV/V Cassville 6 p.m. Jan. 27 9th/JV/V Neosho 4:30 p.m.* Jan. 31-Feb. 5 JV/V at Seneca Invitational TBD Feb. 8 JV/V at Lamar 5 p.m. Feb. 11 JV/V Nevada 4:30 p.m.# Feb. 14 JV/V at Big 8 Crossover TBD Feb. 17 JV/V at Mt. Vernon 6 p.m. Feb. 26-March 5 V District Tournament TBD *— Senior night #— Homecoming Wrestling schedule Date Level Opponent Time Nov. 30 G/JV/V at Rogers/Rogers Heritage 5 p.m. Dec. 2 G/JV/V Seneca/Diamond 5 p.m. Dec. 3 G at Frontenac Tournament TBD Dec. 3-4 V at Jay Duals Tournament 9 a.m. Dec. 4 JV at Frontenac Tournament 9 a.m. Dec. 7 G/JV/V Aurora 6 p.m. Dec. 9 G/JV/V at Reeds Spring/Hillcrest/Catholic 5 p.m. Dec. 11 V at Carl Junction Tournament 10 a.m. Dec. 17-18 V at KC Stampede Tournament 1 p.m., 9 a.m. Dec. 18 G at Branson Tournament 9 a.m. Dec. 28 G at Parkview Invite TBD Dec. 29-30 V at Kinloch Classic TBD Jan. 4 G/JV/V Joplin 6 p.m.* Jan. 8 G at Seneca Tournament 9 a.m. Jan. 8 JV at Seneca Tournament 9 a.m. Jan. 13 G/JV/V Webb City/Neosho 5 p.m.# Jan. 15 G/JV at Labette County Tournament 9 a.m. Jan. 15 V at Branson Tournament 9 a.m. Jan. 18 G/JV/V at Cassville 2 p.m. Jan. 19 G Big 8 Tournament (Monett) 5 p.m. Jan. 20 JV/V at Glendale/Parkview 5 p.m. Jan. 21 V Big 8 Tournament (Reeds Spring) 4 p.m. Jan. 26 JV Big 8 Tournament (Monett) 5 p.m. Jan. 27 G/JV/V Marshfield 1:30 p.m. Feb. 3 G/JV/V at Carl Junction 2 p.m. Feb. 4-5 G Districts TBD Feb. 11-12 V Districts TBD Feb. 17-19 V State Tournament TBD *— Alumni night #— Senior night