BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — In a year where no one was certain the oldest tournament in the state would be held, the Bowling Green R-I School District tackled the hurdles that faced having the event and the first of two championship night’s wrapped up with the Clopton Lady Hawks getting their fifth consecutive championship trophy.

During the championship game Clopton’s Caragan Lockard scored her 1,oooth career point for the Lady Hawks. Clopton, the #1 seed in the tournament, took an early lead over #2 Elsberry and didn’t look back. Despite Lady Indian Kylie Kinsler putting up 17 points in the match, the Clopton Lady Hawks had three players scoring in double digits – Lockard, 18 points; Taylor Akers, 14 points and Madelyn Brune 10 points. Clopton took home the championship trophy with the 61-42 win.

The third place game featured the #4 seed Silex Owls and #6 Bowling Green. Silex faced Van-Far in the opening round to advance to the championship semi-finals and then ran into #1 Clopton where they suffered a loss, bumping them to the third place game. The Lady Owls who played with a shorten bench due to injuries managed to hold on and take home hardware after beating a tough Lady ‘Cats team who wanted to remind fans the Bobcat magic still existed in their home tournament. The Lady ‘Cats opened the tournament by upsetting the #3 seed Winfield Lady Warriors and then took #2 Elsberry down to the wire where they fell short by four putting them in the third place game against the Lady Owls with Silex coming out on top with the 37-23 win.

The consolation game was a rematch of an earlier EMO Conference game where the Van-Far Lady Indians got the win. When #5 Van-Far took the court against #7 North Callaway on Friday night, they quickly reminded the Lady Thunderbirds they won once and were determined to win again. The Lady Indians got out to an early lead and never took their foot off the gas. Van-Far ended up with three girls in double figures Mara Jensen, 16 points; Haley Baskett, 15 points and Panna Connaway, 14 points. The Lady Indians took the third place trophy back to Van-Far after defeating North Callaway 54-37.

After the game the KJFM Eagle 102 All-Tournament Team was announced. Medals were purchased by the Bowling Green Bobcat Athletic Booster Club and this year’s MVP trophy was designed and made by Finke Monument. This year’s team was made up of Kylie Kinsler of the Elsberry Lady Indians; Haley Baskett of the Van-Far Lady Indians; Madelyn Brune and Taylor Akers of the Clopton Lady Hawks and this year’s MVP was Clopton’s Caragan Lockard.

Stay tuned to Eagle 102 for boys championship action but more pictures and highlights recapping another successful Bowling Green Invitational Tournament.