Sheldon closes out Mercy/Warrior Classic

The Sheldon High School girls basketball team may not have been playing in the championship of the 2021 Mercy/Warrior Classic Friday in Joplin, but the Lady Panthers showed up like they were.

As a result, they walked away with a 40-21 victory over Thomas Jefferson Independent in the fifth-place game.

Madison Garren led Sheldon with 18 points, while teammate Deborah Lamb added 16.

Head coach Jacob Well said the key for his Lady Panthers was limiting turnovers and moving the ball on offense.

The win was Sheldon's third on the season.

The boys failed to earn a W in the tournament, losing 41-37 to Carl Junction's JV squad in their fifth-place game on Saturday.

Panthers head coach Caleb Howerton said his team played well in the first quarter before hurting themselves with turnovers, missed layups, and poor free-throw shooting as the game progressed.

Sheldon (5-10) had a chance to send the game into overtime but could not convert.

Both SHS squads will head to Hume on Friday.