Facing Norris City-Omaha-Enfield in the last match with each team 4-1 on the day, the Carrier Mills-Stonefort Wildcats beat the NCOE Cardinals by a 310-230 margin, securing the GEC tournament championship.
“I’m extremely proud of these kids,” said Wildcats coach Burke Wasson. “When I began coaching in 2019, we didn’t win a game that season. And we’ve certainly never won any scholar bowl tournament that I can recall, until now. These kids have practiced since September before school and at lunch. They deserve a lot of credit for showing up early and extra. It’s sweet when work reaps rewards.”
The Wildcats (12-3) are ranked 4th in their 26-team IHSA sectional region. Next Monday, March 10, they’ll play Nashville at the IHSA regional in Trico.
The Wildcats’ final scores of today’s GEC tournament championship are: 1. Win vs. Gallatin County, 250-110 2. Win vs. Hardin County, 350-130 3. Win vs. Thompsonville, 420-100 4. Loss vs. Galatia, 240-220 5. Win vs. Crab Orchard, 240-110 6. Win vs. NCOE, 310-230.
Pictured left to right: sophomore Olivia Hunt, junior Brayden Kirk, senior Carson VanDyke, junior Brayden Harmon, senior Jade Nalley, freshman Jeremiah Beck, senior Mortikai Celestino, and junior Bailee Odum.
Senior captain Jade Nalley led all players with 1,130 points across six matches, an average of 188 points per match. In six matches, junior Brayden Harmon scored 220, senior Mortikai Celestino scored 200, senior Carson VanDyke scored 160, junior Brayden Kirk scored 50, freshman Jeremiah Beck scored 20, sophomore Olivia Hunt scored 10, and junior Bailee Odum scored 10.