Branson, Forsyth Finish Perfect Runs Through Basketball Tournaments

Forsyth celebrate their win in the Spokane Tournament Championship. (Photo by Scott McCaulley)

Branson and Forsyth navigate a week of changed schedules and locations to emerge unblemished in two tournaments.

For Branson, the Pirates finish 2-0 in the abbreviated Bill Hanson Memorial Tournament in Pittsburg, Kansas. After beating Washburn Rural on opening day 65-41, the Pirates claim a victory over a former Central Ozark Conference foe, knocking off Joplin 82-59. The final day of the tournament, scheduled for Saturday, was cancelled due to Winter Storm Fern.

Fern was just one of the factors that impacted the Spokane Boys Tournament. After the opening two rounds went off as schedule, tournament officials moved the games up a day to be able to finish the event on Friday. Added to that, a backboard that was shattered on the main court prior to Wednesday's game by a Forsyth player forced the next two nights of games over to the Middle School Gym. 

A replacement backboard was put in place in time for Friday's final round, which saw top seeded Forsyth hold off second seed Galena 69-63. Tournament MVP Chris Halbrook scored 29 points in the win. 

Greenwood took third place over Strafford while Spoken defeated Reeds Spring in the Consolation Final. 

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