DECATUR -- The Gentry Pioneers were on the road to Washburn, Mo., after Christmas to participate in the Annual Southwest Boys Holiday Tournament Dec. 27-29. The Pioneers faced three teams from Missouri in the tournament, losing in the first round while winning a pair in the consolation rounds.
First up was the East Newton Patriots from Granby. The Patriots jumped out to a sizable lead in the first half, outscoring the Pioneers 17-12 in the first quarter and 15-9 in the second. Gentry trailed East Newton 32-21 at the halftime break. The Patriots opened the gap to 22 points in the later stages of the second half. By the end of the contest, East Newton Patriots captured the win, 64-42, sending the Gentry Pioneers to the consolation round Dec. 28 against the Exeter Tigers.
The Pioneers turned the tide in their favor during the 32 minutes of play, taking a sizable lead and eventually the win, 57-28, over the Tigers and advancing to the final round of the tournament to face the Southwest Trojans from Washburn Dec. 29.
Once again the Pioneers prevailed, defeating the Trojans, 60-21, and ending the first half of the 2018-2019 season.
The Gentry Pioneers return to Pioneer Gym Jan. 11 to take on the Prairie Grove Tigers in the first conference game of 2019. Game time will be 6 p.m.
Sports on 01/09/2019