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Published December 18, 2006 12:32 am - I’m not the hibernating type, normally. Bears can slumber away all winter and not miss a thing (I don’t mean the Chicago kind, though I’m starting to wonder), but I’ve always needed something to do, somewhere to see, some team to watch. Zach Ewing: Some cures for your fall-sports hangover By Zach Ewing
Globe sports columnist I’m not the hibernating type, normally. Bears can slumber away all winter and not miss a thing (I don’t mean the Chicago kind, though I’m starting to wonder), but I’ve always needed something to do, somewhere to see, some team to watch. This winter, however, I’m beginning to think that maybe Yogi had the right idea — or maybe he was just living in Joplin. Football season for the Four-State Area was a blast. Webb City won a Class 4 state title, Joplin High School took home another Ozark Conference crown and Grove was a state finalist in Oklahoma. Even outside that trio, area towns had plenty to celebrate. Carthage proved itself to be perhaps the third-best team in Class 4, Neosho rebounded from a bad 2005 with a winning record, Girard made the Kansas Class 4 state semifinals and a whole slew of other teams made their state’s playoffs. Pittsburg State’s football team didn’t live up to its pedigree, but it still went 10-2 and won the Mineral Water Bowl. Even in non-football fall sports (yes, there are some), local teams enjoyed success. Seneca and Miller made state-championship appearances in softball, for instance, McAuley Catholic’s Margaret Adams won a co-state title in girls golf and Missouri Southern’s soccer team qualified for the NCAA Division II tournament. But, about a week after Webb City capped all of this area success with its football championship, the snowstorm came through, and local sports haven’t thawed out since. On second thought, that might not be entirely accurate. Maybe winter sports around here weren’t on that fall level to begin with — and it’s putting me to sleep. Standouts Taylor Macfee and Saysan Jones are fun to watch, but Joplin’s boys and girls basketball teams are struggling. The boys are 3-3, but two of those wins were against beat-up McDonald County and the other was a buzzer-beater against Neosho. The girls are 1-6 and winless against Missouri teams. To be fair, both teams are rebuilding and neither had realistic hopes of matching the school football team’s Ozark Conference success, but this might be worse than expected — and when Ozark teams come calling, wins will be tough to find. The rest of the area basketball picture seems to be somewhat brighter, though most teams don’t seem to be ready to make state-wide noise. But you know what? I’m optimistic; I’m getting a second wind, and I’m not the hibernating type anyway. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few winter teams around here that will be worth staying up for. Carthage wrestling: The Tigers top this list because — don’t hit that snooze button — they have a legitimate shot at a state championship. Carthage finished 12th in Class 3’s state tournament last season in Columbia and is primed to make another run. 
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