By Anvil Welch

awelch@joplinglobe.com

Neosho vs. Webb City was about all you could want for an early test in girls prep basketball.

Webb City rallied in the final minutes to prevail 63-61 in the title game of the 12th annual Joplin Freeman/Lady Eagle Classic on Saturday night in Kaminsky Gymnasium.

It was the Class 4 Cardinals’ sixth win in seven games. Class 5 Neosho lost for the first time in six games.

Miller nudged Marshfield 65-63 for third place behind Hannah Wilkerson’s 36 points.

Joplin beat Springdale (Ark.) Har-Ber 63-53 for consolation behind Jessica Hill’s 24 points and Blue Valley West of Overland Park, Kan., turned back Harrison (Ark.) 70-42 behind Rachel Boan’s 18 points.

The all-tournament team included a trio of Webb City front-liners — 5-foot-8 senior Nicole Hudson, 6-0 sophomore Kaitlin Jaeger and 5-9 sophomore Hailey Roderique.

Neosho was represented by 5-7 senior Savannah Snow, who raked the Cardinals for 26 points, and 6-2 sophomore Kayln Vlasin.

Completing the elite were the Joplin pair of 5-10 senior Hill and 5-7 sophomore Jessie McMullen and Wilkerson of Miller.

Neosho took a 60-56 lead against Webb City on a basket by Lorelei Snow — Savannah’s twin — with about 2:40 remaining.

But Hudson cut into the deficit with two free throws at 2:17 before the Wildcats’ Melanie White, a 5-9 senior, hit a charity at 1:43 to make it 61-58.

Jaeger connected on the inside for Webb City before a turnover by Neosho at 1:10 and its miss at 32.9 at the foul line in the bonus crippled its finish. Still, Neosho led 61-60.

Jaeger was fouled at 16.8, however, and cleanly drilled two free throws in the double bonus to make it 62-61.

Neosho committed another turnover at 6.3 to set up 5-5 sophomore Breanna Baker’s 1-of-2 at the line at 5.8.