CARTHAGE - With the school's football players in uniform for the first time, the Tigers looked like a much different team than the one that took the floor on Tuesday.
"Obviously we were short-handed on Tuesday, but I thought we played timid in that game," Carthage coach Steve Ray said. "Tonight we played hard. That was the difference. We're still a work in progress. We threw a lot of different lineups out there and I'm pleased with our progress."
Junior Alex Martini scored 14 points to lead the Tigers (1-1), while sophomore Patrick Carlton had 13 and senior Tucker Downing added 10. None of those players suited up on Tuesday.
Da'Rius Brewington led Belton (0-2) with 13 points.
The Tigers led 14-6 after the 6-foot-7 Martini threw down a two-handed dunk. Carthage then finished the first half on a 11-2 run for a 30-14 advantage.
The Tigers took a commanding 43-21 lead after Martini and Carlton both scored in the paint.
In today's consolation action, Carthage takes on Seneca at 11 a.m. for fifth place, while Belton meets Neosho for seventh at 12:30 p.m.

-Jason Peake, Joplin Globe Sports

Carthage 60, Belton 41
Carthage    14    16    13    11 - 60
Belto            8      6     11    16 - 41

Individual Scoring
Carthage -  Taris Jackson 9, Tucker Downing 10, Morgan Frisinger 7, Tyler Mueller 4, Patrick Carlton 13, Silas Templeman 1, Alex Martini 14, Lane Gall 2.
Belton - Jordan Clark 5, Isaac Martinez 5, DaHavon Powell 2, Antione Nunn 9, Darius Johnson 2, Da'Rius Brewington 13, Gavin Russell 4.
3-point goals - Clark, Martinez, Johnson, Downing 2, Martini.