The Carmi-White County 6th Grade Bullpups wrapped up their season with a strong showing at the Eldorado Tournament over the weekend, finishing in 5th Place and ending the year with an impressive 16-5 record. Carmi went 3-1 during the tournament, picking up wins over Jonesboro, West Frankfort, and Hardin County. The Bullpups were led by balanced scoring, strong defense, and timely shooting throughout the weekend. Jack Taylor capped off a strong tournament performance by being named to the All-Tournament Team.
Carmi opened the tournament with a dominant 59-19 win over Jonesboro. The Bullpups came out firing from the perimeter, connecting on 7 of their 11 three-point attempts in the game. Abe Aud led the way with 17 points, including three three-pointers, while Beckam Moore added 16 points with two threes of his own. Jack Taylor chipped in eight points, while Brecken Buttry finished with five. Bennett Moore scored four points, Ezra McGarrh added three, and Jett Bradshaw, Conner Pearce, and Liam Pollard each contributed two points. Carmi’s hot shooting and fast-paced offense helped the Bullpups pull away early and cruise to the opening-round victory.
In game two, Carmi suffered its only loss of the tournament, falling to Pope County 30-24 in a defensive battle. The Bullpups played strong defense throughout and actually held a 6-4 lead after the first quarter. Pope County managed to edge ahead 15-11 by halftime. Carmi kept things close and trailed by just four points with about four minutes remaining but struggled to find the basket down the stretch. The Bullpups shot just 1-of-14 from three-point range in the contest. Jack Taylor led Carmi with 11 points, while Beckam Moore added five. Abe Aud and Jett Bradshaw each finished with four points.
The Bullpups bounced back in Game 3 with an impressive 40-18 victory over West Frankfort. Carmi’s defense set the tone early, creating several steals that led to transition baskets. Bennett Moore, Brecken Buttry, and Brooks Campbell were especially active defensively in the first half, helping the Bullpups build a comfortable lead. Jack Taylor once again led the scoring attack with 15 points, while Abe Aud followed with 12. Bennett Moore contributed five points and Jett Bradshaw added two as Carmi controlled the game from start to finish.
Carmi closed the tournament by defeating Hardin County 34-31 in the 5th Place game. The Bullpups jumped out to a quick start, taking a 10-4 lead by the end of the first quarter and extending it to 18-12 at halftime. Hardin County battled back in the second half and pulled within two points at 26-24 after knocking down several tough shots. Carmi responded in the closing minutes as Bennett Moore scored two clutch baskets and Abe Aud added another key bucket. Jett Bradshaw sealed the win by knocking down critical free throws to make it 34-31 with 18 seconds remaining. Hardin County had one final chance, but their three-point attempt on the final possession came up short, securing the Bullpups’ victory. Jack Taylor led Carmi with 14 points, while Abe Aud and Bennett Moore each scored eight. Beckam Moore and Jett Bradshaw both added two points.
Congratulations to Coach Rankin and the Bullpups on a great season!