Tuesday Roundup: North County girls and Potosi boys advance to tourney finals

LEADWOOD – Senior forward Emma Roper had a tremendous performance with 24 points as North County clinched a berth in the FSCB Christmas Tournament final.

The top-seeded Lady Raiders outscored Cuba 19-7 in the second quarter, and used nine total 3-pointers from the combination of Raegan Pierce and Roper to prevail 47-35 on Tuesday.

Roper was a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line, and North County (8-1) increased its 26-17 halftime lead to 37-23 after three quarters.

Pierce added 15 points on five perimeter strikes, and Alli Scott tossed in six points toward the victory. The Lady Raiders will face Hillsboro for the title on Wednesday.

Jaylen Haffer netted 11 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter, and Mya Garbo had eight for Cuba (9-2).

Hillsboro 49, Bismarck 24

LEADWOOD – Hillsboro punched its ticket to the FSCB Christmas Tournament title contest with a 49-24 triumph over Bismarck on Tuesday.

The Lady Hawks never looked back after establishing a 26-13 halftime lead. Ashley Hilton tallied a game-high 2 points, and Carlie Galczynski finished with 13.

Senior guard Halie Dickey scored 14 for Bismarck (5-2).

De Soto topped West County 82-60 and Clearwater routed Jefferson 85-51 in the fifth-place bracket.

Ellington defeated Crystal City 70-51 for nine place, and Kingston edged Valley 35-17 for 11th.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Central Christmas Tournament

PARK HILLS – The boys championship game of the Central Christmas Tournament will feature Potosi and Festus following their semifinal wins on Tuesday night.

The top-seeded Trojans erased a halftime deficit to emerge past Hillsboro 73-69, getting a season-best 33 points and 10 rebounds on stellar post play from senior Peyton Rowe.

Rhenn Mapes added nine of his 21 points during a series of lead changes early in the fourth quarter, and Kanaan Wilson chipped in 14. Potosi (9-0) last won the event in 1992.

Brendan Poynor and Cooper McGrath scored 19 each for Hillsboro (5-4).

Festus (6-3) used balanced scoring and stingy defense to unseat reigning champion Farmington 67-58, and is seeking its first Christmas title.

Jackson Smith paced the Tigers with 26 points and eight rebounds. Ryder Gollaher tallied 22 in defeat for Farmington (7-3).

Fredericktown has guaranteed its best finish in the tournament since 2007 after taking down conference foe Ste. Genevieve 50-43 on Tuesday.

Tucker Reutzel compiled 12 points, five assists and five rebounds for the Blackcats, who stretched their 20-18 halftime edge to 37-31 and reached the fifth-place game against Jefferson.

Andrew Robbins grabbed eight rebounds and equaled David Slinkard with 11 points for Fredericktown (5-6). Blake Terry-Breakfield contributed eight points, six rebounds and four assists.

The consolation final is already the third meeting between Arcadia Valley and South Iron. The Tigers beat Herculaneum 54-48 while the Panthers downed De Soto 53-39.

St. Vincent 72, Valle Catholic 48

STE. GENEVIEVE – St. Vincent capped a dominant run to the Warrior Winter Classic title with a 72-48 victory over host Valle Catholic on Tuesday night.

Max Wheeler scored 13 of his game-high 29 points in the second quarter as a 21-13 lead through eight minutes increased to 41-23 at halftime.

Clay Ellis, Colden Prost and Case Huber each tallied 11 points, giving top-seeded St. Vincent (7-2) four players in double digits.

Brody Bertrand paced Valle Catholic (3-4) with 12 points. Phillip Naeger and Evan Viox each had 10 points, and Oliver Griffard chipped in eight.

The Warriors were a solid 13-of-16 from the line.

Valley 65, Kingston 64

STE. GENEVIEVE – Valley built a double-digit lead in the third quarter, and survived a final shot as time expired to edge rival Kingston 65-64 for third place Tuesday at the Warrior Winter Classic.

Ryder Yount scored 14 points, and Hunter Moore drained four 3-pointers for 12. The Vikings carried a 34-26 advantage at halftime, and repeated their win over the Cougars earlier this month.

Valley (7-4) also received 11 points from Noah Abney plus nine from Jaxson Lawson and eight from Keller Loughary.

Brady Thompson poured in 27 points while sinking 11-of-13 free throws for Kingston (6-5). Joey Hahn provided 14 points and Jaxson Arnold had 11.

All three tournament games involving the Vikings were decided by one possession.