Boys Basketball: AV boys join MAAA tourney semis after 11-year absence

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Dragons, Knights, Trojans among last four standing

By MATT KING

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

PARK HILLS – The Arcadia Valley boys basketball team wasted no time pouncing as Fredericktown point guard Tucker Reutzel was given a brief rest late in the second quarter.

The fifth-seeded Tigers embarked on a pivotal 7-0 spurt heading into halftime, and gradually gained more space from there to earn a 66-57 victory in the MAAA Tournament on Monday night.

Kaiden Keith was initially contained after exploding for 37 points on Saturday, but starred throughout the second half to produce a game-high 23 along with 12 rebounds and five assists.

Brayton Jarvis added 12 on four 3-pointers, and Arcadia Valley (15-7) committed only three turnovers after intermission while advancing to face Farmington on Friday night.

It will be the first semifinal appearance for the Tigers since they captured the 2015 title.

Fredericktown (10-10) utilized the size of center Andrew Robbins, who amassed 20 points along with 10 rebounds, to lead 17-15 after he blocked a layup attempt at the first-quarter buzzer.

Jarvis drained his third and fourth triples in the second quarter for the Tigers, but Robbins powered in his second 3-point play on a feed from Reutzel amid a series of nine lead changes.

The Blackcats were briefly ahead 30-27, but suffered a momentary slump as Jarel Jackson earned free throws off a steal and found both Jarvis and Alec Todd for open 3s and a 37-31 lead at the break.

Reutzel finished with 12 points and six assists, but picked up his personal foul just 36 seconds into the third quarter, and remained on the bench for more than 5 ½ minutes.

Keith seized control with a 3-pointer and driving layup, then answered an excellent left-handed drive by Blake Terry-Breakfield with a quick push and basket the other way.

Dawson Boesing finished a baseline move while totaling nine points overall, and AV carried a 50-43 advantage into the fourth.

Reutzel nailed a second-chance three to draw Fredericktown within 52-46. But Jackson found room to score in a crowded lane, then dished to Logan Dunn for a key 3-point play.

Keith extended the difference to its maximum at 61-46, and accelerated for a clinching dunk after David Slinkard finally notched his first field goal for the Blackcats.

Mason Cureton provided eight points, and Terry-Breakfield added seven for Fredericktown. Robbins was a solid 8-of-10 at the free-throw line.

Dunn tallied seven points as the Tigers pushed their season-high win streak to seven.

Ste. Genevieve 57, North County 48

PARK HILLS – Dominic Johnson found creases to deliver two crucial baskets as the Ste. Genevieve boys basketball team protected a shrinking lead on Tuesday night.

Jeffrey Hunter provided 19 points, and the third-seeded Dragons advanced to the MAAA Tournament semifinal round with a 57-48 triumph over North County.

Alex Basler added 13 points, and Ste. Genevieve (12-7) committed just eight turnovers. A composite 9-of-9 effort from the line helped secure a Friday night matchup with Potosi.

Both teams offered more encouraging defensive efforts in comparison to their previous head-to-head battle, and North County (7-13) slashed a nine-point deficit to one possession.

Noah Aubuchon executed a driving scoop, and Owen Hawkins sank a short jumper to keep the Raiders within 47-44, but the Dragons continued to operate with patience and efficiency.

Johnson double-clutched a 13-footer while coaxing contact, then attacked for a left-handed layup to restore a 53-46 advantage with 2:20 remaining.

North County saw its hopes fade by throwing the next two possession away, as Eli Bennett and Basler intercepted dangerous entry passes from the midcourt logo.

Rather than settling primarily for perimeter looks, Ste. Genevieve consistently tried to capitalize on cutting away from the ball after a transition layup by Basler provided a 29-25 halftime lead.

Hunter sank four shots inside of 10 feet during the third quarter, and also induced a charging foul that ultimately kept Raiders guard Kyle Straughan scoreless.

North County countered with steady production inside from forward Noah McMahan, who compiled game highs of 23 points and 10 rebounds, yet still trailed 45-36 entering the final period.

McMahan scored over two defenders under heavy pressure, then earned free throws as the sixth-seeded Raiders hung close at 24-22 in the second quarter.

Ste. Genevieve established an earlier 20-11 advantage after Bennett capped the first quarter and began the next with a pair of 3-pointers.

Johnson dished out five assists, and equaled Bennett with eight points. Broden Kreitler chipped in two timely jumpers off the Dragons’ bench.

Will Weible supplied 11 points for the Raiders, who converted a solid 13-of-17 from the line.

Farmington 72, Valley 48

PARK HILLS – Farmington steadily produced close-range shots through crisp passing, and established control in the first quarter against Valley on Monday night.

Jacob Barnes and Ethan Schaupert each finished with 12 points within a balanced attack, and the top-seeded Knights rolled 72-48 in the MAAA Tournament quarterfinals.

Tatem Tinsley and Cooper Tripp produced 11 points each, and Farmington (15-7) advanced to face Arcadia Valley in the semifinals on Friday night.

Tinsley opened the game with layup off an entry pass from Tripp, and drove all the way for another basket after blocking a runner.

Oscar Millan also bolted end to end for a fast-break finish to punctuate a 17-5 as the first quarter ended. Barnes cut inside to highlight a 13-2 run as the margin reached 30-7.

Blake Gillam knocked down a couple of jumpers, and added a layup off broken pressure as Valley (10-11) reduced the difference to 33-17 at halftime.

Hunter Moore drained two 3-pointers, and matched Gillam with 10 for the Vikings. Jaxson Lawson finished with nine points.

Schaupert sparked Farmington with a 3-pointer before taking an outlet pass from Ryder Gollaher, who later muscled in a crowded look from the paint at 48-25.

Tripp attacked for a layup, and Baylor Bowling connected from the perimeter to achieve a 67-37 lead near the midway mark fo the fourth quarter.

Gollaher totaled eight points with six rebounds. Farmington picked up its seventh win in eight games.

Noah Abney, whose buzzer beater lifted Valley past West County in the opening round, supplied eight points and eight rebounds.

Landon Lawson tracked a loose ball to save possession along the midcourt stripe, then split defenders and flipped in a wild shot over his shoulder while drawing contact in the third quarter.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Potosi 75, Valle Catholic 54

PARK HILLS – A recent knee injury to hustling senior Thomas Lambing has compelled the Potosi boys to address some potential vulnerability near the boards.

The second-seeded Trojans faced potential danger on Tuesday night, as upset-minded Valle Catholic forced several errant passes and crashed for a steady supply of second chances.

Potosi corrected many of its spacing errors after halftime, and began to create open jumpers during the second half to prevail 75-54 in the MAAA Tournament quarterfinal round.

Kanaan Wilson finished with 26 points, three assists and three steals, while Peyton Rowe compiled 23 points, 10 rebounds and three steals in the victory.

Potosi (15-4) posted scoring edges of 19-8 in the second quarter and 24-12 in the fourth, and will face Ste. Genevieve on Friday night for a spot in the title game.

Evan Viox was especially strong during first half action to counter with 20 points plus three steals for Valle Catholic (11-9). Phillip Naeger contributed 13 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

The Warriors looked inside early for a short turnaround by Naeger and physical putback by Viox. A steal by Naeger sprang Brody Bertrand ahead of the pack for a 13-8 lead.

Wilson answered with a spinning 14-footer and 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions, and Potosi carried a 17-15 edge when Zane Blount found Alex Hogan to conclude the first quarter.

Valle Catholic regained its final lead on free throws by Viox, then was hindered by a 19-2 run. Rowe and Wilson converted 3-point plays, and Rhenn Mapes added three field goals.

Potosi carried a 36-23 halftime lead, and withstood a modest rally by the Warriors as Viox powered through contact and Bertrand drained a 3-pointer out of the break.

An excellent running assist from Oliver Griffard to Naeger trimmed the margin to 38-32. Viox scored from the paint, and his ensuing steal preceded a Bertrand putback to 40-36.

But the Trojans capped the stanza with an aggressive steal and slashing drive by Rowe before Wilson nailed a jumper for a 51-42 separation.

Mapes accounted for two straight previous baskets with a clean midcourt steal in between, and guided a long diagonal pass on target to Hogan for a fast-break layup early in the fourth.

Wilson applied three consecutive daggers from long range, and equaled Rowe with four triples each. Hogan added 12 points, and Mapes totaled 11 points with six assists.

Bertrand tossed in nine points, and Alex Staab made four assists for the Warriors.

St. Paul 88, Zalma 68

FARMINGTON – St. Paul defeated visiting Zalma 88-68 on Monday night to match its program high for victories in a single season.

Porter Urling poured in 30 points, and Shawn Luba notched 24 more for the Giants, who pulled away after establishing a 45-30 halftime lead.

St. Paul (8-15, 2-1) also received 16 points from Aiden Morris and 12 from Caiden Canania.

The Giants fell to Perryville 81-46 on Tuesday, as Canania poured in 20 points.