Boys Basketball: Bulldogs, Tigers, Cougars and Warriors advance in districts

By MATT KING

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

LEADWOOD – The West County boys took whatever the Saxony Lutheran defense permitted, and delivered a sharp performance to begin the basketball postseason on Tuesday evening.

Reserve forward Parker Therrell provided 12 first-half points from the low post while starting guard Seth Culkin netted a dynamic dozen after intermission.

The fourth-seeded Bulldogs gradually pulled away from Saxony Lutheran with only a single turnover in the second half, and triumphed 64-45 as host of the Class 3, District 2 tournament.

Culkin notched a game-high 19 points overall, and Therrell finished with 16. West County (11-14) will face No. 1 seed Woodland on Thursday.

Tatum Harbison struck first on a corner 3-pointer, and Culkin followed with a steal and layup for the Bulldogs, who battled without guard Wyatt Scherffius due to injury.

Therrell used his size to seal defenders, and also caught long passes on long pressure to maintain a 14-9 lead that only disappeared for a fleeting moment of the second quarter.

Braydon Zoellner and Baylor Wilson propelled Saxony Lutheran (6-21) in front 21-17 on back-to-back threes, but were answered by a second Harbison triple and basket by Therrell amid contact.

Wyatt Simily hit a spinning bank after backing down a defender, and Levi Lashley took an inbound from the baseline as the Bulldogs established a 31-25 halftime lead.

West County guarded well throughout the third quarter, surrendering only two field goals, and Culkin drove from opposite sides to sink a couple of runners with each hand in the paint.

He also coaxed a difficult reverse layup, and the Bulldogs closed the period with a lengthy possession that Therrell punctuated inside for a 45-33 separation.

Trenton Harbison connected from long range to make it 55-36. Tatum Harbison hit 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch, and tallied 11 points while Simily ended with eight.

Zoellner paced the Crusaders with 12 points while Zach Roth and Eli Raddemann added 10 each.

Arcadia Valley 75, Clearwater 48

LEADWOOD – Arcadia Valley committed only two turnovers in the first half, and blitzed Clearwater 75-48 in the first round of the Class 3, District 2 tournament on Tuesday night.

Kaiden Keith topped 11 players in the scoring column for the winning side with 21 points. Brayton Jarvis added 16 more while sinking five 3-pointers.

Arcadia Valley (17-10) opened the game on a 9-2 run, capped by a Jarel Jackson steal and assist to Keith after Evan Inman connected from the right corner off an inbounds pass.

Jarvis delivered from long range, and Keith cashed in an immediate steal during the second quarter. Jarvis then poked the ball away, and Jackson executed an easy layup for a 41-20 halftime lead.

Clearwater (7-20) used three 3-pointers from Layton Johnson to briefly remain with 22-17, but handed away too many early possessions and ceded a 19-3 run.

Dawson Boesing raced from end to end for a layup through contact to commence the third quarter, and had 12 points as AV progressed to a semifinal clash against Scott City on Thursday.

A 3-pointer from Stuart Anderson made it 56-25, and the AV bench saw extensive action. Logan Dunn grabbed seven rebounds, Knox Beard generated multiple second chances, and Inman had four assists.

Johnson compiled 21 points after attacking four times to score in the fourth quarter. Lucian Harris was 8-of-10 from the line, and gave Clearwater 10 points while Alex Wolf chipped in eight.

AV converted 11-of-18 free throws compared to 13-of-18 by its opposition.

Kingston 53, Grandview 47

FESTUS, Mo. – Brady Thompson and Jaxson Arnold each drained two crucial 3-pointers down the stretch to help the Kingston boys continue their season on Tuesday night.

The fourth-seeded Cougars outscored Grandview 26-16 during the fourth quarter, and prevailed 53-47 in the first round of the Class 3, District 3 tournament.

Thompson finished with 23 points, and Joey Hahn matched Arnold with 10 apiece. Kingston (13-4) advanced to face Valley Park in the semifinals on Thursday.

Grandview (13-13) increased a 17-15 halftime lead to 31-27 as the third quarter concluded. Jaxson Peterson netted 17 points, and Cameron Brooks tallied 13 in defeat.

Riley Samples chipped in seven points for the Cougars. A ragged start by both offenses resulted in a 5-5 tie after one quarter.

Valle Catholic 66, Crystal City 42

PATTON, Mo. – Evan Viox scored 17 points, and Valle Catholic roared past Crystal City 66-42 in the Class 2, District 4 opening round on Tuesday night.

The second-seeded Warriors carried a 29-22 lead into halftime after trailing a few minutes earlier, and will face Oak Ridge in the semifinal round on Thursday.

Valle Catholic (14-9) embarked upon a dominant 34-7 run to establish a 55-29 advantage after Crystal City (5-22) had briefly taken a 22-21 lead.

Brody Bertrand provided 13 points, and Coyer Marberry added nine in the victory.

Meadow Heights 72, Bismarck 64

PATTON, Mo. – Gabe Crocker erupted for a career-high 37 points in his final varsity basketball game Tuesday night, as Bismarck was eliminated from the Class 2, District 4 postseason.

Mason Mayfield netted 25 points, and Kamden Hays finished with 23 as the fourth-seeded Panthers moved forward to challenge top seed St. Vincent on Thursday.

Crocker, who missed multiple weeks of action before Christmas, knocked down seven 3-pointers and added five assists for the Indians, who claimed an 18-15 advantage after one quarter.

Meadow Heights (11-15) rallied for a 39-34 lead at halftime, and received 16 points from Kaleb Davis.

August Martinez amassed 18 points along with nine rebounds, and Ean Bone had nine rebounds plus six points for Bismarck (9-17).

Oak Ridge 68, Valley 52

PATTON, Mo. – Noah Engler finished with 17 points, and Oak Ridge clipped Valley 68-52 in a Class 2, District 4 first-round game on Tuesday night.

Hayden McFall was among four players in double digits with 16, and the sixth-seeded Eagles advanced to face Valle Catholic in semifinal round on Thursday.

Oak Ridge (8-18) established narrow leads of 20-19 through eight minutes and 33-30 at intermission, then pulled away with a 35-22 scoring edge in the second half.

Ryder Yount compiled 15 points to pace Valley (11-13). Jaxson Lawson was a perfect 6-of-6 from the line while earning 12 points, and Blake Gillam matched Keller Loughary with seven each.

Jayden McAllister generated nine points in the first quarter, and equaled Mason Bolin with 14 apiece to bolster the Eagles.

Potosi 77, Hillsboro 76

POTOSI – A couple of disputed foul calls finalized a late collapse by Hillsboro on Tuesday night as Potosi rallied from 15 points behind in the fourth quarter.

Kanaan Wilson sank a clinching pair of free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining to mark the lone lead for the Trojans in a wild 77-76 victory at home.

Wilson shared game-high honors with 23 points, and drew the pivotal whistle on a spin move near the left elbow against Brennan Poynor, who had just missed two from the line.

Potosi (17-5) trailed 60-45 entering the final stanza, and barely needed two minutes to pull within 62-57 as Thomas Lambing leaped to catch a pass and make an athletic layup.

Three free throws by Wilson on a perimeter foul sparked the 12-2 spurt before he finished an excellent outlet from Rhenn Mapes. Lambing notched his first field goal on a corner 3-pointer in between.

Hillsboro (13-12) restored a 76-71 edge with 47 seconds to play, but Carter Hutson was called for a foul away from the ball as Zane Blount dropped in a leaner for the Trojans.

Peyton Rowe split the ensuing trip to the stripe, trimming the difference to two, and Mapes likewise made 1-of-2 with a chance to tie after stealing an outlet pass.

Rowe provided 19 points, and Mapes had 18 in the victory.

Karson Campbell powered in 23 points while Poyner tallied 20 and Tyson Sutton notched 17 for the Hawks, who posted leads of 23-17 after one quarter and 43-31 at the break.

Farmington 97, De Soto 50

FARMINGTON – Ryder Gollaher compiled a game-high 23 points in less than three quarters, and Farmington routed De Soto 97-50 on Tuesday night.

Cooper Tripp registered 17 of his 20 points prior to halftime, and fellow senior guard Tatem Tinlsey netted 19 during their final home game.

Farmington (19-7) exploded toward a 54-22 lead at the break, increased it to 81-38 through three quarters, and will carry a seven-game win streak into district play next week.

Jacob Barnes provided eight first-half points while Baylor Bowling and Oscar Millan chipped in seven apiece for the Knights.

Grayson Presnell scored 13 points, and Dylan Hendricks talled 12 for De Soto (5-20).