Prep Hoops Round-up: Chiefs move into I-70 tourney finals

SWEET SPRINGS -- Had the '60s folk group Peter, Paul and Mary been high school basketball fans, it may have sung "Where Have All the Shooters Gone?" after watching the offensive disappearing act of the Sweet Springs boys Thursday.

Two days after torching Crest Ridge for 98 points, the Greyhounds gave up nearly that many -- but didn't score a third of that -- during Thursday's home-court 95-29 semifinal loss to top seed Santa Fe in the I-70 Conference Tournament.

The game was competitive during the first quarter, the Chiefs holding a 21-13 lead, but a 32-7 second period left Sweet Springs in the dust. Santa Fe went on a 29-7 spree during the third quarter to put the game away.

Junior Nick Peeples had nine points and seven rebounds for the 'Hounds (2-2), who committed 27 turnovers and making only three of 22 three-point attempts -- a far cry from their 13 treys earlier in the week. Sweet Springs will play St. Paul -- which fell to Windsor, 42-37 -- for third place Saturday.

Senior Bryan Sander's career-high 27 points led five Chiefs in double figures, including a pair of reserves: juniors Matt Lovercamp (13 points) and Jeff Knipmeyer (10). Senior guards Ben Catlett and Brett Case each scored 11 points.

Santa Fe (4-0) will meet another group of Greyhounds, from Windsor, in Saturday's championship showdown.

Northwest 63, Malta Bend 33

HUGHESVILLE -- Senior Trevor Durrill torched Malta Bend for 31 points Thursday to give the host team a 63-33 victory in the consolation semifinal round of the Northwest Tournament at Hughesville.

The Mustangs (3-2) led by only four points heading into the second quarter, but Durrill made seven shots during a 20-5 run. Senior Colter Young buried three three-pointers during the third period to invoke the "turbo" clock for the final eight minutes.

Senior Ryan Armstrong had 20 points for the Tigers (0-5), who will face LaMonte in Saturday's seventh-place game.

Girls

Fulton 54, Marshall 23

FULTON -- The young Marshall girls' basketball team kept its Thursday contest at defending NCMC champion Fulton respectable for a half, but the Lady Hornets' defensive pressure eventually proved decisive.

The Lady Owls committed 33 turnovers during a 54-23 loss to Fulton.

The Lady Hornets, once coached by Marshall mentor Tom Hayob, led by nine points at halftime -- but then pulled away with a 30-8 second half, thanks to an 11-0 run to open the third period.

Senior Rachel Breshears led the attack with 15 points and 11 rebounds, with senior Sarah Prettyman -- a 5-foot-7 guard moved to the front line due to an injury to 6-3 senior Kristen Willer -- contributing 14 points for Fulton (4-1, 2-0 NCMC).

Sophomore Kelsey Griffin's nine points led Marshall, with sophomore Jasmine Jackson adding five points and five rebounds off the bench.

The Lady Owls (0-5, 0-2) will visit another old Hayob haunt during their Saturday road game at Chillicothe.

Green Ridge 36, Malta Bend 8

HUGHESVILLE -- The Malta Bend girls scored eight points during the first quarter, and none afterwards, during Thursday's 36-8 loss to Green Ridge in the consolation semifinal round of the Northwest Tournament.

Sophomore Kristen Morton led Green Ridge (1-3) with 16 points, with senior Emmaly Harrison adding 13.

A pair of three-pointers accounted for all of the team-high six points recorded by senior Jerrian Johnson for the Lady Tigers (0-5), who play Otterville for seventh place Saturday.