Higginsville crushes Chiefs for LaCoMo title

ALMA -- Top seed Higginsville blew out to an 8-0 lead and kept adding to it Saturday to beat the Santa Fe boys' basketball team in the Lafayette County Tournament championship game, 76-41.

It was the eight title for the Huskers, who have reached the finals in 15 of the tourney's 19 years.

Seniors DeShaun Thirkield and Trenton Cooper combined for 16 points during Higginsville's 22-8 first quarter, then junior Tyrell Thirkield took over -- knocking down a pair of three-pointers and tallying 14 of his game-high 24 points during the middle frames to send his team into the fourth period with a 19-point lead.

Cooper wound up with 12 points and the elder Thirkield brother had 11 for the Huskers (8-2).

Senior Cody Schmidt had 12 points to pace the Chiefs (7-4), who open I-70 Conference play Friday at home against Sweet Springs.

Sweet Springs 58, Pilot Grove 45

NEW FRANKLIN -- Without having to deal with a 6-foot-10 NCAA Division I recruit, as was the case two days earlier against Fayette, Sweet Springs senior Colby Dohrman was able to get back to his customary double-double production Saturday.

The 6-foot-3 forward scored 21 points and collected 10 rebounds during the third-place game of the 83rd annual New Franklin Tournament, leading the Greyhounds to a 58-45 victory over Pilot Grove -- a team they had beaten by a similar margin a month earlier in the State Fair Shoot-out.

Sweet Springs won every quarter, adding to a four-point halftime lead with a 17-11 third period. The 'Hounds made six of 10 free throws down the stretch to remain in front by double digits.

The Tigers (5-5) got 16 points from junior Kendall Kraus.

Sophomore Jacob Schowengerdt scored 16 points, senior Christian Stetzenbach had 10 and sophomore Jeffrey Hall contributed nine points and 11 rebounds for Sweet Springs (5-3) -- which will host Wellington-Napoleon to begin its I-70 Conference campaign Tuesday.

Keytesville 59, Slater 56

NEW FRANKLIN -- Senior Jon Littleton's seven points led Keytesville as it out-scored Slater 16-11 in overtime Friday to take the consolation trophy of the New Franklin Tournament, 59-56.

The Tigers led most of the game, taking a five-point lead into halftime. However, two buckets each by sophomores Drew Weiker and Tyler Buglovsky during the third stanza pulled the Wildcats to within one point heading into the final frame -- when a three-pointer by Weiker helped extend the contest.

Seniors Andrew Craig and Dillon Harris split 27 points for Keytesville (3-7).

Slater got 15 points each from Weiker and sophomore Caleb Pemberton, with sophomore Mat Curren chipping in with 13. The 'Cats (2-9) will head to Fayette for a Lewis and Clark Conference clash Tuesday.

Girls

Fayette 53, Sweet Springs 47

NEW FRANKLIN -- The Sweet Springs girls learned Saturday what the rest of the area will soon find out, if it is not already aware: Fayette freshman Ellie Johnson can be a very imposing presence.

The 6-foot forward is reminiscent of former Lady Falcon standout and University of Missouri player Jessra Johnson, to whom she is not related. However, her rebounding and shot-blocking skills are similar -- as she showed Saturday during Fayette's 53-47 victory over the Lady Greyhounds in the third-place game of the New Franklin Tournament.

A 14-2 second-quarter run sent the Lady Falcons into halftime with a nine-point lead, which grew to 13 going into the final frame -- when Sweet Springs scored 20 points to make the final margin respectable.

Johnson and senior Hayleigh Brunkhorst, also a tough inside match-up, each rang up 18 points for Fayette (7-4).

The Lady 'Hounds (2-6) got 22 points and 10 rebounds from senior Brittany Higgins.

Pilot Grove 41, Slater 41

NEW FRANKLIN -- Slater took a four-point lead into the fourth quarter Friday, but made only two field goals and no free throws the rest of the way during a 41-37 loss in the consolation final of the New Franklin Tournament.

The Lady Tigers took advantage of their opponent's drought by scoring 13 points, freshman Kerigan Wessing making eight of nine attempts from the charity stripe.

Wessing and senior Hailey Bader each scored 12 points for Pilot Grove (7-3) -- which benefited from 26 turnovers by the Lady Wildcats, Bader coming up with six steals.

Junior Sylvia Knox topped Slater (4-8) with eight points.

Santa Fe 43, Knob Noster 30

ALMA -- Santa Fe opened with a 12-0 run Friday to beat Knob Noster for the consolation trophy of the Lafayette County Tournament, 43-30.

The Lady Chiefs led 17-2 after the first period and appeared ready to make a rout of it, but hit a cold spell during the middle two frames, scoring only 11 points. However, once the Lady Panthers closed to within six points with two minutes remaining in the game, Santa Fe sank nine of 12 free throws to seal the victory.

Junior Kelsey Beasley's 12 points led all scorers for Knob Noster (1-7).

The Lady Chiefs (6-5) got 11 points from junior Chelsea Winter and 10 each from junior Callie Gieselman and freshman Lexi Smith.