ARCADIA VALLEY, Mo. (News First) – The J.D. Maguffee Gymnasium in Ironton was packed on both sides of the bleachers last (Monday) night for the first three opening-round games of the Arcadia Valley Thanksgiving Boys Basketball Tournament. Besides being the start of a new basketball season, Show-Me Live Sports also premiered last (Monday) night by broadcasting all three games. The South Iron Panthers are the first-seed and they have moved up to Class 2 this year but they are still one of the teams people will be talking about as the Panthers would like to see another state championship banner hanging in their gym in Annapolis. South Iron played the part, looking like state champions, as they had no problem with Bismarck, dominating the Indians 84-15 last (Monday) night. The Panthers played tenacious defense, and on the other side of the ball, they had at least 12 players in the scoring column, four Panthers scored in double digits with senior Sawyer Huff leading the way with 24, including two slam dunks.
In game two last (Monday) night, second-seed West County downed Clearwater 70-43 to advance to the semi-finals. Tigers first-year coach Heath Ayers praises his opponent’s play and also shows some love for his Clearwater team.
In the final game last (Monday) in the A.V. Thanksgiving Tournament, third-seed Fredericktown nearly gave away their 1st half lead but the Blackcats held on, eventually pulling away from Ellington with a 74-57 victory. Whippets coach Jeremy Peterson says his young team has raw talent but they still need time to mature.
Coach Peterson says there’s no practice this week to work out the kinks. They will be in “learn as you go mode” because his Whippets are right back on the same court again tonight (Tuesday). Ellington will play an old foe from the Black River League, the Clearwater Tigers.
The Clearwater/Ellington consolation bracket matchup will tentatively start at 8 tonight (Tuesday). Before that game though, the games get going at 5 o’clock when the final first-round game takes place. That will feature the host school, the Arcadia Valley Tigers matching up against the Lesterville Bearcats. The second game of the night in Ironton is not a part of the tournament. It’s the Arcadia Valley girl’s season opener against the Bismarck Lady Indians. Show-Me Live Sports will bring you all three games tonight (Tuesday) starting at 4:50. Listen in at streamingrules.com. You can listen off the website, or on the main page, we have several different free apps you can choose from to use on your phone.
Other high school basketball games from around the area last (Monday) night…the Bunker Eagles are flying high at 2-0. They defeated Newburg 94-49. Marquand is wasting no time. They just played their third game, falling to Cooter 82-55, giving Marquand a 1-2 record. Kingston gave Perryville all they could handle last (Monday) night as the Pirates escaped off their home court with a 74-73 win over the Cougars.
In girls’ high school basketball from last (Monday) night, St. James went on the road and beat Bunker 52-43. It was Festus improving to 2-0 after downing St. Clair 65-50. Meadow Heights spoils the Valley Lady Vikings season opener in Caledonia. The Panthers defeat Valley 61-48. It was Dora by six over Van Buren 49-43, Windsor downs Herculaneum 45-28 and Woodland was all over Bloomfield 71-30.
