MMA: Higbee edged Missouri Military Academy 51-48 on a last-second 3-pointer Thursday night at Centennial Gymtorium.
“We played a good game. We lost on a last-second 3-pointer with 0.7 to play when a Higbee player’s shot rattled around the rim for what seemed like five seconds and went in,” said MMA coach Lt. Toby Henry.
MMA led 12-7 in the first quarter before the Tigers came back to tie it at 12-12; the Colonels again pulled out to a 26-20 lead in the second stanza and held on for a 28-24 halftime lead.
Sophomore post Jared Roberts scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Colonels. Senior guards Ty Armer and Robert Carrillo joined junior wings Wen Hsin (Jimmy) Chang and Derek Kantorski as other team leaders. It was the final home game for Colonels seniors Carrillo, Armer, Vonniah Rogers, Xin Rui Zhao and Matthew Hoyer.
“This was a great game to get ready for the district tournament,” said Lt. Henry. “The guys stuck to the game plan and really hustled.”
MMA faces Elsberry on Tuesday in Bowling Green to open district playoff action.
In the jayvee opener, Higbee pulled away late for a 44-25 victory. Trent Whisnant, Luke McKay, Yang Li and Jia Huan Liu led the Junior Colonels of Maj. Michael Pemberton in their season finale.
NORCAL GIRLS: Morgan Brown-Emmons made 10 of 12 shots from normal range plus three of four 3-pointers Thursday for a career-high 30P as the Ladybirds knocked off visiting Mid-Mo rival Southern Boone 56-49.
Brown-Emmons also pulled down 17 rebounds to end the regular season.
An 18-9 second period gave 7-8/3-6 North Callaway a 29-21 halftime lead. Megan Williams added 8P and Kelsey West 7S for the Ladybirds. Tillie Bill paced 10-14/5-5 SoBoCo with 21P.
The Ladybirds dropped the JV contest 39-26.
CR6 GIRLS: Thursday at EMO rival Clopton, the Lady Trojans bowed 51-34 after trailing 25-16 at the half and being outscored in every quarter.
Four players scored in double figures for the Lady Hawks, while Shelby Curtis led 13-10/4-4 Community R-6 with 19P/5A and Brittni Brandwein added 9P. Curtis sank all seven of her foul shots.
Clopton won the JV game 25-18.
