Basketball
The United Red Storm and West Central Heat boys basketball teams opened their season with wins in the ROWVA/Williamsfield Invitational Tournament. The Red Storm defeated Riverdale 54-45 in the first game of three at Williamsfield High School. United poured in 19 points in the first quarter to take an early 19-5 lead. They put the game away by going 13-for-19 in the 4th quarter. Evan Wynne led the Red Storm with 14 points. Cormaic Flynn and Jacob Dutton were each in double figures with 11 points apiece as well for United. The West Central Heat knocked off Henry-Senachwine 52-43 in the second game of the night in Williamsfield. Unlike the Red Storm, West Central had to comeback in the second half of their victory as the Heat trailed 22-17 at the halftime horn. West Central outscored the Mallards 19-6 in the 3rd quarter to get the lead heading into the final quarter and held on from there. Landen Beelman was the only player in double figures for West Central. Beelman led a balanced scoring attack with 14 points. The hosts and defending champs, ROWVA/Williamsfield, beat Galva 74-58 in the final game of the night. Tonight’s schedule has West Central playing Galva at 5:00, followed by United and Henry at 6:30 and Riverdale and ROWVA/Williamsfield at 8:00.
The Monmouth-Roseville Titan boys are opening their season in Orion, once again. The Titans played the second game of the night, taking on the Sherrard Tigers. The Titans beat the Tigers in overtime last year in the same tournament and looked like they were going to get another win this time around, leading 32-21 at the half on the strength of a 24 points second quarter. But the Tigers had other ideas, locking down on defense, holding Monmouth-Roseville to 3 points in the 3rd quarter and going on for a 61-53 win. The Titans were led in scoring by Quincy Talivaa with 12 points. Jimmy Connell pitched in with 11 points and sophomore Ben Anderson had 10 points. Other final scores on the first night of the 10 & 32 Classic in Orion was Ridgewood beating Erie-Prophetstown 53-44 in overtime and Alleman blowing out Mercer County 61-38 in the last game of the night. Monmouth-Roseville gets right back on the floor tonight with a 5:30 game against Ridgewood as both teams will try get their first win of the tournament. Our Sunny 97.7 WMOI coverage will start at 5:15. After a night off last night, Abingdon-Avon will play their first pool play game at 7:00 against Orion and Sherrard plays Erie-Prophetstown at 8:00.
Junior High
The Monmouth-Roseville Lady Titans defeated the Rockridge Rockets 37- 26 in the Rockridge regional tournament. Leading scorers for the Titans were Mia Reynolds with 12 points and Tatianna Talivaa and Brianna Woodard with 9 points each. Monmouth-Roseville will play for a class 3A regional title on Wednesday night against Sherrard at Rockridge High School at 6:00.
The United Red Storm 7th grade girls beat the North Fulton Wildcats 30-20 in the Lewistown class 2A regional semifinals. Emma Robinson lead a balanced scoring attack with 12 points and Alayna Penn added 9. United will play tournament host Lewistown at 6:00 tonight for the regional title. Lewistown knocked out West Central with a 29-22 victory. Addie Seitz led West Central with 12 points.
In junior high boys basketball, the Monmouth-Roseville Titans faced Orion in Prairieland Conference play. The 7th grade Titans fell to the Chargers 39-32. Ethan Clark led Monmouth-Roseville with 10 points. The 8th grade Titans won 44-35. Leading scores for the Titans were Darrion Smith with 11 and Nico Avendano with 10.
