Basketball
The Knoxville Blue Bullet boys basketball team clinched the championship of the United Red Storm Christmas Tournament. The clincher didn’t come easy, though. The Blue Bullets trailed the host Red Storm 17-8 at the end of the first quarter and United stretched the lead to ten points at the half 30-20. Knoxville stormed out of the halftime break with 26, 3rd quarter points to lead 46-44 heading to the final period. They would make just enough plays to get a 54-52 victory to move to (10-2) overall and (4-0) in the tournament with one game to play. United was led by Declan Flynn with 16 points. Jacob Dutton chipped in with ten points. The Red Storm are now (2-2) in the tourney and (8-5) overall. Jason Hise led Knoxville with 13 points. He was joined in double figures by Jacob Repp with 12. West Central got their first win of the tournament, blowing out West Prairie 71-43. Landen Beelman had 29 points for West Central. Nate Bigger had 18 as well for the Heat. Ridgewood edged out Riverdale 47-43. Ridgewood is (3-1) for the week. The tournament has today before finishing tomorrow night. It will be Riverdale vs. Knoxville at 6:00 and United vs. West Central at 7:30. Both of those games will be in the Fieldhouse, while West Prairie and Ridgewood battle it out in the old Warren High School gymnasium, just down the hall from the Fieldhouse.
The Knoxville/Abingdon-Avon girls holiday tournament continued last night as well. In Abingdon, it was Farmington over United 56-19. Courtney Hinton led United with seven points. The host Lady Tornadoes beat Ridgewood in the second game in Abingdon. Over at Knoxville High School, Illini Bluffs beat the Knoxville JV 66-32 and we did not get a report from the Knoxville varsity against West Central. The tournament continues with the final pool play games taking place. In Abingdon, it’s Farmington vs. Elmwood at 6:00 and United vs. Abingdon-Avon at 7:30. At Knoxville High School, it’s ROWVA vs. West Central at 6 and the Knoxville varsity girls taking on Illini Bluffs at 7:30.
Junior High
In junior high boys basketball, the Monmouth-Roseville Titans swept Mercer County in Prairieland Conference play. The 7th Grade Titans won 40-19. Titan Scorers: Ethan Clark 14, Andy Myers 8. The 8th grade Titans won a tight game 40-38. Titan Scorers: Darrion Smith 14, Fillimon Thang 13. Monmouth-Roseville will travel to Stronghurst tonight to face West Central at 5:30.
The United junior high boys basketball teams were at Stark County. The 7th grade Red Storm beat the Rebels 24-23, behind Elliott Copeland’s eight points. The Red Storm 8th grade lost to Stark 38-29, despite Carter Rothzen’s nine points.
