2023 Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament: Defensive effort earns Bell City a spot in the consolation championship

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Bell City Cubs will play for a Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament consolation championship. The Cubs defeated the Advance Hornets 55-49 in the consolation semi-final to earn their spot in the consolation championship for the first time since 2014.

Bell City sophomore guard Jake Asher scored 10 points and sophomore forward Kale Richardson led the Cubs with 12 pints but 10 of which came in the fourth quarter.

“It all started with our guards,” Richardson said. “We realized that once we get to the wing, they had 1-on-1 matchups. I had to take care of business with that because since I only had two points the whole game and I had to step up when the team needed me to.”

Bell City came out of the gate playing tough defense which led to good chances at the other end. On any open looks the Hornets got the shots just would not fall,

Cubs head coach Luke Bixler said his team has been focused on defense and he is proud of how it paid off today.

“I thought we played hard from the start, I told the guys we can’t have any slow starts,” Bixler said. “I think putting pressure on the ball and focusing on defense helps us to avoid slow starts and get going faster.”

Advance jumped out on a 6-0 run to start the second, forcing Bell City to call a timeout. The Cubs stopped the run but much better defense from the Hornets gave them a two-point 27-25 headed into halftime.

Bell City figured out the Advance press in the third quarter and started to press a little on their own. The Cubs opened the quarter on a 12-4 run before Advance used a timeout, the Hornets were able to slow down Bell City but could not score on the offensive end.

Bixler said the Hornets wanted to make his team uncomfortable so he decided to make them feel uncomfortable as well.

“Just wanted to make them uncomfortable, that's our thing, don't let them be comfortable touching the ball,” Bixler said. “Just an all-out team effort today, we just focused on playing team defense and stopping the basketball.”

Advance senior Braylen Carlton led the Hornets with 14 points and fellow senior Ayden Fleming added 12 points in the loss.

The Cubs will take on Scott County Central for the consolation championship on Saturday at 3 p.m.

__NO. 15 BELL CITY 55, NO. 14 ADVANCE 49__

Bell City 14 11 14 16 — 55

Advance 10 17 6 16 — 49

Bell City (55) — Kale Richardson 12, Jake Asher 10, Juan Hernandez 8, Logan Stubenrauch 8, Baylor Eftink 6, Brandon Hudson 6, Dawson Loomes 3, Trevor Hudson 2. FG: 21. (3-pointers: B. Hudson 2, Stubenrauch 2, Asher 1, Eftink 1)

Advance (49) — Braylen Carlton 14, Jameson Hamlin 12, Ayden Fleming 7, Brison Winchester 7, Hunter Rodgers 4, Andrew Henson 3, Morgan Swinford 2. FG: 20. (3-pointers: Carlton 1, Fleming 1)