2023 Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament: Kelly overcomes slow start to down Chaffee

It took a quarter for them to get going but the Kelly Hawks opened the 2023 Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament with a 64-47 win over the Chaffee Red Devils.

Early on it appeared the Red Devils were on the prowl for an upset as they raced out to an 11-7 lead that would turn into a 22-20 lead after the first quarter of play.

“They were real patient and they moved the ball well,” Hawks coach Noel Trimmer said. “They set great back screens which created spacing and (Blake) Yarbro was tough inside.”

However, Kelly began to show why it has started the season 7-0 as the Hawks began to take control of the game.

They would grab a 28-27 lead midway through the second quarter and eventually take a 37-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.

“I knew if we could get out and take away their shooters (things would flip),” Trimmer said. “Once we got that down and took that away it was just a matter of giving back side help to deny Yarbro inside.”

As Kelly tried to distance itself at the beginning of the third quarter, the Red Devils hung around, closing the lead to four with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter.

With the Red Devils closing, Kelly junior guard Ross Peters had an answer as he drilled three big three’s to keep the Hawks in front in the third-quarter.

Kelly's Ross Peters watches his shot during the Hawks' 64-47 win over Chaffee on Tuesday, Dec. 26, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com

“Ross has been playing really well,” Trimmer said. “This is the third-straight game where he’s shot the ball really well.”

Offensively, Kelly was led by Peters who posted a game-high 23 points in the win.

Also contributing for the Hawks was Michael Dollins with 15 points and Dalton Forck with 13 points.

Chaffee was led by Levi McKinnie who scored 15 points in the loss for the Red Devils.

Chaffee (2-7) will take on Advance in the consolation bracket at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

Kelly (8-0) advances to battle Charleston at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

“We can’t come out and play sluggish like we did in the first quarter tonight,” Trimmer said. “You can’t have a down quarter against them. They’ve got real good quickness and they attack the ball really well.”