Advance boys basketball team books spot in Class 1 final four

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- The Advance boys basketball team secured a spot in the Class 1 final four thanks to Preston Wuebker's jump shot with 5 seconds left, which gave the Hornets a 47-45 victory over South Iron in a Class 1 quarterfinal at Van Buren High School on Saturday.

The Hornets trailed for most of the game until junior Brian Whitson hit a 3-pointer with under a minute to play to give them their first lead of the game.

The Panthers tied the game with 46 seconds to play after a timeout, but after Wuebker's basket, South Iron tried a last second 3 that rimmed out to end their season.

Advance junior Austin Ladd finished with 12 points to lead the Hornets, who improved to 18-9 and will face the winner of a quarterfinal between Glasgow and Meadville in a state semifinal at 6:40 p.m. Thursday.

Advance trailed South Iron (24-5) 29-20 at halftime before putting together a strong 12-6 third quarter run to pull within two heading to the fourth.

The two teams stayed within three points of each other in the fourth before the Hornets pulled away for good in the final five ticks of the game.

Check back later for complete coverage of this game.

South Iron 18 11 6 10 -- 45

Advance 9 11 12 15 -- 47

SOUTH IRON (45) -- Josh Trent 6, Garrett Wilfing 2, Austin Grant 6, Korbin Ruble 9, Demetrius Cornell 18, Orrin Riggs 4. FG 19, FT 5-6, F 16. (3-pointers: Ruble 1, Cornell 1. Fouled out: none.)

ADVANCE (47) -- Preston Wuebker 8, Brian Whitson 10, Austin Ladd 12, Dalton Wilson 10, Dawson Mayo 7. FG 16, FT 11-16, F 8. (3-pointers: Wuebker 2, Whitson 2. Fouled out: none.)