Bell City boys book return trip to state

WEST PLAINS, Mo. -- In Bell City, championship is spelled D-E-F-E-N-S-E.

The defending Class 1 state champion Bell City Cubs unleashed a smothering display of defense on unsuspecting Eminence and dismantleed the Redwings in a 61-46 quarterfinal victory Saturday at the West Plains Civic Center.

The win advances Bell City to the Show-Me Showdown Class 1 final four in Columbia later this week, where the Cubs will be looking for their third state championship in four years.

Bell City freshman D.D. Gillespie led all players with 22 points, but it was the defensive pressure and bench depth that did in Eminence (17-14), a surprise 53-47 winner over Verona in sectional play.

After a feeling out process early in the game, a 3-pointer by freshman Nick Niemczyk gave the Cubs the lead for good at 5-4. The trey set off an 8-2 run to end the first quarter with Bell City leading 13-7.

The defensive pressure began to wear on the Redwings in the second period. Bell City forced five turnovers in the final 2 minutes of the half during a 9-0 run that sent the Cubs into the intermission in total command, 34-18.

"Our defense was really good tonight," Bell City coach David Heeb said. "I thought our defense was the key. To hold a kid like Gregory [Paul] to 11 points on two field goals. Blaine [Stewart], Phillip [Gross], Marty [Dames] and Jeff [Liggins] -- all those guys took turns on him. They just did a far better job than I thought they could do."

Gregory had a game-high 29 points in the Redwings' win over Verona, but was held to just four free throws through the first three periods. The 6-foot junior canned seven points in the fourth when the game was already decided.

"We felt like it would hurt them is we mixed it up, and we changed our defenses throughout the game," Heeb said. "The thing that's impressive about these kids is they don't complain about their minutes. They just go in, and who's ever turn it is, they just do a good job.

"You have to give A.J. Henry a ton of credit for the way he's been a leader on this team, even though he hasn't been able to contribute as much as he would like to on the floor," Heeb added. "If somebody would have bet on us early in the season, they would have won a lot of money because the odds would have been against us getting to the final four with a bunch of under classmen."

Bell City (21-9) will play the winner of the Brayner-Jefferson game at 9 a.m. Thursday in one Class 1 semifinal game at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia. A win will put the Cubs in the championship game, scheduled for 12:10 p.m. Friday.

BELL CITY 61, EMINENCE 46

Eminence 7 11 10 18 -- 46

Bell City 13 21 9 18 -- 61

EMINENCE (46) -- Gregory 11, Bailey 12, Martin 13, Tappana 1, Bolin 5, Stewart 4. FG 14, FT 13-19 (3-pointers: Bailey 4, Gregory 1, Martin 1)

BELL CITY (61) -- Nick Niemczyk 11, D.D. Gillespie 22, Lerome Segars 4, Kerry Lasters 8, Jeff Liggins 8, Phillip Gross 8. FG 24, FT 9-18. (3-pointers: Niemczyk 2, Liggins 1)