Charleston ends season for Hawks

Charleston's talent and experience ruled supreme in the boys Class 3 District 2 championship Friday night at Three Rivers Community College, as the top-seeded Bluejays routed No. 2 Kelly 70-50 to clinch its fifth straight district title.

The Bluejays will face Doniphan on Wednesday in a Class 3 sectional at Poplar Bluff High School. Charleston is going for its fourth straight trip to the state final four.

Kelly coach Cory Johnson, whose squad finished 18-10, said when Charleston is playing well few teams can keep up with it.

"That's the team we were worried might show up tonight," Johnson said. "Any time that Charleston team shows up it's going to be a long night for whoever they play. They're so talented and so athletic. They're good kids. They play hard, they play the right way. They were just better athletes out there tonight."

This was the second straight season Kelly fell to Charleston in the district finals. The second-seeded Hawks were considered much bigger underdogs this season, however, after losing their top scorers Kendal and Kent Deason from last year's squad.

Kelly's senior-laiden squad fell behind 16-6 after one quarter and simply could not come back. Senior guard Brandon Ayers led the Hawks with 22 points, including four 3-poitners. Fellow senior Jordan Felter added eight points.

"We played as hard we we could," Johnson said. "We had a successful season. I'm going to miss my seniors. Jordan, Jacob [Glastetter] and those guys worked their tails off for me and were great leaders, all seven of them. I just wish we could've continued the season even longer."

Jamarcus Williams led Charleston with 17 points, Tavis Hamilton had 14, Shawn Sherrell had 12 and Justin Clark added 11.

CHARLESTON 70, KELLY 50

Kelly 6 15 9 20 -- 50

Charleston 16 20 16 18 -- 70

KELLY (50) -- Brandon Ayers 22, Jordan Felter 8, Jacob Glastetter 4, Russell Carroll 3, Zach Hamm 3, Spencer Ayers 2, Stephen Strobel 2, Tyler Thurman 2, Dallas Tew 2, Thomas DeBrock 2. FG 11, FT 10-11, F 13 (3-pointers: B. Ayers 4, Felter 1, Carroll 1. Fouled out: none)

CHARLESTON (70) -- Jamarcus Williams 17, Tavis Hamilton 14, Shawn Sherrell 12, Justin Clark 11, Josh Thompson 4, Antonio Riggens 4, Brian Parham 4, Jerquawn Sherrell 3. FG 25, FT 8-14, F 14 (3-pointers: Hamilton 2, J. Sherrell 1, Clark 1. Fouled out: none)