Christmas Tournament: Chaffee advances in consolation bracket with win over Meadow Heights

The two-time defending consolation champions are at it again.

Chaffee overcame a slow start to roll past Meadow Heights 67-30 Friday in a Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament consolation quarterfinal at the Show Me Center.

Sophomore Peyton Montgomery led four players scoring in double figures with 14 points as Chaffee, leading by just 16-10 after the first quarter, outscored the Panthers 20-7 in the second period to take a 36-17 halftime lead.

"(Thursday) we came out with a lot of intensity (a first-round 66-45 loss to Advance)," Chaffee coach Josh Govreau said. "I was worried about that after that loss."

The 10th-seeded Red Devils (7-3) kept up the assault in the third period, outscoring the Panthers 20-8 to put the game away.

"We didn't execute very well [in the first half]," Govreau said. "In the second half, we came out and played hard. I thought the first three or four minutes [of the third quarter] decided the game for us."

The Red Devils have their sights set on their third straight tourney consolation title.

"You don't ever want to lose that first game of the tournament," Govreau said. "We'll get another shot at Advance later in the year. We've just got to forget about that.

"We still have a chance for three wins in this tournament."

"We've got a positive attitude," said junior forward Charlie Montgomery, who had 12 points, along with Tyler Golden. "Today I think we came out focused. (The consolation title) is definitely a goal for us."

The 15th-seeded Panthers (2-9), who have just one senior, hung tough for a while. Meadow Heights coach Glenn Eubanks said it's a learning process for his young squad.

"They're still learning. It's a process. We just have to keep their heads up," Eubanks said. "We got some shots on offense today. We just didn't put them in the hole. You have to give credit to Chaffee. They hit shots."

Josh Douglas led the Panthers with 13 points.