Clarkton falls to South Iron in Class 1 State Quarterfinals

VAN BUREN — The Clarkton Reindeer (17-13) fell to South Iron (26-4) 77-63 Friday night in the Class 1 State Quarterfinals at the end of a high-intensity, defensive game beginning to end at Van Buren High School Friday, March 3.

“All year long our kids have had their success because they play extremely hard,” Clarkton coach Cole McBroom said. “I don’t think we’re an untalented group, but I don’t think anyone thinks we’re the Harlem Globetrotters. But we play really, really hard and that’s just a testament to the kids. We don’t have anything to hang our heads about, we played a very good team and we took them down to the wire.”

The South Iron Panthers are back-to-back state champions, and now they will compete for a chance at a third. Clarkton won the Class 1 District tournament with a 48-46 victory over Delta C-7, their second in a row, and the Reindeer took down Richland 47-44 in the sectional round of the Class 1 State Tournament.

While many in the community made reference to a David and Goliath-esque impending showdown throughout this week, McBroom wanted his players to disregard the past and focus on the potential for a Final Four appearance.

“I wanted the kids to go in thinking ‘Hey, if we play well we’re going to win this.’ I thought we came in with no fear and played our rear ends off, and we have a lot to be proud of,” McBroom said. “These seniors, juniors and sophomores have been a part of something the last two years that’s really cool.”

The Panthers led after every quarter, but with the intensity both teams brought to the floor defensively it was never a sure result until the end. Even with the knowledge of the powerhouse they were up against, Clarkton’s equanimity on both sides of the ball held them within a lucky run until midway through the fourth quarter.

South Iron led 15-9 after the first quarter, 34-22 at halftime, 57-45 ending the third quarter and won 77-63.

“We took a really good team, had it cut down to five or six in the third, but they did what good teams do,” McBroom said. “Kudos to them, every time we’d go on a run, they’d find a way to extend it back out.”

Reindeer seniors Owen Morgan and Bryant Redden played their last game Friday, and Morgan opened it with a layup and paced Clarkton all the way through. Morgan scored a game-high 22 points while Redden added nine to cap off their high school careers.

“They've been good players for us,” McBroom said. “They’ve both grown exponentially for us as basketball players and people. I don’t think either of them have anything to hang their heads about. I can’t wait to go to their weddings, watch them grow up and be fathers and husbands.”

The Reindeer cut their deficit to single digits in both the second and third quarters. Clarkton’s James Johnson took control of a loose ball and put in a layup to trail by seven, and Owen Morgan sank a mid range jump shot to keep the same margin later before the Panthers cut the run short once again.

Clarkton's James Johnson moves the ball down court during a game against Holcomb earlier this season.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

A layup by South Iron’s Jermarquis Burse took the Panthers to a nearly 20-point lead in the fourth quarter, 71-52, with just under four minutes remaining. Clarkton’s Morgan made the final scoring play of the game with a three-pointer.

“We gave up 77 points, which is a lot for us,” McBroom said. “Teams normally average about 50 against us but our game plan was to make them take tough shots and work for everything they got, and I felt like we did that.”

In addition to Morgan and Redden, Clayton Godsey scored 15 points for the Reindeer while Amauri Gorman added 11 and James Johnson added six.

South Iron was led by Sawyer Huff, who scored 19 points. Gabe Ruble contributed 18, Jemartez Burse added 17 and Jemarquis Burse added 11.

South Iron will advance to the Class 1 Final Four and take on the winner of Green City and Jefferson/South Nodaway March 9 at noon at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield.