Defending state champs fall in back-and-forth opener

Notre Dame's girls basketball team, playing its first game since winning the Class 2 state championship last season, dropped its season opener 63-62 Monday night to Farmington in the Farmington Invitational.

Senior Ashley Millham, who scored a team-high 17 points for Notre Dame, hit a 3-pointer with three seconds in the game to draw the Bulldogs within one point, but Farmington ran out the clock on the inbounds.

Sierra Ellis and Sommer McCauley each added 15 points for Notre Dame (0-1).

Farmington (1-0) received a game-high 24 points from Natalie Bess, while Katelyn Peterson and Jessica Arnold each finished with 10.

The game was tight throughout with Farmington leading 33-31 at halftime. Notre Dame carried a 50-49 lead into the fourth quarter.

Notre Dame, competing in the round-robin portion of the tournament, will face Jackson on Friday.

Scott City 68, Chaffee 37

Scott City (2-0) used a big game from Loren Groves to knock off Chaffee (0-1) on the road.

Groves scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the win. Rachel Spinks added 10 points and nine rebounds, Kristen Schaeffer had 15 points and Audrey Heisserer had a big night with 10 rebounds.

Jennifer Vandeven led Chaffee with 10 points.

Valle 62, St. Vincent 48

St. Vincent couldn't handle Valle in the opener of the Valle Tournament. Valle's Kara Schilli was too much for the Indians to handle as she scored 21 points. The Indians were led by Chelsey Brown who had 13 points. Ashley Richardet added 10 points.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Woodland Tournament

Fifth-seeded Bloomfield (1-0) scored the game-winning point on a free throw with two seconds left for a season-opening 97-96 win over fourth-seeded Meadow Heights (1-1).

The game was the first of two exciting finishes as second-seeded Woodland (1-1) nipped seventh-seeded Delta (0-1) 51-50 at the buzzer. Top-seeded Advance (1-0) opened the night with a comfortable 70-39 victory over eighth-seeded Oak Ridge.

In Bloomfield's victory, Tim Perry led all scorers with 35 points.Brad Adams tallied 34 points in a losing effort for Meadow Heights.

In Woodland's exciting triumph, Eric Rives scored on a conventional three-point play with five seconds to go.

Luke Johnson sparked a Woodland offense that scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. Johnson scored 11 of his 13 points in the period.

In Advance's win, the Hornets' Jared Ritter led all scorers with 18 points. Jason Bahr added 14 points.

Bloomfield and Advance will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the semifinals. Woodland will play tonight's Leopold-Zalma winner in Thursday's other semifinal.

Meadow Heights will play Oak Ridge in the consolation game today at 6 p.m.

Oran Tournament

All of the top seeds picked up victories in the opening round of the Oran Tournament.

Top-seeded Twin Rivers easily handled Richland 84-23. Second-seeded Bell City (1-0) cruised past seventh-seeded Scott County Central (0-1) 95-63, and host Oran, the third seed, beat sixth-seeded North Pemiscot 72-60.

Dominitrix Johnson and Eric Henry came up big for Bell City with 27 and 23 points, respectively. Henry contributed 20 rebounds while Johnson added 13. Kenyon Wright added 22 points, hitting four 3-pointers.

Chris Pullen led Scott County Central with 27 points.

In the win for Oran (1-0), Nathan Seyer led a balanced attack with 20 points. Ryne Wood added 16 points.

Kelly and Gideon will meet in the final first-round game 7:30 p.m. today. Scott County Central and North Pemiscot will follow in an 8 p.m. consolation semifinal.

FRESHMEN BOYS' BASKETBALL

Central, ND split

Central and Notre Dame teams split a pair of games. Central beat Notre Dame in the A game, 55-43. Jared Thomas led the Tigers with 13 points. Notre Dame won the B game 49-42. Scott Dunaway and Aaron Huey led Central with nine points apiece.

EIGHTH-GRADE BASKETBALL

Central 48, NMCC 36

Robert Wier scored 22 points to lead Central (1-1) to its first victory of the season.

-- From staff reports