FIRE HINDERS 1A SECTIONAL GAMES

POPLAR BLUFF -- A hot night of state playoff basketball got a little too warm Wednesday night at Poplar Bluff High School.

A fire in a concession stand in the gymnasium caused a change in venue and lengthy delay for Wednesday night's Class 1A Sectional basketball games.

Just moments before the scheduled 6:30 tipoff in the girls game between Scott County Central and Valle of Ste. Genevieve, a fire broke out in the concession area on the upper level of Peters Gymnasium as two propane tanks exploded. Flames quickly spread inside the concession area and into the lobby. The half-filled gymnasium was evacuated and the flames were extinguished by firefighters.

One concession worker was taken to the hospital with minor burns.

Fire officials determined because of the potential for another explosion, nobody should be allowed back in the gymnasium. The games were moved from the 2,500-seat gymnasium to Poplar Bluff's new 5th-6th Grade Center, which seats just 800.

The girls' game, which finally started at 7:30 p.m., was won by Scott County Central 71-43. Delta won the boys game 73-51. Game stories on Page 3B.