FREDERICKTOWN GIRLS ADVANCE; ST. VINCENT BOYS END SEASON

POPLAR BLUFF -- Fredericktown's girls didn't have a lead until the 4:10 mark of the second quarter.

But once the Lady Blackcats captured the lead, it held it for a 77-64 win over Kennett in a Class 3A sectional game Wednesday at Poplar Bluff High School.

Kennett (19-2) lead 16-11 after one quarter, but Fredericktown (19-5) came back in the second period and led 36-29 at the half. A Lindsey Merrill offensive rebound at the 4:10 mark of the second quarter gave Fredericktown its first lead, 24-22, and the Lady Cats never trailed thereafter.

A 12-0 run by Fredericktown in the third quarter upped the Lady Blackcats' lead to 57-35. Fredericktown enjoyed its biggest lead of the night with a minute left in the third quarter, ahead 65-42.

No individual scoring information was available.

Fredericktown will face Eureka in a quarterfinal game Saturday at the Farmington Civic Center. The winner advances to a MSHSAA Final Four game at the Hearnes Center in Columbia.

Class 2A, District 3

CRYSTAL CITY -- Top-seeded Crystal City's Nathan Riney scored 39 points and the hosts edged No. 5 St. Vincent 62-58 Wednesday in a semifinal contest.

The game was tied at 43-43 entering the fourth quarter.

Crystal City led 18-14 after one quarter and 31-27 at the break. St. Vincent then outscored the hosts 16-12 in the third quarter to tie the game entering the fourth.

St. Vincent finished the season 11-15.

The Indians played without top scorer Jonathan Wengert, who served a one-game suspension for disciplinary reasons.

For St. Vincent, Jason Cissell scored 18 points and Josh Wheeler added 11.

No Crystal City player other than Riney scored in double figures.

Class 1A, District 3

MEADOW HEIGHTS -- Top-seeded Lesterville will play No. 2 Ste. Genevieve Valle tomorrow at 7:30 in the boys final of the Class 1A district at Meadow Heights.

In semifinal play Wednesday, Lesterville beat No. 5 Leopold 64-48 and Valle topped No. 3 South Iron 58-46.

At 6 tomorrow, top-seeded Bunker will play No. 3 Valle in the girls championship game.

Bunker beat Lesterville 57-30 and Valle eliminated South Iron 58-46 in semifinal games Wednesday.