High school roundup: Perryville boys basketball team tops Saxony for tourney crown

The second-seeded Perryville boys basketball team avenged a loss from earlier this season, defeating top-seeded Saxony Lutheran 45-37 in the championship of the 54th Annual Chester Invitational Tournament on Saturday in Chester, Illinois.

"Coming in, we knew Saxony was a good team. We watched the game film a lot from the first game, and we didn't feel we played very well," said Pirates coach Justin Dreyer, whose team dropped a 60-43 decision against the Crusaders on Dec. 18 at home. "... You've got to give our kids a lot of credit. They did a really good job on defense."

Perryville was led by Conner Stark, who finished with 16 points, while McGwire Bartley contributed nine points.

The Pirates held a one-point lead at the end of the third quarter but outscored the Crusaders 14-7 in the final period to secure the victory.

William Rogers had a game-high 22 points to pace Saxony (15-2). Nathan Ruark added nine points for the Crusaders.

Perryville 12 15 4 14 -- 45

Saxony 7 13 10 7 -- 37

PERRYVILLE (45) -- Conner Stark 16, McGwire Bartley 9, Josh Robinson 7, Aaron Mueller 4, Wyatt Johnson 4, Nathan Noland 2, Ryan Noland 2, Garrett Johnson 1. FG 18, FT 5-10, F 14. (3-pointers: Stark 3, Robinson 1. Fouled out: Mueller.)

SAXONY (37) -- William Rogers 22, Nathan Ruark 9, Graesen Meystedt 3, Corie Williams 3. FG 11, FT 8-12, F 16. (3-pointers: Rogers 2, Ruark 1, Meystedt 1. Fouled out: None.)

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Saxony Lutheran 35, Cor Jesu Academy 16

The Crusaders traveled to St. Louis and overcame a sluggish start to blow past the host Chargers.

Brianna Mueller led all scorers with 17 points, while teammate Grace Mirly added 14 for Saxony Lutheran (14-2).

Cor Jesu (9-6) got six points apiece from Kelsey Doerr and Kristina Schmelter.

Saxony Lutheran 4 14 11 6 -- 35

Cor Jesu Academy 4 4 2 6 -- 16

SAXONY LUTHERAN (35) -- Grace Mirly 14, Ali Galemmo 2, Brianna Mueller 17, Tess Daniel 2. FG 13-36, FT 8-12, F 9. (3-pointers: Mueller 3, Mirly 2, Daniel. Fouled out: None.)

COR JESU ACADEMY (16) -- Kelsey Doerr 2, Molly Hummell 6, Hannah Sullivan 2, Kristina Schmelter 6. FG 7, FT 2-2, F 10. (3-pointers: None. Fouled out: None.)

GIRLS SWIMMING

CoMo Invitational

The Cape Central girls swimming team traveled to St. Louis for one of the regular season's premier meets, finishing 12th in the team standings with 53 points.

Rock Bridge won the event with 364 points, just ahead of Hickman (350). Poplar Bluff landed in sixth with 150 points.

Central's top individual performance came from Allison McDonald, who swam a 25.91 to finish fifth in the 50-yard freestyle. She was the only Tiger to swim in an A final.

The team also got a pair of solid individual efforts from Josey Powell, who finished 14th in the 100 free with a 59.27 in the B final and 17th in the 100 breaststroke, winning the C final in 1:18.13.

The Tigers posted a 10th-place result in the 200 free relay (1:50.76) and 11th in the 200 medley relay (2:07.29).

Poplar Bluff got a pair of top-three individual swims from Taylor Norwood -- the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly -- and finished third in the 200 medley relay.

Central returns to action Saturday with the annual City of Roses meet at the Central Municipal Pool.

Team Scores -- 1. Rock Bridge 364; 2. David H. Hickman 350; 3. Blue Springs South 223; 4. Springfield Summit Preparatory/New Covenant Academy 179; 5. Lee's Summit 172; 6. Poplar Bluff 150; 7. Liberty 148; 8. St. Teresa's Academy 146; 9. Eureka 120; 10. Muriel W. Battle 113; 11. Platte County 82; 12. Cape Central 53; 13. Pembroke Hill 51; 14. Marshall 48; 15. Belton 33; 16. Warrensburg 32; 17. Notre Dame de Sion 24; 18. Hannibal 15; 19. Raytown 9; 20. Blue Springs South B 6; 21. (tie) David H. Hickman II, Rock Bridge II 2

Local results

200 medley relay -- 3. Poplar Bluff (Taylor Norwood, Morgan McAtee, Raegan McAtee, Kaylee Harris) 1:56.44; 11. Cape Central (Molly Phegley, Josey Powell, Allison McDonald, Olivia Priest) 2:07.29

200 freestyle -- 12. Raegan McAtee (PB) 2:09.13; 22. Katie Huskey (PB) 2:22.41

200 individual medley -- 3. Taylor Norwood (PB) 2:11.91

50 freestyle -- 5. Allison McDonald (CC) 25.91; 14. Morgan McAtee (PB) 26.76; 16. Kaylee Harris (PB) 26.94; 24. Haylee Dragon (PB) 27.85

Diving -- 32. Kaylee Harris (PB) 177.65

100 butterfly -- 2. Taylor Norwood (PB) 58.64; 14. Raegan McAtee (PB) 1:05.61; 19. Allison McDonald (CC) 1:06.88

100 freestyle -- 14. Josey Powell (CC) 59.27; 15. Haylee Dragon (PB) 59.87

200 freestyle relay -- 8. Poplar Bluff (Kaylee Harris, Samara Kilgore, Lily Soeter, Haylee Dragon) 1:49.74; 10. Cape Central (Allison McDonald, Molly Phegley, Olivia Priest, Josey Powell) 1:50.76

100 backstroke -- 11. Lily Soeter (PB) 1:07.39; 19. Molly Phegley (CC) 1:12.74

100 breaststroke -- 4. Morgan McAtee (PB) 1:09.42; 17. Josey Powell (CC) 1:18.13

400 freestyle relay -- 5. Poplar Bluff (Raegan McAtee, Haylee Dragon, Morgan McAtee, Taylor Norwood) 3:52.79; 13. Cape Central (Maggie Boxdorfer, Amanda Mabry, Leanne Alpers, Ella Valleroy) 4:53.69; 16. Cape Central (Bryar Daum, Emily Webb, Katie Keele, Ally Vaughn) 5:10.52

-- From staff reports