HORNETS PUT FIRST STING ON SCOTT CITY, WIN 60-57

ADVANCE -- Garrett Broshuis said that the Advance High boys basketball team he plays for -- which this week broke into the state rankings for the first time in a long, long while -- had a statement to make Friday night.

"We wanted to come out and prove we deserve to be ranked," said Broshuis. "I think we did."

It's doubtful that anybody would argue with Broshuis after the Hornets, ranked seventh among Missouri's Class 1A squads, slipped past Class 2A sixth-ranked Scott City 60-57 in a thrilling game played before a packed house in the Advance gymnasium.

Advance, which was a state power in the 1970s but has not really distinguished itself in a long time, improved to 6-0. Scott City, which has been one of the area's top teams the past several seasons, fell to 6-1.

"It was really a great game," said Broshuis, one of the area's top all-around athletes who has already signed a letter of intent to play baseball at the University of Missouri. "Scott City is the best team we've played so far. We've been working real hard in practice and we've been looking forward to this one."

Broshuis certainly did his part to thrill the boisterous home crowd as the 6-foot-2 senior scored 25 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out seven assists.

After something of a slow start, Broshuis scored 15 second-half points, including nine in the fourth quarter. He hit six free throws without a miss in the final 39 seconds to help hold off the Rams.

"I had a few turnovers toward the end, so I wanted to go to the line to make up for those," said Broshuis with a grin.

Said Advance coach Jim Hall of his standout player, "He's a tremendous player and a fine young man. And people probably don't realize how unselfish he is. He really gets the ball to the open man."

Broshuis had plenty of help Friday as Adam Rainey scored 14 points and Daniel Turner added 13.

Scott City's Ronald Watson led all scorers with 26 points. Scott Johnston added 13 and Ryan Weatherspoon had 11.

"Watson had a great game, but we just have to execute better," said Scott City coach Derek McCord. "Advance executed their game plan to perfection. I have to give coach Hall and his bunch credit."

The Rams did not help their cause by hitting only six of 16 foul shots. Conversely, the Hornets went 11 of 15 from the line.

But overall, the game was well-played and hard-fought by both squads as the fans definitely got their money's worth.

"I think it would have been fun to watch for the fans," Hall said. "I don't think you can play any harder than both teams played."

Advance led much of the way, but the Hornets could never quite deliver the knockout blow.

After a few early lead changes, Jon French scored inside to put the Hornets ahead 7-6 and Advance would lead the rest of the first half, including 22-14 after one quarter and 29-26 at halftime.

Watson's basket early in the second half put Scott City ahead 30-29 and the Rams extended their lead to 33-29. But Advance fought back to go up 43-35 and led 43-40 heading into the fourth quarter.

Scott City grabbed its final lead of the night early in the fourth quarter when Johnston's layup completed an overall 9-0 Rams run and made it 44-43.

But Rainey took a great pass from Broshuis and scored to put Advance back on top 45-44 with 6:24 remaining.

Turner hit two straight mid-range jumpers to boost the Hornets' lead to 49-44 and Turner's layup after a Scott City turnover matched Advance's biggest lead of the contest at 54-46 with 2:58 left.

Scott City got to within 54-52 with 49 seconds left as Weatherspoon hit two free throws.

Broshuis made two foul shots with 39 seconds left for a 56-52 lead, but David Enderle hit a 15-footer at the 20-second mark to make it 56-54.

Two more Broshuis free throws with 18 seconds to play made it 58-54, but Johnston tossed in a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to slice the lead to 58-57.

Broshuis nailed two more foul shots with 5.1 seconds remaining for a 60-57 advantage. Enderle then missed a contested 3-pointer from straight on as the buzzer sounded.

"It's a great win for this program," said Hall. "I have the utmost respect for Scott City's program. The game went back and forth and we just happened to be ahead at the end."

Advance won the JV game 55-43 behind 16 points from Jared Ritter.