Jackson, Kelly lead tournament all-star team

Jackson and Kelly, who reached the championship game of the 60th annual Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, both placed two players on the 10-member all-tournament team.

Champion Jackson was represented by senior guard Jack Puisis and junior center Aaron Redecker, while runner-up Kelly was represented by senior guards -- and twin brothers -- Kendal and Kent Deason.

Rounding out the squad were Central senior guard Eli Harris, Scott City senior forward Mark Dannenmueller, Delta senior center Kevin Bartels, Bell City freshman guard D.D. Gillespie, Scott County Central senior guard Avis White and Charleston sophomore guard Shawn Sherrell.

Dannenmueller led all tournament scorers with 117 points in four games. Puisis was next with 89, Bartels had 87 and Kendal Deason followed with 82.

A devilish time

Chaffee suffered two lopsided losses in the tournament, failing to break 20 points in a 74-17 loss to top-seeded Jackson or a 65-18 loss to consolation bracket champion Notre Dame.

Tyson Moyers, in his first year of leading the boys program, saw some positive signs for his team, which at 2-6 already has doubled last year's victory total.

"We're doing some good things," Moyers said. "The ball just won't go in the hole. We just don't have that confidence shooting right now. Notre Dame has more talent than us, and Jackson has more talent than us. When you're going up against that, all you can do is play with heart, and we did that."

Moyers pointed to senior point guard Brad Uhrhan, who was scoreless against Notre Dame, as one of the players who is contributing in many areas although the scoring has been a struggle.

"Brad does so many good things for us," Moyers said. "He plays good defense, he handles the offense for us.

"We're doing the right things; we're doing some good things. Every team has bad shooting nights. We just seem to have more of them."

Scott County reserve a hit before game

Scott County Central reserve basketball player Pershard Owens sang an inspired rendition of the National Anthem before the Braves' quarterfinal game versus Jackson.

Owens, a junior, unfortunately could not inspire his team to a win. The Braves lost to the Indians, and finished sixth in the tournament.