Kelly, Advance set up meeting in fifth-place game

Things did not look good for Kelly at halftime of Thursday's fifth-place semifinal in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament at the Show Me Center.

But the Hawks were still confident.

"Coach told us at halftime that we could come back," junior guard Brandon Ayers said.

Come back the ninth-seeded Hawks did, as they rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to upset fourth-seeded Central 63-58 and move into today's 4:30 p.m. game against Advance to decide fifth place.

"This is big for us," said Kelly coach Cory Johnson, whose squad graduated four starters from last year's team that reached the tournament championship game. "We're not as talented as we were last year, but these kids really work and play hard."

Kelly (7-3) was led by Ayers, who poured in 28 points and fueled the Hawks' rally with 18 second-half points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.

Spencer Ayers, a burly senior center who is Brandon's older brother, added 17 points, 14 coming in the second half.

Central (6-5) led 38-19 late in the second quarter and 38-21 at the break. But the Tigers were in serious foul trouble, and two starters eventually fouled out, including leading scorer Darnell Wilks.

Kelly pulled within 47-43 after three quarters, then finally went ahead for good at 55-54 as Brandon Ayers nailed a 3-pointer with 2:30 remaining.

Another Ayers 3-pointer 30 seconds later put Kelly up 58-54 and the Hawks hit enough free throws down the stretch.

Sophomore guard Jajuan Bell scored 17 points for Central and senior center David Deisher added 13, but junior forward Wilks was held to seven.

"We got into foul trouble. Darnell probably only played half the game, and we need him out there," Central coach Derek McCord said. "But give Kelly credit. They hit some big shots down the stretch."

Kelly 63, Central 58

Central 18 20 9 11 -- 58

Kelly 9 12 22 20 -- 63

CENTRAL (58) -- Adrian Cox 5, Jajuan Bell 17, Jared Thomas 3, Darnell Wilks 7, Jeremy Kimble 8, Garrett Ozbun 5, David Deisher 13. FG 17, FT 18-26, F 29 (3-pointers: Cox 1, Bell 4, Thomas 1. Fouled out: Wilks, Ozbun)

KELLY (63) -- Brandon Ayers 28, Jordan Felter 6, Dallas Tew 4, Russell Carroll 2, Spencer Ayers 17, Jacob Glastetter 6. FG 21, FT 17-33, F 20 (3-pointers: B. Ayers 4. Fouled out: none)

Advance 84, Meadow Heights 73

Sixth-seeded Advance got its running game going and scored 72 points over the final three quarters to pull away after trailing by 10 points early.

Alex Steil led the Hornets (6-4) with 29 points. Also in double figures were Adam Baker with 14 points and Trenton Moses with 12.

The 10th-seeded Panthers (6-4) received 23 points from Anthony Bollinger, 15 from Heath Fulton and 10 from Michael Collier.

"We talked about getting up and down the floor," Advance coach Joe Shoemaker said. "We got a lot of easy baskets in transition."

Meadow Heights 16 20 14 23 -- 73

Advance 12 27 25 20 -- 84

MEADOW HEIGHTS (73) -- Heath Fulton 15, Anthony Bollinger 23, Ruggero Moretto 4, Terry Wagner 8, Nathan Revelle 5, John Long 8, Michael Collier 10. FG 27, FT 12-19, F 20 (3-pointers: Fulton 1, Bollinger 2, Wagner 1, Revelle 1, Collier 2. Fouled out: none)

ADVANCE (84) -- Jordan Seabaugh 3, Jeremy Limbaugh 8, Daryl Wade 6, Adam Baker 14, Alex Steil 29, Josh Bailey 6, James Masters 7, Trenton Moses 12. FG 36, FT 9-15, F 17 (3-pointers: Seabaugh 1, Baker 1, Steil 2. Fouled out: none)