Kelly downs Panthers, No. 1 seed next

After a long uphill battle, Meadow Heights finally got over the hump.

But it lasted only a short time before Kelly regained control of the first-round Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament game.

Eighth-seeded Kelly's 80-61 victory over the No. 9 Panthers on Friday night sends the Hawks into today's quarterfinal against No. 1 Scott County Central.

The Hawks (5-3) led Meadow Heights (3-3) the entire first half, including twice by nine points.

But the Panthers pulled to within 33-32 at the break and went ahead for the first time in the opening minute of the third quarter.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.comMeadow Heights' Trevor Hotop, center, attempts a steal from Kelly's Eric Turley, right, during the first half of their Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament game Friday.

"It kind of scared us," Kelly senior forward Zach Essner said. "But we just kept fighting."

From a 36-36 tie, Kelly regained the lead on Essner's layup with just over 6 minutes left in the period.

After that, it was virtually all Kelly as the Hawks poured in points behind an effective fast-break offense that led to numerous layups.

"Our guards move the ball pretty well," Essner said.

Senior forward Eric Turley's driving shot 1:37 before the end of the third quarter gave the Hawks their first double-digit advantage of the night at 56-45.

It was 58-47 entering the final period, and the Hawks stayed in control the rest of the way.

"That second quarter was awful for us," Kelly coach Nate Wills said. "But we were just tenacious, I thought, in the second half.

"We pushed the ball and did the things we had to do."

Essner led all scorers with 23 points, hitting 9 of 11 field-goal attempts. He added seven rebounds.

Senior guard Josh DeBrock had 14 points for Kelly, while senior guard Ryan Essner followed with 13.

Senior wing Levi Felter nearly had a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.

Senior guard Ethan Mayfield paced the Panthers with 12 points.

Junior forward Dustin Hubler added 11 points.

Now the Hawks face the monumental challenge of playing Scott County Central, which routed Kelly 85-38 in the Oran tournament.

Asked what it would take to reverse that outcome, Wills joked: "We're going to let the air out of their tires on the bus."

Turning serious, Wills said: "We're just going to play our game. There is no pressure. They're No. 1."

@z_agate_HSbasketball_linescore:Meadow Heights10221514--61

Kelly17162522--80

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:Meadow Heights (61) -- Dustin Hubler 11, Derrick Wilfong 6, Tyler Brune 2, Luke Nitsch 4, Ethan Mayfield 12, Zac Hotop 9, Trever Hotop 8, Tyler Welker 9. FG 25, FT 8-15, F 23. (3-pointers: Hubler 1, Z. Hotop 1, T. Hotop 1. Fouled out: none.)

Kelly (80) -- Michael Fisher 1, Ryan Essner 13, Josh DeBrock 14, Brett Harper 4, Mark Burger 2, Levi Felter 10, Dustin Crowden 2, Zach Essner 23, Eric Turley 11. FG 30, FT 17-31, F 17. (3-pointers: Essner 1, Felter 2. Fouled out: none.)