MARQUAND, VALLE TO TANGLE FOR 1A, DISTRICT 3 CROWN

PATTON -- The Class 1A, District 3 tournament went according to plan as top-seeded Valle of Ste. Genevieve and second-seeded Marquand both advanced to tonight's championship game with semifinal victories Thursday night at Meadow Heights High School.

While Valle breezed to a 61-39 victory over fifth-seeded Leopold, Marquand escaped with a 60-59 win over third-seeded South Iron.

According to Marquand coach Rob Harlow, when the championship game tips off at 7:30 tonight, the Tigers will be making their first district championship appearance in the 64-year history of the program.

Marquand took control the first half, building an 11-4 lead after the first quarter and a 14-point, 26-12, advantage by halftime. South Iron chipped away in the second half, trimming the deficit to four points, 40-36, by the start of the fourth quarter. South Iron held a 23-20 scoring edge in the fourth quarter, including a half-court basket at the buzzer that provided the final score.

Dusty Stephens netted a game-high 27 points for Marquand while Brandon Settle added 15.

Jared Lane paced South Iron with 19 points.

In Valle's victory, Brian Meyer led the offense with 29 points. Brian Holzum scored 12 points for Leopold.

Valle built a 10-point lead, 18-8, by the end of the first quarter and held a 31-14 advantage by halftime. The Warriors put the game away in the third quarter and took a 45-21 lead into the final period.

Girls Basketball

Class 2A, District 3

CRYSTAL CITY -- St. Vincent's girls ran into top-seeded Caledonia in the semifinals and saw the Lady Vikings roll to a 68-36 victory.

Jessica Lakenan scored 16 points for fourth-seeded St. Vincent (10-16), but no other Squaw netted more than four points.

Caledonia led 12-7 after the first period and opened up a comfortable 29-11 lead by halftime. Caledonia took a 41-22 lead into the fourth quarter.

"We didn't give up," said St. Vincent coach Terry Wengert. "They were a very good team. We gave it everything we had."