ND, SCOTT CITY GIRLS TO DECIDE DISTRICT CHAMP

BLOOMFIELD -- Rivals Notre Dame and Scott City won semifinal games Tuesday night to set up a championship meeting in the Class 2A, District 2 girls basketball tournament.

Top-seeded Notre Dame crushed No. 4 Greenville 56-24 while No. 3 Scott City slipped past No. 2 Kelly 37-33.

The Lady Bulldogs and Lady Rams will square off at 6:30 p.m. for the district title.

Notre Dame improved to 15-12 with its easy victory. The Lady Bulldogs have been on a roll the past several weeks.

"We've been playing well and hopefully we can keep it up," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim.

Jill Huber led the Lady Bulldogs with a game-high 13 points, 11 coming in the first half. Deana McCormick scored 10 of her 11 points in the third quarter. Lisa Millham added 10 points, all coming in the first half. McCormick and Millham are both freshmen.

Notre Dame jumped ahead 12-8 after one quarter and led 32-13 at halftime. An 18-4 third-quarter edge broke the game wide open.

In the other semifinal, Scott City and Kelly hooked up for the fifth time this season, with the Lady Rams prevailing for just the second time.

Scott City, now 18-8, got 11 points from Becca Gowin and 12 from Crystal Smith. Alaina Smith pulled down 13 rebounds.

Kelly, which ended the season at 17-10, was led by Marissa Essner and Bridgette Riley with 13 points each.

In a game that was tight the whole way, Scott City led 13-11 at halftime and 21-19 after three quarters.

"It was a good defensive game," said Scott City coach Randy White.

Thursday night's district boys semifinals will feature No. 1 Scott City against No. 5 Puxico at 6:30 and No. 2 Kelly against No. 3 Notre Dame at 8.

Class 1A, District 2

ORAN -- In boys semifinal action Tuesday night, top-seeded Oran and second-seeded Scott County Central both claimed hard-fought victories to move into Thursday's finals.

Host Oran held off No. 4 Advance 72-67 while Scott Central slipped past No. 6 Richland 78-75 despite another monster game from Cory Gipson.

Oran and Scott Central will square off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, following the girls final pitting Scott Central vs. Risco at 6.

Oran (20-8) got 23 points from Billy Loper, 16 from Jerod Hamm, 14 from Travis Friga and 11 from Daniel Wheeler.

Advance (16-12), which completed a successful first season under coach Jim Hall, was led by Garrett Broshuis with 26 points. He scored 42 in Monday's first round. Seth Cantrell added 13 and Adam Rainey had 10.

The Hornets led 31-29 at halftime before the Eagles rallied in the second half.

In the other semifinal, Scott Central (18-9) withstood 39 points and nine 3-pointers from Gipson, who scored 45 points and hit 10 3-pointers Monday. Sherome Cole added 24 for the Rebels.

Scott Central got 22 from both Jreece Johnson and John Fort. Todd Blissett added 13.

The Braves trailed 37-33 at halftime but outscored the Rebels 21-11 in the third quarter.

"We had two very good games," said Oran coach Mitch Wood. "If both teams play like they're capable, then the final should be an excellent game."

Oran has won two of three meetings against Scott Central this season.

Class 1A, District 3

FREDERICKTOWN -- Top-seeded Virburnum, No. 5 Marquand and No. 6 Ste. Genevieve Valle won quarterfinal boys games Tuesday night to move into the semifinals.

Viburnum beat No. 8 Oak Ridge 98-84, Marquand rolled past No. 4 Leopold 66-44 and Valle slipped past No. 3 St. Vincent 38-31.

Thursday night's semifinals will feature Virburnum vs. Marquand at 6 and Valle vs. No. 2 South Iron at 7:30.

Oak Ridge lost despite 27 points from Eric Hobeck and 19 from Darren Hahs.

St. Vincent (14-11), despite being seeded three slots ahead of Valle, lost to the Warriors for the third time this season. The Indians hit just nine of 38 shots from the field, including one of 17 3-pointers.

Ryan Propst scored 10 points to pace the Indians.

"We were just colder than heck all night," said St. Vincent coach Bruce Valleroy.

No scoring information was received from the Marquand-Leopold game.