NEW MADRID BOYS CLAIM DISTRICT TITLE

KENNETT -- Second-seeded New Madrid picked up its third win of the season over Charleston and the Class 3A, District 1 crown in the process with a 76-58 victory over the Blue Jays in the championship game Friday night.

Rowand Ranson netted a game-high 22 points and Byron Minner added 20 for New Madrid, which improved to 18-6. Dereke Tipler also had 18 points and Ricky Smith finished with 12.

New Madrid will face Arcadia Valley in the sectional round Wednesday in Poplar Bluff.

Charleston, which upset top-seeded Dexter on Wednesday, ended with a 16-11 record. The Blue Jays were 0-3 on the season against their former coach Lennies McFerren.

Howard Biles and Jordy Mixon paced the Blue Jays with 17 points apiece.

New Madrid broke out to a 24-14 lead in the first quarter and led 39-28 at halftime. The Eagles took a 54-44 lead into the fourth quarter and pulled away down the stretch.

In the girls' championship game, Doniphan defeated Kennett 66-30.

Advance 51, Leopold 30

LEOPOLD -- Garrett Broshuis accounted for nearly half of the Hornets' offense by pouring in 25 points, including seven 3-pointers, as fourth-ranked 1A Advance knocked off Leopold.

Advance (22-4) converted 11 3-point shots as a team, including six from long range in the opening quarter alone.

"We didn't shoot well," said Leopold coach Carlton Thoma, "while they just couldn't miss. They were really hitting from the perimeter, so we were playing from behind the whole night. They have a good ballclub, but I'm pleased with my bunch and the season we've had, too."

Daniel Turner helped out the Hornets by adding 11 points.

Advance came out with a first-quarter scoring barrage to take a 26-8 lead and outscored Leopold 11-9 in the second period to take a 37-17 lead into halftime. A 10-4 Advance scoring run in the third was enough to seal the win.

Leopold (17-9) was led in scoring by Ashton James, who netted 14 points and was the only Leopold player in double figures.

The Wildcats will open up their district play against Marquand on Tuesday.

St. Vincent 71, Valle 58

PERRYVILLE -- Todd Meyer was the hero of the day for the Indians by tossing in a game-high 20 points -- 15 via the 3-point shot -- to pace St. Vincent to victory over Valle.

St. Vincent (17-7) had 10 players find the scoring column, including Ryan Prost and Gabe Hotop who scored 15 points apiece.

The first quarter ended in a 17-17 tie, but the Indians outscored the Warriors 18-11 in the second quarter to go into the break with a 35-28 lead. St. Vincent extended its lead with a 19-11 scoring advantage in the third period.

"It was a very intense game tonight," said St. Vincent coach Bruce Valleroy. "We lost Cory Strattman and Anthony DeWilde to ankle injuries. Hopefully they'll be ready to go for districts."

Ben Arnold sank a team-high 17 points for Valle, followed by Corey Drury with 16 points and Ryan Odneal's 14 points.

Third-seeded St. Vincent will face sixth-seeded Valle once again in the opening round of the 1A, District 3 Tournament in Fredericktown on Tuesday.