NEW MADRID BOYS EDGE HELIAS, RETURN TO 3A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Both games came down to the final seconds of the Missouri Class 3A boys semifinals Friday, with New Madrid County Central and Hickman Mills advancing to Saturday's title game.

Ronland Ranson hit a game-winning shot with 19 seconds left to give New Madrid County Central a 54-52 win over Jefferson City Helias. In the other game, Hickman Mills used a 13-3 run to start the fourth quarter to upset Ozark.

Ranson's basket, his first of the game, prevented Helias (26-4) from completing a 12-point comeback. Senior Byron Minner led New Madrid County Central (22-7) with 20 points and fellow guard Dereke Tipler added 17.

Sophomore Jamaal Tatum scored 22 points for Helias.

Hickman Mills (20-11) trailed by eight points before the fourth-quarter run. Allen Perkins and Myke Burns led Hickman Mills with 10 points each.

Senior Christian Gideon led Ozark (27-5) with 15 points.

Class 3A girls

Bethany Orendorff made two free throws with two seconds remaining to give Doniphan a 71-69 win over Duchesne in the Class 3A semifinals.

Doniphan (27-2) was down by five points in the second quarter before going on a 17-3 run to end the half. Orendorff scored a game-high 38 points on 12-for-23 shooting. She also grabbed seven rebounds.

For the Pioneers (24-7), Meghan Blase scored 11 fourth-quarter points while freshman Brittany Mannings led the team with 21.

In the second semifinal, Michelle Mellard hit a layup with seven seconds left as Notre Dame de Sion (25-5) beat Marshfield 42-40.

Class 4A boys

Nicholas Kern scored 21 points to lead Vashon to a 81-49 win over Eureka in the Class 4A semifinal.

The Wolverines (27-1) shot 64.3 percent from the field to easily dismiss the Wildcats (20-10). Four Wolverines scored in double digits, led by Kern and Jimmy McKinney, Vashon's leading scorer this season, who had 19.

In the second semifinal, Brandon Hall scored 17 points to lead four players in double figures as Liberty defeated Hannibal 63-56.