New Salem Baptist sweeps state titles

One year after coming up short in bids for two state championships, New Salem Baptist Academy reached those goals on Saturday in the Missouri Christian Schools Activities Association championship tournament in Joplin, Mo.

New Salem swept New Life Academy of Branson in both Class 1A title games.

The New Salem girls team, which had finished second last year in Class 2A, posted a 45-31 victory. The New Salem boys, which had placed third last season, rallied for a 74-65 victory.

The New Salem girls (24-8) never trailed, building a 27-12 lead by halftime.

Sarah Green led New Salem with a 21-point performance. Laura Poole added 10 points. Holly Jordan had 13 rebounds, and Celsey Cook had six points and eight rebounds.

Green and MacKenzie Jones earned all-state honors.

In the boys championship game, New Salem (24-10) came back from a 52-46 deficit after three quarters by outscoring New Life Academy 28-13 in the final period.

Boone Gaines led New Salem with 25 points, Jeremy Rockhill had 20, and Bret Jones scored 13. Rockhill added 21 rebounds and Gaines and Valy Wolf had 12 rebounds apiece.

Gaines and Josiah Davault earned all-state honors.

New Salem also won the sportsmanship award at the state tournament.

GIRLS TITLE GAME

NEW SALEM BAPTIST 45, NEW LIFE 31

New Life 8 4 9 10 -- 31

New Salem 15 12 9 9 -- 45

NEW LIFE (31) -- Wilson 1, Guy 7, Diecerly 5, Turner 4, Cook 3, Mecke 10, Braden 1. FG 12, FT 4-10, F 26 (3-pointers: Guy 2, Cook 1. Fouled out: Wilson, Guy, Diecerly, Mecke)

NEW SALEM (45) -- Sarah Green 21, Laura Poole 10, Holly Jordan 2, MacKenzie Jones 5, Celsey Cook 6, Kelsey Barlow 1. FG 15, FT 15-30, F 14 (3-pointers: Green 2. Fouled out: none)

BOYS TITLE GAME

NEW SALEM BAPTIST 74, NEW LIFE 65

New Life 20 17 15 13 -- 65

New Salem 18 17 11 28 -- 74

NEW LIFE (65) -- Heath Scott 16, Darren Brett 18, Mitch Mecke 6, Austin Snider 8, Patrick Smith 15. FG 22, FT 4-8, F 28 (3-pointers: Brett 6, Scott 3. Fouled out: Scott, Brett, Mecke, Sninder, Smith)

NEW SALEM (74) -- Valy Wolf 7, Josiah Davault 5, Jeremy Rockhill 20, Bret Jones 13, Boone Gaines 25, Dillon Gaines 2, Jacob Green 2. FG 30, FT 12-33, F 15 (3-pointers: Jones 3, Gaines 2. Fouled out: Davault)