New Salem boys, girls fall in title games

The New Salem Baptist girls basketball team's bid for a third straight Missouri Christian Schools Athletic Association state title came up short Saturday, as they fell to Liberty of Wright City 51-41 in the Class 2A final.

Top-seeded New Salem led 23-22 at halftime and had a 27-26 advantage going into the final quarter, but foul trouble and free throwing shooting plagued the Eagles.

"We played well for three quarters, but we got in foul trouble and had to sit some girls out in the final quarter. After that, they just overpowered us," New Salem coach Jerome Gaines said.

New Salem shot just 10-for-23 from the free throw line.

"Ten-for-23 from the free throw line is bad," Gaines said. "Good free throw shooting wins game, and today it took us out of the game."

Senior Sarah Green, who was selected to the all-state first team, led the Eagles with 18 points. Laura Poole, who was a second team all-state choice, had seven points.

The team from the Marble Hill school, which won a state volleyball title with many of the same athletes, finished 18-2.

"It was a sucessful season," Gaines said. "We just came up a little short."

MCSAA CLASS 2A GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

Liberty 51, New Salem 41

Liberty 11 11 4 25 -- 51

New Salem 10 13 4 14 -- 41

LIBERTY (51) -- Erin Pietzman 19, Megan Voss 12, Erika Sasone 2, Cherysee Gildehaus 8, Emma Ferrezo 2, Kara Vinyard 8. FG 18, FT 7-14, F 17 (3-pointers: Pietzman 3. Fouled out: none)

NEW SALEM (41) -- Celsey Cook 2, Martha Poole 8, Kelsey Barlow 6, Laura Poole 7, Sarah Green 18. FG 14, FT 10-23, F 18 (3-pointers: L. Poole 1. Fouled out: none)

Boys basketballLiberty 53,New Salem Baptist 43

New Salem fell short against the Liberty team that lived up to its top seeding in the MCSAA Class 2A boys state tournament.

"We played a team that is a lot bigger than us, more skilled than us," New Salem coach Ken Jones said.

New Salem trailed by just two points at halftime and by four going into the fourth quarter.

"We were playing our best ball at state, no doubt about it," Jones said. "We played with them the whole game, but we couldn't stop a great low post player in Ryan Nestel."

Nestel finished with 32 points for the Wright City team.

Trent Jones led the Eagles with 18 points, and Brent Jones added 15 points.

Brent Jones was named to the all-state first team, while Trent Jones was named to second team.

New Salem finished 15-14.

"These kids are a scrappy team, they wouldn't quit. We had an up-and-down season, a rough and rocky one. We were young and we were growing

"Our season ended on a high note. We were playing our best ball at the end of the season."

MCSAA CLASS 2A BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP

Liberty 53, New Salem 43

New Salem 10 16 11 6 -- 43

Liberty 14 14 13 12 -- 53

NEW SALEM (43) -- Trent Jones 18, Josh Devault 4, Jarred Crist 4, Axel Malmrof 2, Brent Jones 15. FG 11, FT 3-7, F 11 (3-pointers: T. Jones 3, B. Jones 3. Fouled out: none)

LIBERTY (53) -- Robbie Boaz 9, Mic Fox 5, Jessie Goodfellow 3, Brad Cassebaum 2, Ryan Nestel 32, Luke Wishman 2. FG 21, FT 8-13, F 18 (3-pointers: Fox 1. Fouled out: Fox)

-- From staff reports