Panthers post first upset in Christmas tourney

~ Panthers coach Tom Brown led his team into the second round -- where it will meet Jackson -- for the first time.

Five Meadow Heights players hit 3-pointers and finished with 14 in capturing the first upset of the 61st annual Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament -- an 82-71 win over No. 7 Scott City on Monday at the Show Me Center.

This was the first opening round win at the tournament for the Panthers under coach Tom Brown, who is in his fifth year at Meadow Heights (6-2). The No. 10 Panthers will face No. 2 Jackson at 6 p.m. today in the quarterfinal round.

"I thought we shot really well," Brown said. "A good team effort. Everyone contributed. Our substitutes came in and hit some big shots in the fourth quarter."

Michael Collier, a senior, led the Panthers with five 3-pointers and finished with 15 points. Fellow seniors Heath Fulton, Nathan Revelle and Anthony Bollinger had two 3-pointers apiece.

"Our seniors are great; we're a senior-dominated team," Brown said.

Scott City (2-4) led throughout the first quarter, building as much as a nine-point lead. Bollinger scored the last two buckets of the first quarter, starting what would be a decisive 20-0 run for the Panthers.

Collier hit two 3s, and Bollinger and Revelle added a 3-pointer apiece during a 16-0 run to start the second quarter. The run helped Meadow Heights pull out to a 32-23 lead midway through the second. Collier finished the half with another 3-pointer, sending the Panthers to a 41-34 halftime lead.

"When we shoot well, we play well, and I thought we played very good," Brown said.

Scott City gradually got back in the game in the third quarter, using a 7-0 run to bring the score to 50-48. The Rams were down two again at 52-50, but again Meadow Heights closed out the quarter with a pair of 3-pointers to pull ahead 58-52 heading into the final quarter.

"Our defense was not good at all," Scott City coach Lance Amick said. "We don't take pride in our defense yet. Until we do, we're not going to be consistent. We've shown we can play with anyone in the area on any night."

The margin was at five points when Meadow Heights reserve Dusty Davis took over. Davis hit three 3-pointers in four Meadow Heights possessions to push the lead to 75-59 and secure the win.

"Dusty Davis hit three 3-pointers in a row, and that just did it," Brown said.

Fulton led the Panthers with 18 points. Bollinger finished with 16, Revelle had 14 and Davis had nine.

"It was a big win," Brown said. "That was a good team we beat. We just got fortunate tonight and hit our shots."

Ethan Watkins led the Rams with 17 points, Andy Stephens had 16 points, Alex King had 13 and Ryan Modglin had 10.

"You have to give Meadow Heights credit, they played a real good game," Amick said. "They were the better team tonight. We have no excuses. I don't believe in them. They beat us."

Meadow Heights 82, Scott City 71

Meadow Heights 16 25 17 24 -- 82

Scott City 23 11 18 19 -- 71

MEADOW HEIGHTS (82) -- Heath Fulton 18, Anthony Bollinger 16, Michael Collier 15, Nathan Revelle 14, Dusty Davis 9, Terry Wagner 6, Ruggerro Moretto 2, John Long 2. FG 31, FT 6-9, F 13 (3-pointers: Collier 5, Davis 3, Fulton 2, Bollinger 2, Revelle 2. Fouled out: none)

SCOTT CITY (71) -- Ethan Watkins 17, Andy Stephens 16, Alex King 13, Ryan Modglin 10, Landon Hill 6, Rynn Eskew 2, Jamie Pinkston 2, Farrell Wasson 2. FG 29, FT 8-12, F 15 (3-pointers: Watkins 4, Stephens 3. Fouled out: none)

Notre Dame 87, Delta 25

The fifth-seeded Bulldogs (7-1) set up a quarterfinal match with rival Central by blowing out No. 12 Delta in an opening round game.

Thanks to a stifling press, Notre Dame led 31-6 by the end of the opening quarter and poured it on from there.

Notre Dame will play the fourth-seeded Tigers at 9 tonight.

Alex Ressel led Notre Dame with 19 points, Xavier Delph had 13 and Frankie Ellis had 10.

Nathan Stroder and Aaron Kinder led Delta with six points apiece.

Delta 6 12 4 3 -- 25

Notre Dame 31 18 24 14 -- 87

DELTA (25) -- Nathan Stroder 6, Aaron Kinder 6, Terrence Below 4, A.J. Horn 4, Chase Rhodes 4, Tyler Keys 1. FG 9, FT 8-15, F 14 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)

NOTRE DAME (87) -- Alex Ressel 19, Xavier Delph 13, Frankie Ellis 10, Ryan Willen 8, Williams 8, Logan Haines 6, Brandon Holzum 6, Lucas Dirnberger 4, Chad Friend 4, Abe Dirnberger 2, Jacob Essner 2, Kirk Boeller 2. FG 35, FT 12-17, F 19 (3-pointers: Holzum 2, Delph 1, Himmelberg 1, Ty Williams 1. Fouled out: none)

Advance 73, Leopold 30

Advance had 10 scorers and secured yet another blowout win for the higher seeds in the opening round.

The Hornets (5-3) outscored Leopold 36-9 in the second half to move into the quarterfinal round. The No. 6 Hornets will play No. 3 Bell City tonight.

Alex Steil led Advance with 19 points, Daryl Wade had 13 and Jeremy Limbaugh finished with 10.

Matt Stoverink contributed 16 of Leopold's 30 points.

Leopold 8 13 6 3 -- 30

Advance 19 18 16 20 -- 73

LEOPOLD (30) -- Matt Stoverink 16, Victor Vandeven 4, David Thiele 4, Eric Seiler 3, Eric Fluchel 2, Tyler Clubb 1. FG 10, FT 7-8, F 12 (3-pointers: Stoverink 2, Seiler 1. Fouled out: none)

ADVANCE (73) -- Alex Steil 19, Daryl Wade 13, Jeremy Limbaugh 10, Adam Baker 9, James Masters 6, Josh Bailey 4, Cameron Stevens 3, Jordan Seabaugh 3, Tyler Wade 3, Cody Mitchell 3. FG 28, FT 12-18, F 13 (3-pointers: Stevens 1, T. Wade 1, D. Wade 1, Seabaugh 1. Fouled out: none)