TOP SEEDS ADVANCE IN U-HIGH; CENTRAL, N. DAME WIN; ORAN PULLS UPSET

In the days leading up to the 54th annual University High School Christmas Tournament, the word "parity" was tossed around perhaps like never before. Some longtime observers deemed this year's tournament the most balanced in memory.

Bell City did its best to show that those in the know really did know.

In the evening session's first game Saturday, No. 12 Bell City led Woodland, the undefeated No. 5 seed, by seven points early in the fourth quarter before succumbing to the Dave Massa-led Cardinals 46-41.

In other opening-round play Saturday night during the late session at the Show Me Center, No. 6 Cape Girardeau Central rode a second-half spurt to a 72-36 victory over No. 11 Leopold; No.10 Oran outlasted No. 7 Scott County Central 75-71 in overtime; and No. 8 Notre Dame got past No. 9 Advance 75-66.

Woodland 46, Bell City 41

Woodland opened an 11-0 lead as Bell City didn't score until Jarrod Eftink's 15-footer with 1 minute 20 seconds left in the first quarter. But the Cubs got on track a bit in the second quarter and trailed 17-15 at halftime, which brought a merciful end to a hideous half.

Behind eight points from guard Glenn Adams, Bell City outscored the Cardinals 18-11 in the third quarter, and Eftink's jumper a minute into the final period pushed the Cubs ahead 35-28.

But 15 seconds later Woodland's Massa, a 6-foot senior, hit a 3-pointer as he was fouled by Nathan Walter, and the four-point play seemed to thrust momentum behind Woodland.

Massa went on to score 10 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter as Woodland (8-0) outscored Bell City (1-6) 18-9 in the period.

After the 4-point play, Massa scored on a drive and Matt Cutsinger came up with a steal and converted it into a layup to give Woodland a 36-35 advantage.

Bell City quickly went back on top with Eftink's putback on an offensive rebound, but Woodland put together a 10-2 run to make the score 46-39 with 2:30 to go. During the spurt, Paul Long and Massa both scored on offensive rebounds, C.W. Stacy scored inside, Ryan Bandermann scored in transition and Massa hit a jumper.

"I think Davey just decided we weren't going to lose the game," Woodland coach Jennings Wilkinson said. "Massa is just a gamer. He shows up to play."

Bell City's Eftink totaled 16 points and Adams added 12 points.

Cape Central 72, Leopold 36

Central held a 14-4 first-quarter edge, but Leopold's Adam Horrell hit a 3-pointer and made three free throws in the first half's final minute as the Tigers led just 34-24 at the break.

Central had its way in the third period. The Tigers purred to a 20-0 burst -- during which Kelly Illers, Donnie McClinton and Eric Wessel each had a pair of baskets -- that broke the game way open as Leopold took six and a half minutes to score.

Illers, a 6-3 senior guard, powered his way to a game-high 21 points and McClinton, a 5-11 junior, contributed 14 points.

Brian Holzum's 18 points paced Leopold.

Cape Central is now 3-5 while Leopold fell to 4-4.

Oran 75, Scott Central 71, OT

Scott County Central didn't gain its first lead until the closing seconds of the third period. The Braves then stayed ahead -- until the final seconds of regulation.

Trailing 66-64, Oran's Travis Friga grabbed a rebound with 14 seconds left in regulation, and the Eagles called time out with seven seconds left.

Friga took the inbounds pass near midcourt, stormed straight to the basket and laid it in with four seconds left to push the game into overtime.

Fifteen seconds into OT, Oran's Billy Loper fed Ricky Eftink with a nice pass for an easy score inside, and the Eagles remained on top the rest of the way.

In OT, Daniel Wheeler scored three point and Friga, Jerod Hamm and Eftink each had two,

Loper, a 6-5 senior center, finished with a game-high 25 points, Friga added 14 and Wheeler had 13.

For Scott Central, Todd Blissett, a sophomore, and John Fort each logged 20 points.

Both teams are now 5-2.

Notre Dame 75, Advance 66

In a game that didn't end until nearly 11 p.m., Notre Dame (3-4) slipped past stubborn Advance (4-3).

Anthony Ressel paced the Bulldogs with 16 points. Jonathan Ressel had 12 and John O'Rourke 11.

Garrett Broshuis poured in 27 points for the Hornets. Adam Rainey had 15 and John French 12.

Notre Dame led 34-29 at halftime. Advance pulled into a 49-49 tie early in the fourth quarter before the Bulldogs took control.

U-High Tournament

Saturday's Results

(First Round)

Scott City 118, M. Heights 22

Jackson 75, Chaffee 40

Kelly 74, Oak Ridge 63

Charleston 68, Delta 33

Woodland 46, Bell City 41

Cape Central 72, Leopold 36

Oran 75, Scott Central 71, OT

Notre Dame xx, Advance xx

Monday's Schedule

(Consolation)

9 a.m. -- Delta vs. Bell City

10:30 a.m. -- Chaffee vs. Scott Central

Noon -- Oak Ridge vs. Leopold

1:30 p.m. -- M. Heights vs. Advance

(Quarterfinals)

4:30 p.m. -- Scott City vs. Notre Dame

6 p.m. -- Jackson vs. Oran

7:30 p.m. -- Kelly vs. Cape Central

9 p.m. -- Charleston vs. Woodland