With inside game, Advance moves into first final four since 1975

~ The Hornets beat Crocker 72-62 in a Class 2 quarterfinal game at Park Hills.

The Advance boys basketball team picked up 41 points from post players James Masters and Trenton Moses and earned its first berth to the state final four since 1975 with a 72-62 win over Crocker on Saturday in a Class 2 quarterfinal at Park Hills Central High School.

The Hornets (24-7) will play defending state champion Marionville on Friday at Mizzou Arena in a semifinal.

Advance went inside for much of its offense on Saturday.

Masters, a 6-foot-5 senior, led the Hornets with 28 points. Moses, a 6-3 junior, added 13.

"The big guys really played well," Advance coach Joe Shoemaker said. "They scored a lot of points for us. Their interior defense was a little weak. They weren't that big. That was part of the game plan."

The Hornets started quick against Crocker, just as it did in the sectional win. Advance led 18-13 after one quarter, and led 32-27 at halftime.

A 19-11 scoring edge in the third quarter put Advance ahead 51-38 heading into the final quarter.

Advance had lost in the district championship game the past three seasons.

"These kids really worked hard over the years for this," said Shoemaker, in his second season.

Jeremy Limbaugh added 10 points for Advance, and Alex Steil had nine.

Advance 72, Crocker 62

Crocker 13 14 11 24 -- 62

Advance 18 14 19 21 -- 72

CROCKER (62) -- Jesse Wilson 7, Matt Resch 14, Bret Lanier 1, Evan Rigsby 7, Chris Long 17, Allan Cantrell 4, Nathan Rigsby 12. FG 18, FT 22-36 (3-pointers: Resch 1, Wilson 1, Long 2. Fouled out: none)

ADVANCE (72) -- Jordan Seabaugh 4, Jeremy Limbaugh 10, Daryl Wade 3, Adam Baker 5, Alex Steil 9, James Masters 28, Trenton Moses 13. FG 25, FT 20-29 (3-pointers: Seabaugh 1, Limbaugh 1. Fouled out: none)