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Category: High School

Lafayette rolls past Helias in the Class 4 semifinals; will play Vashon for state title

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LafayetteView highlights from Lafayette’s victory over Helias.

The Lafayette boys’ basketball team will play in a state championship game for the second time in three seasons as they were able to defeat Helias Catholic 68-51 in the Class 4 semifinals Friday inside Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

The Fighting Irish will play Vashon (25-4) in the state title game Saturday at 8:10 p.m. as the Wolverines were able to take down Sikeston in overtime in the other Class 4 semifinal 69-66.

Lafayette trailed 15-13 after the first quarter to Helias Friday night, but they used an 8-0 run midway through the second quarter and they never trailed after that.

LHS took a 27-23 lead to the half and they took command of the game in the third quarter with a 10-2 run and they led by double figures the rest of the game. Lafayette made 18-of-20 free throws in the fourth quarter to cap off the win.

Sterling Hick led the Fighting Irish with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Caleb Bennett added 15 and Diego Bernard scored 14 points.

Lafayette is now 28-3 as they’ll try and win the schools second state championship and first since 1976. The Irish lost in the title game in 2014 to Republic 45-42.

The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ or you can click here to listen.

Benton defeats Owensville 37-25 to advance to Class 4 state championship

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BentonView highlights from Benton’s victory over Owensville.

The Benton girls’ basketball team will play for its second state championship in school history as they were able to defeat Owensville 37-25 in their Class 4 semifinal Friday inside Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

The Cardinals improve to 30-0 on the season and they’ll play MICDS (25-4) in the state title game at 6:20 p.m. Saturday at the University of Missouri.

Benton trailed 7-5 midway through the first quarter, but Deajah Bernard scored nine of her team-high 13 points in the first as they Cards led 11-8 after one and they never trailed again.

BHS couldn’t put the Dutchgirls away until the fourth quarter as Benton led 16-14 at halftime and 25-20 after three quarters. They used a 10-2 run to start the fourth and Owensville never made a serious run at the Cardinals.

Benton allowed only two second half field goals and they forced Owensville into 22 turnovers in the game.

Bernard led the Cardinals with 13, while Kylee Williams added 11.

Benton has only played for one state championship as they defeated Farmington in 2007 for their only title in school history. Saturday’s game with MICDS will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ or you can click here to listen.

Bishop LeBlond hires Michael Evans as Athletic Director

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LBSt. Joseph, Mo. – Bishop LeBlond High School Principal Jeff Sullivan announced Monday the selection of Michael Evans as the school’s athletic director effective July 1, 2016.

Evans, a 2001 LeBlond graduate, comes to LB after 10 years at the University of St. Mary in various athletic and development positions. Evans will become only the school’s fourth athletic director in its 56-year-history, succeeding Greg Kastner who has been in the position the past 29 years.

Evans is currently the head softball coach at the University of Saint Mary and also has been an assistant baseball coach, Catholic school recruiting director, and alumni and annual fund specialist at USM.

Sullivan says he feels fortunate LeBlond was able to find someone who has both the passion required and the experience necessary to develop young people at a Catholic school. “We think Michael will be a great fit because of his ties to Bishop LeBlond and his experience in Catholic higher education,” Sullivan said. “Michael played baseball for Greg Kastner and his grandfather is Missouri Western legendary baseball coach Doug Minnis, so he understands the commitment necessary for the spiritual, physical and intellectual development of young people.”

Evans also will replace Kastner as the varsity baseball coach at LeBlond.

Evans earned his bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of Saint Mary in 2006 and his master’s in psychology in 2009. He and his wife Rebecca have three children.

— Bishop LeBlond Press Release —

Benton girls, Lafayette boys advance to the Class 4 Final Four

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BHSLHSIn 2014 when the Benton girls and Lafayette boys basketball teams advanced to their respective Class 4 Final Fours, that was the first time in the history of high school basketball in St. Joseph that two programs in the city each advanced to the Final Four in the same season.  Two years later, the two programs have done it again.

Both teams played their Class 4 Quarterfinal game Saturday in Independence at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena.  The Benton girls improved to 29-0 with a 45-22 victory over Grain Valley, while the Lafayette boys used a big second half to defeat Raytown South 57-42 and they’re now 27-3 this season.

Benton led wire-to-wire but they took control of their game with the Eagles in the third quarter after Grain Valley pulled to within six points, 24-18, early in the third, but the Cardinals went on an 18-1 run and outscored Grain Valley 21-4 to end the game.

Daejah Bernard led Benton with 12 points, while Kylee Williams added ten.  The Cardinals advance to their fourth Final Four under head coach Brett Goodwin and they’ll play Owensville in the second semifinals next Friday.  The game will tip at 4:15 p.m. and it’ll be broadcast on 680 KFEQ.  Incarnate Word will meet MICDS in the other Class 4 girls semifinal.

The Lafayette boys used another big fourth quarter to seal another postseason win.  In a back-and-forth game for three quarter, the Fighting Irish led 33-30 after three and then exploded for a 13-2 run to start the fourth quarter and they outscored Raytown South 24-12 in the final period to secure their fifth trip in school history to the Final Four.  It’s the third in nine seasons for head coach Chris Neff.

Diego Bernard led Lafayette with 22 points and Sterling Hicks scored 11, all in the fourth quarter.  The Irish will face off with Helias Catholic in their semifinal game Friday at 7:45 p.m. and it’ll be broadcast on 680 KFEQ.  Sikeston will play Vashon in the first boys Class 4 semifinal prior to the Lafayette game.

Mound City girls, Stanberry boys advance to Class 1 state championship games

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riggertBasketballCLASS 1 BOYS SEMIFINALS
Stanberry 52
Glasgow 44

Walnut Grove 59 OT
Gideon 54

CLASS 1 GIRLS SEMIFINALS
Mound City 57
Glasgow 52

Naylor 37
Walnut Grove 32

CLASS 2 BOYS SEMIFINALS
Iberia 65 OT
Bloomfield 58

Hartville 63
Wellington-Napoleon 33

CLASS 2 GIRLS SEMIFINALS
Neelyville 63
New Franklin 45

Crane 56
Skyline 50

CLASS 3 BOYS SEMIFINALS
Barstow 63
Mountain Grove 49

Tolton Catholic 83
Whitfield 71

CLASS 3 GIRLS SEMIFINALS
Saxony Lutheran 54
Southern Boone 40

Strafford 49
St. Piux X 38

Central lets big lead slip away in Class 5 Sectional loss to Liberty

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Central10The St. Joseph Central girls’ basketball team had its season come to an end Wednesday night as they lost to Liberty 59-44 in the Class 5 Sectionals at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in Independence.

The Indians finish with a 21-7 record, with three of their losses coming to Liberty.  The Blue Jays improve to 25-3 and they’ll face Belton in the Class 5 Quarterfinals  on Saturday.

Central jumped out to a big lead in the first half as they took a 28-12 lead with about four minutes to go before halftime, but the Indians didn’t score again in the half and Liberty ended the second quarter on a 13-0 run to pull within three points at the half.

The Blue Jays took the lead early in the third quarter and led 37-33, and Central never regained the lead.

Maggie Lawrence led CHS with 13 points.

Lafayette uses big fourth quarter to defeat Lincoln Prep in Class 4 Sectional

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LafayetteClick here to watch postgame interview with Chris Neff

The Lafayette boys basketball team outscored Lincoln Prep 35-15 in the fourth quarter to defeat the Tigers 77-56 in their Class 4 Sectional at Staley High School Tuesday.

The third-ranked Fighting Irish improve to 26-3 and they will play Raytown South (17-11) in the Class 4 Quarterfinals at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in Independence on Saturday at 7:45 p.m.

Lafayette raced out to a 21-11 lead at the end of the first quarter and then took a 33-17 with about two minutes to go in the first half.  Lincoln Prep battled back though as they closed the first half on a 9-0 run and then used an 11-1 run to start the second half to take a three point lead.  The Tigers led 41-38 late in the third quarter and then the Irish dominated the rest of the game.

LHS scored the final four points of the third and never trailed again as they outscored Lincoln Prep 35-15 in the final quarter.

Caleb Bennett led Lafayette with 28 points, Gary Wilkinson added 16, Diego Bernard scored 11 and Sterling Hicks had 10.

Lafayette’s quarterfinal game with Raytown South will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ on Saturday.

Benton rolls past Center to advance to third straight Class 4 Quarterfinal

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BentonClick here to watch postgame interview with Brett Goodwin

The Benton girls basketball team stayed unbeaten Tuesday night as they were able to defeat Center 65-45 in their Class 4 Sectional at Staley High School.

The Cardinals, who are ranked No. 1 in Class 4, improve to 28-0 on the season and they advance to the Class 4 Quartefinals for the third consecutive season.  Benton will play Grain Valley (23-5) at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in Independence on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

Benton led 26-19 at halftime and after the Yellowjackets made a three-pointer to start the second half, the Cards used a 13-0 run to break the game open and they ended the third by outscoring Center 25-6.

Center never made a serious threat in the fourth quarter as Kylee Williams led Benton with 22 points.  Bailey Russell added 12 and Mia Henderson scored nine.

The Cardinals’ quarterfinal game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ on Saturday.

Area High School District Basketball Scores – Thursday, March 3

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riggertBasketballCLASS 4 DISTRICT 16 BOYS SEMIFINALS
Lafayette 59 (24-3)
Kearney 46

Benton 63 (20-6)
Smithville 48

CHAMPIONSHIP – Saturday, 6:00 PM
Lafayette vs. Benton – Live on 680 KFEQ

CLASS 5 DISTRICT 16 GIRLS SEMIFINALS
Central 73 (20-6)
Park Hill South 47

Staley 48
Park Hill 41

CHAMPIONSHIP – Friday, 5:00 PM
Central vs. Staley – Live on ESPN 1550

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