(Park Hills, Mo.) The Regional Radio Top 10 Broadcast Games reaches #2, and it was arguably the most exciting basketball game played in the Parkland this season.
The Ste. Genevieve Dragons beat the Steelville Cardinals 78-74 in double overtime to win the Central Christmas Tournament girls’ championship game, but not after a million twists and turns.
The Dragons came in 8-0, and they showed why they were unbeaten with a strong start from 2 of their star juniors.
Ste. Gen led 23-7 at the end of the first quarter and would go up by as much as 21 points in the first half.
But classic games happen when, even down 18 at halftime, a team finds a way to rally.
And that’s what Steelville did, thanks to the 3-point shot and sophomore guard Naomi Perkins.
It was only a 48-39 deficit for the Cardinals as the fourth quarter began, and they refused to cool off.
Sydney Bumgardaner hit a pair of free throws with less than 30 seconds to play to give Ste. Genevieve a 57-54 lead.
But Steelville had the hot hand, specifically the right hand of their sophomore sharpshooter.
As overtime began, the Cardinals kept on rolling, taking a 63-59 lead.
But Ste. Genevieve would not back down.
Alyssa Church hit a pair of free throws to put Steelville back up three, and Sydney Booker came up with a steal to seemingly seal the win for the Cards.
But there was more drama left.
And even as the game went to double OT and Sydney Booker scored, Sydney Bumgardaner and the Dragons would not be denied a tournament championship.
Perkins managed to hit her whopping eighth 3-pointer of the night to get it back to a 2-point game, but Ste. Gen would knock down free throws down the stretch to secure the win and their first Central Christmas Tournament title.
Perkins finished with 26 points, while Booker added 22 and Church scored 18 as Steelville fell to 7-2.
The Cardinals would go on to win the Class 3 District 3 championship and win 22 games.
Bumgardaner poured in 21 points for Ste. Genevieve, but Maci Reynolds had a game-high 27 points to lead the way.
Megan Aubuchon notched 10 points as the Dragons stayed unbeaten, and they would eventually win the MAAA Large School Division and a total of 25 games.
Full Game Audio – #2 Ste. Genevieve 78 vs. Steelville 74:
