Boys Semis, Girls Finals Set After Day 3 Of Central Christmas Tournament On Regional Radio

(PARK HILLS, Mo.) – Day 3 of the Central Christmas Tournament saw the girls’ championship-game matchup get set and the boys’ tournament send 4 teams onto the semifinals.

In the first girls’ semifinal, the Steelville Cardinals came back from down by as much as 10 points in the 4th to win in overtime 57-53 and hand the Central Rebels their first loss of the season.

Alyssa Church hit a clutch shot with 2 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 48, and the Applebee’s Player of the Game hit two clutch shots in OT to get Steelville the upset win.

Naomi Perkins finished with 12 points, while Sydney Booker led Steelville with 18.

Cardinals head coach Seth Collins says Perkins just needed to pull the trigger late.

Central will not win a seventh straight Christmas Tournament championship despite a combined 49 points from Kaley Kimball and Sophia Horton.

Our second girls semifinal saw the Ste. Genevieve Dragons defeat the South Iron Panthers by a final of 52-40.

Both teams entered the contest undefeated, but big plays by junior and Dream Teamer from last year Sydney Bumgardaner were the difference.

Bumgardaner finished with a team-leading 15 points and was the Applebee’s of Farmington Player of the Game.

Dragons head coach Jordanna Walk-Robison says her girls were pumped.

The Dragons get Steelville on Tuesday at 6 in the championship.

Meanwhile, South Iron and Central will play for third place at 3:00.

Both games will be on J-98.

The first boys’ quarterfinal was a dominant effort, as the South Iron Panthers cruised past the Jefferson Bluejays 90-49.

As he often does, a junior forward lit it up for the Panthers.

Wakefield finished with a game-high 28 points.

Jacob Howell chipped in 10 points and was named Applebee’s Player of the Game.

Panthers head coach Dusty Dinkins said he enjoys the challenge that the competition in the Christmas Tournament provides.

In the second boys quarterfinal of the night, Festus couldn’t quite capture another upset victory, as North County earned a 51-43 win to advance to the semis.

For the Raiders, it was Karter Kekec exploding for 32 points.

Raiders head coach Jimmy Palmer thought his team stayed the course.

North County will face South Iron Monday on J-98 at 6.

The third semifinal saw the Central Rebels roll on their home floor to an 81-50 win over the Steelville Cardinals.

While Brent Wagner poured in a game-high 25 points to pace the Rebels, freshman point guard Mason Williams was not far behind and made plenty of spectacular plays.