North County, Central Girls Advance To MAAA Championship

In the first of two semifinals heard on J-98 Thursday night, the fourth-seeded North County Raiders girls basketball team upset the top-seeded Ste. Genevieve Dragons by a final score of 40-37.

The contest was close throughout, and the Dragons actually had the lead for much of the second half, thanks in large part to 11 points in the second half alone by sophomore Sydney Bumgardaner.

Bumgardaner finished with a team leading 17 points. For the Raiders, it was a heroic late three-pointer by junior Julia Christopher that finally got North County over the hump for good.

Christopher finished with 10 points, while sophomore Ella Gant went 4 for 4 at the free throw line in the final minute to lead North County with 12. Gant was awarded our Applebee’s of Farmington Player of the Game.

Raiders head coach Zac McVey was pleased with his team’s effort and poise down the stretch.

North County improves to 13-6 with the win while Ste. Genevieve drops to 16-4 on the year.In game two of the double header the second-seeded Central Rebels held off the sixth-seeded Potosi Trojans 63-53.

The Rebels took a commanding 22-12 in the opening frame and never looked back from there.

Sophia Horton had 7 points in the opening frome for the Rebels, Avery Norris was your Applebees of Farmington Player of the game with 15 points in a well rounded effort.

After the game head coach of the Rebels Josh Mapes praised the job his junior guard has done all season, taking over the point duties in a short period of time.

After the first quarter, Potosi and Central scored 41 points each in quarters 2, 3 and 4. The loss drops the Trojans to 8-13 on the year. They play the Ste. Genevieve Dragons in the MAAA Tournament Third Place Game on Saturday afternoon.

The Central Rebels jump to 18-3 on the year and face the North County Raiders in the MAAA Conference Tournament Championship Game.

The semifinals for the boys side of the bracket can be heard Friday at 6:45 on J-98, while the third place and championship games will begin at 3:45 on Saturday on J-98.