Missouri hoops: Staley Ray South boys, Blue Springs, Lincoln Prep girls reach semis
The Missouri state high school basketball tournaments continued Saturday with Kansas City-area teams advancing to semifinals that, as of now, would be played late next week at JQH Arena in Springfield.
Saturday’s quarterfinal games were played at various sites in front of limited spectators — essential personnel only — because of the evolving COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Missouri is one of the last few states in the country in which basketball tournaments haven’t been scuttled altogether.
The Class 5 Staley boys beat Ray-Pec 60-59 at Blue Springs South High, and will play Chaminade in a state semifinal that’s currently scheduled for the evening of Friday, March 20 in Springfield.
Ray-Pec was down as many as 20 but fought back to make it close. Staley improved to 23-6. Chaminade is 21-6 after beating Mehlville 60-51 Saturday.
The Class 5 Blue Springs girls beat previously undefeated Liberty 51-41 in an earlier game at Blue Springs South. The Wildcats never trailed in running their record to 24-5. The Blue Jays finish 27-1. Blue Springs next plays Kirkwood (24-4), a 44-33 winner over Poplar Bluff, in a Friday semifinal at Springfield.
In the Class 4 girls quarterfinals Saturday, Lincoln Prep (18-9-1) also advanced to the final four, beating Grain Valley (20-8) 63-45. The Blue Tigers, last year’s runners-up to Incarnate Word, were led by Ajanee Bradley’s 27 points.
Later in the evening, Class 5 Raytown South’s boys team took care of St. Joseph Lafayette 60-40 to join the other three KC-area teams in their respective finals fours for the state semifinals.
Missouri’s smallest-school classification, Class 1, played its boys and girls championship games Friday in Springfield. The Class 2 and 3 boys and girls finals were taking place Saturday in Springfield.
While most other states, including Kansas, have called off the remainder of their high school postseasons for basketball, the Missouri State High School Activities Association made the determination Thursday to keep playing.
BOYS
CLASS 5
Saturday’s quarterfinals
Staley 60, Ray-Pec 59
Chaminade 60, Mehlville 51
Rock Bridge vs. Kickapoo, at SW Baptist U., 7:45 p.m.
Christian Bros. College vs. Francis Howell, at Francis Howell Central, 7:45 p.m.
Semifinals
Staley vs. Chaminade, 7:50 p.m. March 20, at Springfield’s JQH Arena
Other semifinal TBD
Championship game
Semifinals winners, March 21 at Springfield’s JQH Arena
CLASS 4
Saturday’s quarterfinals
Notre Dame 59, Westminster Christian 53
Vashon 70, Kirksville 39
Helias Catholic 63, Webb City 54
Raytown South vs. St. Joseph Lafayette, at Blue Springs South, 7:45 p.m.
Semifinals
March 19 at Springfield’s JQH Arena
Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) vs. TBD, 4:30 p.m.
Helias Catholic vs. Vashon, 6:15 p.m.
Championship game
Semifinal winners, March 20 at Springfield’s JQH Arena
CLASS 3
Saturday’s championship
Cardinal Ritter 88, Charleston 32
CLASS 2
Saturday’s championship
Semifinal winners, 5:20 p.m. at Springfield’s JQH Arena
CLASS 1
Friday’s championship
Dora 59, St. Elizabeth 49
GIRLS
CLASS 5
Saturday’s quarterfinals
Kirkwood 44, Poplar Bluff 33
Blue Springs 51, Liberty 41
Hazelwood Central 79, vs. Troy Buchanan 60
Rock Bridge 59, Republic 55
Semifinals
March 20 at Springfield’s JQH Arena
Blue Springs vs. Kirkwood, 4:20 p.m.
Rock Bridge vs. Hazelwood Central, 6:05 p.m.
Championship game
Semifinal winners, March 21 at Springfield’s JQH Arena
CLASS 4
Saturday’s quarterfinals
Notre Dame 55, Rockwood Summit 35
Incarnate Word 57, Ladue Horton Watkins 54
Carl Junction 64, Sullivan 48
Lincoln Prep 63, Grain Valley 45
Semifinals
March 19 at Springfield’s JQH Arena
Lincoln Prep vs. Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau), 1 p.m.
Incarnate Word vs. Carl Junction, 2:45 p.m.
Championship game
Semifinal winners, March 20 at Springfield’s JQH Arena
CLASS 3
Saturday’s championship
Strafford 65, Licking 62
CLASS 2
Saturday’s championship
East Buchanan 62, Tipton 51
CLASS 1
Friday’s championship
Walnut Grove 52, South Nodaway 41
This story was originally published March 14, 2020 at 2:57 PM.