Missouri prep hoops: Blue Springs South girls, Staley boys fall in state semifinals
Thursday’s semifinals set the stage for the Missouri Class 6 state-championship games in boys and girls high school basketball at JQH Arena in Springfield.
Unfortunately for Staley’s boys and the Blue Springs South girls, the Falcons and Jaguars were on the losing end of two of those outcomes. But each can still earn a trophy on the final day of their respective seasons.
In the girls semifinals, Blue Springs South (25-5) dropped into Friday’s 10 a.m. matchup for third place with a 51-36 loss to Springfield Kickapoo (28-3). It was 18-all at halftime before Kickapoo pulled away and advanced to a 2 p.m. Friday showdown against Incarnate Word for the state title.
Incarnate Word (28-0) moved on Thursday with a 71-23 victory over St. Joseph’s Academy (20-10), who will meet Blue Springs South in Friday morning’s third-place game.
Later, in the boys Class 6 semifinals, Staley (26-5) fell 53-43 to Nixa (28-3). Nixa led 28-16 at halftime; Staley made a late run to get it to 45-41 with about a minute and a half left, but the Falcons could draw no closer.
Kayden Fish led Staley with 16 points. Kael Combs led Nixa with 19 and teammate Colin Ruffin scored 18.
The boys Class 6 final on Friday at 4 p.m. will feature Nixa against Christian Brothers College, a 70-52 winner Thursday over Chaminade. Staley will play Chaminade for third place at noon on Friday.
Friday’s girls Class 5 semifinals at JQH Arena feature the Smithville girls against West Plains at noon for a spot in Saturday’s championship game. Smithville is 21-8, West Plains 25-4.
In the boys Class 4 semifinals Friday evening, the Pembroke Hill Raiders (21-4) take on Father Tolton Regional Catholic (21-8) at the Hammons Center in Springfield. That game tips at 8 p.m. and the winner advances to Saturday’s final.
MISSOURI BOYS
CLASS 6
Semifinals, Thursday at JQH Arena in Springfield
Christian Bros. College 70, Chaminade 52
Nixa 53, Staley 43
Friday at JQH Arena
Third-place game: Staley vs. Chaminade, noon
Championship: Nixa vs. Christian Bros. College, 4 p.m.
CLASS 5
Semifinals, Friday at JQH Arena
Webster Groves vs. Cardinal Ritter, 6 p.m.
Springfield Catholic vs. Helias Catholic, 8 p.m.
Saturday at JQH Arena
Third-place game: noon
Championship: 4 p.m.
CLASS 4
Semifinals, Friday at Hammons Center in Springfield
Central (New Madrid) vs. Vashon, 6 p.m.
Pembroke Hill vs. Father Tolton, 8 p.m.
Friday, March 18 at JQH Arena
Third-place game: noon
Championship: 8 p.m.
CLASS 3
Third-place game: Thayer 70, Duchesne 35
Championship: Charleston 58, Lafayette Co. 56
CLASS 2
Third-place game: Putnam Co. 57, Bishop LeBlond 55
Championship: Norwood 64, Bernie 63
CLASS 1
Third-place game: St. Elizabeth 50, Wellsville-Mid 45
Championship: South Iron 71, Stanberry 45
MISSOURI GIRLS
CLASS 6
Semifinals, Thursday at JQH Arena
Incarnate Word 71, St. Joseph’s Academy 23
Springfield Kickapoo 51, Blue Springs South 36
Friday, at Hammons Center
Third-place game: Blue Springs South vs. St. Joseph’s, 10 a.m.
Friday, at JQH Arena
Championship: Incarnate Word vs. Kickapoo, 2 p.m.
CLASS 5
Semifinals, Friday at JQH Arena
Webster Groves vs. Whitfield, 10 a.m.
Smithville vs. West Plains, noon
Saturday, at Hammons Center
Third-place game: TBD, 10 a.m.
Saturday, at JQH Arena
Championship: TBD, 2 p.m.
CLASS 4
Friday semifinals, at Hammons Center
St. James vs. John Burroughs, 2 p.m.
Helias Catholic vs. Benton, 4 p.m.
Saturday, at JQH Arena
Third-place game: TBD, 10 a.m.
Championship: TBD, 6 p.m.
CLASS 3
Third-place game: Strafford 64, West County 34
Championship: El Dorado 61, South Shelby 26
CLASS 2
Third-place game: Blue Eye 57, St. Paul Lutheran 19
Championship: Wellington-Napoleon 52, Ellington 31
CLASS 1
Third-place game: Leeton 58, Walnut Grove 39
Championship: Platte Valley (co-op) 63, Delta 50
This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 4:24 PM.