See who plays for Holiday Classic high school hoops titles today at William Jewell
Here are some Sunday highlights from the annual William Jewell Holiday Classic high school basketball tournament, which is taking place at the Mabee Center at William Jewell College in Liberty.
The tournament field — featuring 24 teams playing a total of 33 scheduled games in four days — is broken into three brackets: The Patterson, Nelson and Holley divisions.
The tourney concludes with championship games on Monday.
No. 11 Blue Springs South 65, Park Hill South 56
Blue Springs South overcame upset-minded Park Hill South to advance to the Patterson Division’s title game.
The Panthers led Blue Springs South, ranked No. 11 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, into the third quarter. But a 20-12 surge gave the Jaguars a 52-49 lead entering the final period.
Blue Springs South made seven of 10 free-throw attempts down the stretch to seal the win.
Blayne Marshall paced the Jaguars with 21 points, while fellow junior AC Rollins added 17.
Blue Springs South (6-2) will face Raytown in the Patterson Division title game at 9 p.m. Monday.
No. 9 Raytown 58, St. Michael the Archangel 57
Raytown rallied to overcome St. Michael the Archangel and advance to the Patterson Division title game.
The Bluejays, ranked No. 9 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, trailed the Guardians much of the way — it was 31-22 St. Michael at halftime. But Ramelo Smith scored 15 of his team-high 19 points in the second half and Larry Porter IV helped the cause with nine points after halftime.
Michael Weis paced the Guardians, who play Park Hill South for third place at 4:30 p.m. Monday, with 20 points.
Raytown (8-1) takes on Blue Springs South in the title game at 9 p.m. Monday.
KIPP 65, Liberty North 60
The KIPP Legacy Gators fended off Liberty North in the Nelson Division semifinals and will — for the first time — play for a Jewell tourney division championship.
Kenneth Smith led the way with 21 points, including four 3-pointers. Fellow senior Josiah Grigsby scored 15 points and Anthrone Hatch added 10.
Amourie Dunn’s 15 points paced the Eagles, who will face Summit Christian in the third-place game at 3 p.m. Monday.
KIPP will take on Park Hill in the division’s title game at 6 p.m. Monday.
No. 14 Park Hill 58, Summit Christian 49
The Trojans mounted their biggest comeback of the season en route to a Nelson Division semifinal victory.
Park Hill, ranked No. 14 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, trailed 31-19 at halftime and 43-33 entering the fourth quarter. But the Trojans (7-2) hit the gas pedal with a 25-6 run in the final period to secure a trip to the title game.
Leo Gayman scored all seven of his points in the final quarter, while Cameron Jones led the Trojans with 20 for the game. Isaiah Caston added 12 for Park Hill, which plays KIPP Legacy for the division championship at 6 p.m. Monday.
Mike Thomas III’s 24 points led Summit Christian, which will face Liberty North in the third-place game at 3 p.m. Monday.
Raytown South 53, Liberty 51
The Cardinals spoiled a chance for Liberty to play hometown favorite in the Holley Division title game.
Marcellus Goudeau led the way for Raytown South in the semifinals with 17 points. Donovan Fletcher-Pruitt chipped in 11 for the Cardinals, who will face Battle (Columbia) in the title game at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Kale Mortimer’s 17 points paced Liberty, which will face Blue Springs in the third-place game at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Battle 70, Blue Springs 63
For the second straight year, Battle’s trip from Columbia to Liberty was worth the drive.
The Spartans beat Blue Springs 70-63 in Sunday’s semifinals and will defend their Holley Division championship Monday.
Junior Tyler Putnam’s 19 points paced the Spartans, who trailed 50-49 entering the final period. Vernell Holt added 15 for Battle.
Blue Springs, which will take on Liberty in the third-place game at 1:30 p.m. Monday, got 16 points from DaQuan Hicks.