Rich Hill falls in district championships

HUME, Mo. -- The Rich Hill Tigers and Lady Tigers basketball teams fell just short of district championship trophies Saturday as the girls fell to Lockwood and the Thomas Jefferson Day School Cavaliers took down the boys.

In the girls' game, the Lady Tigers came into the game expecting to be able to have a fairly easy trip into the state tournament, but it was not to be as Lockwood was able to pull off the upset by a final score of 55-47.

Both teams got off to a bit of a rocky start, leading to a low-scoring first period. Lockwood was able to gain the slight edge by the end of the period, taking an 8-7 lead into the second quarter.

The first quarter was an up-and-down battle that saw the lead change hands on three different occasions, but Lockwood was finally able to gain the lead near the end of the frame and never relinquished that lead for the remainder of the half.

The Lady Tigers of Lockwood were finally able to find a real offensive rhythm in the second period and began to open the game up as the minutes wore on in the opening half. By the time the second period came to an end, Lockwood found themselves on top by six, taking a 25-19 lead into the locker room at the break.

Bekah Ogden led the offense for Lockwood as she put up 11 points in the first half to lead all scorers. Ogden did have some foul trouble, however, heading into the break with three fouls.

Rich Hill's offense continued to struggle in the third quarter, allowing Lockwood to extend their lead even more. Lockwood was able to build their lead to as much as eight points in the period before taking a 35-27 lead into the game's final eight minutes.

Rich Hill was able to fight their way back within four in the early minutes of the fourth quarter, but Lockwood's offense made a quick recovery, eventually building their biggest lead of the game at 55-44. The Lady Tigers were only able to cut that lead by three points down the stretch, eventually losing the game by a final score of 55-47.

Ogden and Rochelle Wallen led the offensive effort for Lockwood as they put up 19 points each. Sophie Whitesell finished the night in double figures as well, adding 11 of her own. For Rich Hill, Rayanne Coonce led the effort with 15.

In the boys' game, the fourth-seeded Thomas Jefferson Day School Cavaliers edged out the Rich Hill Tigers in a very close contest, taking the game and the district championship by a final score of 54-52.

The first period got off to a quick start for the Cavaliers as they were able to open up to an early four-point lead. The Cavs were eventually able to build that lead up to as much as seven, before taking a 13-8 lead into the second period.

As the minutes wore on the first half, The Tigers' offense seemed to hit a wall as they were unable to find the basket. That offensive stagnancy eventually allowed the Cavs to build their lead to 13 points before the Tigers could recover.

The game stayed fairly even through the remainder of the half and the Cavs eventually took a 31-18 lead into the locker room at the break. The Cavs shot an outstanding 60 percent in the half, compared to just 33 percent for Rich Hill, allowing them to open up the game.

Alex Oserowsky led the offensive effort for the Cavs with 16 points, followed by 11 for Jordan Stauffer. For Rich Hill, Rusty Thomas led the effort in the first half with eight.

The Tigers finally found some offense in the third quarter as they were able to open the half on a 6-0 run. The Tigers were eventually able to pull within four points before taking a 38-29 deficit into the game's final eight minutes.

The Tiger offense was finally able to find their spark in the fourth quarter as they were able to outscore the Cavs 23-16 in the period and 5-1 in the final minute of the period, but ultimately fell just short, losing the game by a final score of 54-52. Oserowsky led the offensive effort for the Cavs with 21 points, followed by Stauffer with 17 and Taylor Barton with 11.

For Rich Hill, Thomas led the offense with 22, followed by Tyler Ryser with 17.

With those two games, Rich Hill's Tigers and Lady Tigers fall just short of district championship trophies, while the Lockwood Lady Tigers and the Thomas Jefferson Cavaliers move on to the state tournament.