A packed gym at Brookfield High School provided an electric atmosphere for four state-ranked Class One teams tangling in state sectional play on Tuesday night. Once the dust settled, the Marion County Lady Mustangs and La Plata Bulldogs emerged victorious over Meadville's boys and girls basketball teams to advance to state quarterfinal play.
The evening's closest contest was the nightcap, as the Bulldogs backed up their number-six state ranking and upset the second-ranked Meadville Eagles by a 59-53 final score. Neither team built a double-digit lead at any point in the game, and neither led by more than two points at the end of a quarter... until the final horn.
Strong defense and foul shooting helped La Plata avenge a 52-44 loss at the hands of Meadville in last season's sectional round, and juniors Birdie Buck and Taylor Wheeler each added 16 points for the Bulldogs. La Plata coach David Fouch says success from the stripe helped give his club the edge in this year's matchup........
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Meadville was frustrated throughout the game by interesting defensive looks by LaPlata, but still got 14 points from senior Cody Smith and junior Rick Tate, who tied for the team scoring lead in the game. Eagles coach Darren Smith was disappointed with his team's first loss of the season, but very proud of its defense.....
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Only four players scored for Meadville in defeat, while La Plata had seven players score in the win. Meadville's perfect season ended with Tuesday's loss, putting them at 27-1 overall this year. La Plata, meanwhile, will carry a 26-2 mark into a state quarterfinal game against the Tigers of Pilot Grove at Missouri Valley College on Saturday afternoon.
In the girls sectional game, top-ranked Marion County won a 37-24 defensive slugfest over ninth ranked Meadville. The game was tied at eight after the first quarter, when the Lady Mustangs went on an 11-0 run to start the second stanza and led the rest of the way.
Marion County coach Mike Johnson says his team's calling card all season was the key to getting them to the next round...........
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Lady Mustangs defensive stopper Jordan Johnson highlighted the defensive effort by holding Meadville's leading scorer Kendra Holcer to four points.
On the offensive end, Marion County star Jessica Redd faced double and triple teams all night, but still managed to post a game high 15 points. Marion County improved to 24-3 and will meet Hardin-Central in the state quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon at Missouri Valley College.
Meadville got ten points from Kaylen Holcer. The Lady Eagles finish their season at 25-3, and will lose three starters to graduation.
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