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DEXTER -- The Bernie Mules held up their No. 1 seed Thursday during the semifinals of the SCAA Conference tournament, but just barely.
Fifth-seeded Puxico gave the Mules a scare late in the fourth quarter, but Bernie pulled out a 61-58 win to move on to the championship game today.
Bernie, who will face sixth-seeded Woodland in the title game, found themselves tied at 58-all with less than a minute remaining.
B.J. Jennings knocked down two free throws to give the Mules a two-point lead. Puxico turned the ball over on the ensuing possession forcing them to foul on the next inbounds play.
Jennings hit one of two free throws but Puxico's last-ditch effort fell short.
Jennings led the Mules with 16 points. Jake Wagner added 10 and Joey Walker chipped in eight.
Puxico had four players score in double figures.
Austin Teichman led the Indians with 17 points. Tim Hancock and Zach Tucker each added 12 while Garrett Payne chipped in 11.
Bernie and Woodland will play for their conference championship tonight at 8:30 p.m.
Puxico 19 14 14 11 -- 58
Bernie 10 20 22 9 -- 61
PUXICO (58) - Garrett Payne 11, Corey Pratt 4, Austin Teichman 17, Tim Hancock 12, Seth Luttrull 2, Zach Tucker 12. FG 23, FT 11/19, F 18. (3-pointers: Pratt 1. Fouled out: none)
BERNIE (61) - Matt Vernon 6, Jake Wagner 10, B.J. Jennings 16, Troy Kirkpatrick 3, Justin Stanfield 7, J.R. Pregel 4, Devin Trammell 5, Joey Walker 8, Gavin Smith 2. FG 21, FT 12/18, F 17. (3-pointers: Vernon 2, Wagner 1, Jennings 1, Kirkpatrick 1, Stanfield 1, Trammell 1. Fouled out: Walker.)
__No. 6 Woodland 67, No. 2 Advance 57__
Garret Reynolds poured in 27 points as the Woodland Cardinals continued their unexpected run through the conference tournament taking down second-seeded Advance 67-57.
Evan Grindstaff added 16 points to Woodland's cause.
Lane Below paced Advance with 25 points behind five 3-pointers before fouling out. Austin Miller chipped in 13.
Woodland earned a 20-15 lead in the first quarter and never trailed throughout.
The Hornets had beaten the Cardinals 75-59 in their only previous meeting in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.
Woodland 20 18 19 10 -- 67
Advance 15 17 12 13 -- 57
WOODLAND (67) -- Evan Grindstaff 16, Collin Rhodes 2, Tyler Yount 3, Garret Reynolds 27, Cole Schlief 5, Devon Gramlisch 14. FG 26, FT 9/18, F 9. (3-pointers: Grindstaff 4, Yount 1, Reynolds 1. Fouled out: none)
ADVANCE (57) -- Zane Eggimann 3, Austin Miller 13, Garrett Walker 3, Lane Below 25, Richard Nixon III 2, Dalton Wilson 6, Dawson Mayo 4, Eli Seger 1. FG 22, FT 5/8, F 16. (3-pointers: Miller 3, Below 5. Fouled out: Below.)