Charleston, Kelly girls set up semifinal game

BLOOMFIELD -- The Class 2A District 2 girls tournament began without a hitch Saturday afternoon as all four games went as seeded. Early on the Woodland Lady Cardinals knocked off East Prairie 47-31 and Scott City's Lady Rams washed out Greenville 53-39.

In the afternoon affairs, Charleston advanced by defeating the Chaffee Lady Red Devils 74-45 and Kelly's Lady Hawks made quick work of Puxico 67-25.

The Lady Rams control the contest from the beginning as Scott City held a 20-9 lead after one.

Sophomore center Loren Groves of Scott City dropped in eight points to lead all scorers in the first period.

Groves led all scorers in the game too as she scored 27 of her team's 53 points.

Guard Amanda Crites got hot for the Lady Bears in the second and hit two treys, a bucket, and two free throws.

Crites, though, was the only one that scored for Greenville in the frame as Scott City drove on to a 30-18 lead at the half.

Groves continued her scoring ways in the second half as she hit six baskets and went 3-5 from behind the free throw line for Scott City.

Greenville's Crites dropped in nine points for the Lady Bears in the second half, but it wasn't nearly enough as Scott City drove to the 53-39 win.

Crites did, though, finish with 19 points. The Lady Rams will take on the winner of tonight's Notre Dame/Woodland game. Scott City's semifinal match up will take place on Wednesday at 6:00

Charleston's Missy Whitney scored 33 points on 14 field goals and by going 5-5 from the free throw line in Charleston's win over Chaffee.

Whitney had eight points in the first quarter while the Lady Red Devils' entire team could only muster six.

Chaffee's entire offensive contribution in the first was a duo of treys from Jennifer Vandeven and Mallory Kiefer.

Both teams tied scoring the second frame, dropping in 18 apiece, but Vandeven got hot for Chaffee and hit three buckets and a three pointer to match Whitney's 10 points in the frame.

Charleston also did damage in the third quarter as the Lady Blue Jays put in 18 points, led by Whitney who had 13.

The Lady Devils were only able to stick in eight in the period to give the Lady Blue Jays a 58-32 lead going into the final frame.

Six different Charleston players scored in the fourth quarter to give the Lady Blue Jays the 74-45 win.

Charleston will take on Kelly in the semi-finals on Wednesday at 7:30.

Sophomore Kandace Abner led the Lady Cardinals on the night with 14 points including seven points in the first quarter.

Abner's five, along with couplets from a trio of other teammates put Woodland up 13-4 after one.

The Lady Cardinals continued to dominate in the second as Stacie Greer hit three field goals and went 1-4 from the free throw striper to lead WHS to a 24-10 score at intermission.

East Prairie gained a little ground in the third period as Michelle Redman and Lacey Tatum both put in four points, but it wouldn't be enough as Woodland would score their game high in the fourth quarter.

In the fourth, Woodland used six different players to drop in 14 points to take the 47-31 victory.

The Lady Cardinals will play today against number one seeded Notre Dame. Tip off will be at 5:00 p.m.

The Lady Hawks used a 19 point performace from Ashley Payne off the bench to advance in the tournament.

Payne, who led all scorers, nailed three baskets in the first quarter to help Kelly take an early 19-6 lead over the Indians.

Brittany Campbell hit two treys in the second quarter for the Lady Indians, but it wasn't enough to spark a comeback as Kelly scored 20 points in the frame, who was led by Bridget Riley in the period with six.

A three and another jumper from Payne gave the Lady Hawks a 67-25 lead at the half.

Kelly turned up its defense a notch in the second half as they only allowed Puxico 11 points, three of which were from the free throw line.

The Lady Hawks will take on Charleston on Wednesday night at 7:30 in the semi-finals.