sports@standard-democrat.com
BLOOMFIELD -- It took overtime, but the Bernie Mules are back in the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament semifinals.
After missing a buzzer beater in regulation the Mules outscored top-seeded Hayti in overtime 9-2 for a 45-38 win.
Caleb Ellenberg led Bernie with a game-high 25 points and was the only Mule to score in double-digits. Matt Vernon added eights points to the cause.
For Hayti, Brandon Burden had 12 points and Devan Riddick finished with 11 points.
Bernie 12 11 3 10 9 -- 45
Hayti 11 8 11 6 2 -- 38
BERNIE (45) -- Matt Vernon 8, Brandon Sparks 7, Caleb Ellenburg 25, Jacob Trammell 5. FG 16, FT 9-11, F 7. (3-pointers: Vernon 1, Spark 1, Ellenberg 1, Trammell 1. Fouled out: none.)
HAYTI (38) -- Devan Riddick 11, Will Smith 5, Indaqual Presberry 10, Brandon Burden 12. FG 16, FT 2-5, F 12. (3-pointers: Riddick 3, Smith 1. Fouled out: Maurice Farr.)
__Kennett 59, Bloomfield 53__
A late rally wasn't enough as the Bloomfield Wildcats fell to Kennett 59-53.
After getting outscored each of the first three quarters, the Wildcats trailed by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter.
With a strong rally in the final few minutes, however, Bloomfield hit a pair of free throws to close within three points, 56-53, with 35 seconds to play.
Kennett was fouled and hit the second half of a pair of free throws to extend their lead to two possessions with 30 seconds to play. The Wildcats came down and missed a pair of shots before a Kennett rebound led to a layup in the final seconds that put the game out of reach.
Not helping Bloomfield's cause was a 9 for 16 effort at the free throw line in the fourth quarter and 18 of 28 overall from the charity stripe.
Noah Vandiver led the Wildcats with 22 points and Andre Oliver paced the Indians with 16 points.
Kennett and Bernie will face off again in the tournament championship in a rematch of last year's final.
Kennett 13 13 16 17 -- 59
Bloomfield 7 10 12 24 -- 53
KENNETT (59) -- Rantrell Caruthers 11, Carlos Turner 5, Landon Vaughn 2, Fred Gooden 3, Stewart 5, Andre Oliver 16, Kinnon 6, Jad Kenny 4. FG 24, FT 9-16, F 22. (3-pointers: Caruthers 1, Stewart 1. Fouled out: Kenny.)
BLOOMFIELD (53) -- Hector 1, Peyton Bell 3, Nathan Newell 5, Bond 3, Tyler Battles 16, Noah Vandiver 22, Alex Gibbs 3. FG 15, FT 18-28, F 14. (3-pointers: Bell 1, Battles 3, Vandiver 1. Fouled out: Vandiver.)
__Fifth-place Semifinals__
__Twin Rivers 72, South Pemiscot 59__
Led by Seth Snider's 21 points, Twin Rivers defeated South Pemiscot 72-59.
The Royals led by 13 points at halftime, 36-23, and played South Pemiscot even in the second half to maintain their advantage.
Andrew Middlestadt added 19 points to Twin Rivers cause and Chance Wilkerson contributed 13 points.
Twin Rivers 19 17 24 12 -- 72
South Pemiscot 13 10 26 10 -- 59
TWIN RIVERS (72) -- Jase Worley 7, Chance Wilkerson 13, Dylan Pruitt 4, Andrew Middlestadt 19, Josh Suiter 2, Mason Douglas 6, Seth Snider 21. FG 29, FT 12-22, F 18. (3-pointers: Douglas 2. Fouled out: Suiter.)
SOUTH PEMISCOT (59) -- Burton 11, Contrell Johnson 11, Glen Jackson 19, Steve Wilbourn 6, William Macintyre 6, Jabari Herron 6. FG 21, FT 8-17, F 16. (3-pointers: Burton 3. Johnson 2, Jackson 2, Macintyre 2. Fouled out: none.)
__Consolation Semifinals__
__East Prairie 74, Saxony Lutheran 62__
BLOOMFIELD -- With a dominant third quarter, the East Prairie Eagles downed Saxony Lutheran to earn a trip the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament consolation championship game.
The two squads matched each other point-for-point in all three quarters besides the third. That's where the Eagles broke out of a 29-29 tie to outscore the Crusaders 30-18 to take a 12-point lead.
East Prairie held Saxony Lutheran to a 15-15 tie in the fourth quarter to hold on for the win.
Leading the way was Seth Bays and Brandon Evans with 17 and 16 points respectively. Bays contributed seven points in the third quarter push while Evans led the charge that frame with 10 points.
Mack Marcum was third on the squad with 12 points.
East Prairie 18 11 30 15 -- 74
Saxony 18 11 18 15 -- 62
EAST PRAIRIE (74) -- Seth Bays 17, Dustin Bryars 2, Mack Marcum 12, Brett Ellis 5, Cade Douglas 2, Deverance Jones 9, Nick Grubbs 8, Brandon Evans 16, Alex Cowgill 2. FG 33, FT 6-15, F 23. (3-pointers: Bays 2. Fouled out: Douglas.)
SAXONY (62) -- Steffens 3, Karsten Short 3, Ryan Palmer 13, Graesen Meystedt 15, Jacob Wunderlich 5, Elwood Voss 10, Paris Johnson 2, Corie Williams 11. FG 20, FT 15-28, F 19. (3-pointers: Short 1, Palmer 3, Meystedt 2, Williams 1. Fouled out: none.)
__Puxico 67, Doniphan 56__
The Puxico Indians defeated Doniphan 67-56 for a spot in the consolation championship.
Seth Luttrell led the way with a game-high 26 points and Zach Tucker added 21 points to the cause, including an 11 for 13 effort at the free throw line.
Puxico 15 15 18 19 -- 67
Doniphan 14 10 11 21 -- 56
PUXICO (67) -- Levi Woods 1, Cory Pratt 2, Chris Siler 8, Dalton King 6, McCoy 3, Seth Luttrell 26, Zach Tucker 21. FG 24, FT 17-23, F 14. (3-pointers: King 2. Fouled out: none.)
DONIPHAN (56) -- Tanner Buck 3, Klay Barton 3, Brad Eddens 25, Austin Leroux 8, Lucas Moe 10, Brandon Patterson 7. FG 21, FT 4-8, F 19. (3-pointers: Buck 1, Barton 1, Eddens 4, Leroux 2, Moe 2. Fouled out: none.)