VAN BUREN -- Van Buren kept its game close against Alton, but slow points in the second and third quarters would cost the Lady Dawgs. The hosts were outscored 21-15 and 20-15 in the second and third and wound up falling 64-58 in the semifinal of the Lady Dawg Classic.
Hannah Zimmer did all she could to carry her team. She finished with 27 points on 11 made baskets to lead the game. Morgan Shockley was the only other Lady Dawg in double figures with 10 on three made 3-pointers.
Tuesday's Games
Doniphan 72, Bunker 13
Doniphan was clicking on all cylinders Tuesday in the consolation semifinal of the Lady Dawg Classic. Emily Ederer scored 16 points to lead the team as Faith Vollet pitched in 7 Ederer was on fire in the second quarter, scoring 12 of her 16 points in the frame. The Donettes allowed just 4 points in the second half as 13 different players scored at least a point. Cheyenne Davis scored 10 of Bunker's 13 points in the rout. Hailea Martin tallied the other 3 points for Bunker.
Greenville 59,
Portageville 55
Senior Tristan Porter led the way for Greenville with 20 points on three made 3-pointers in a close 59-55 victory over Portageville in the consolation semifinal of the Lady Dawg Classic.
Greenville had an 11-point lead at the half, but Portageville outscored the Bears 16-6 in the third quarter to cut the lead to a point. The Bears rebounded, though, and secured a win with an impressive third quarter in which freshman Bryna Payne scored 6 of her 8 points to help her team weather the storm. Mckenzie Miller scored 11 for Greenville, which finished with three players in double figures. Portageville finished with two double-figure scorers. Five missed free throws came back to haunt Portageville at the end, as they missed five freebies in a tightly-contested game.
Kelly 53, Twin Rivers 47
After a sluggish start, Twin Rivers was never able to fully recover. The Lady Royals found themselves trailing 26-16 at halftime, but nearly made a comeback in the fourth quarter depsite falling just short in a 53, 47 loss to Kelly.
Abbey Hester led the Lady Royals with 15 points, and Taylor Watson added 14, 10 of which came in the second half when the team started building momentum. Alaney Moore led Kelly with 13 points.
Liberty 66, Ellington 36
Piper Francis scored a game-high 27 points on five made 3-pointers as Liberty destroyed Ellington 66-36 in the semifinals of the Lady Dawgs Classic at Van Buren. Ellington was down 44-18 at halftime as Liberty overwhelmed the Lady Whippets. Gracie Price was a bright spot in the Ellington offense, scoring 13 points to lead the team. Laura Gore was also close to finishing in double figures as she tallied 9 points.
Boys Basketball
Tuesday's Games
Chaffee 73, Malden 46
The second and fourth quarters proved to be the downfall for Malden in its game against Chaffee Tuesday. The Green Wave were outscored 49-14 in those two quarters combined on the way to a 73-46 loss. The Green Wave were leading after the first quarter with the help of solid defense, but once the Chaffee offense got going. Senior Lonnie Hamilton led the Green Wave with 9 points on three field goals and a perfect 3-of-3 day at the free-throw line. Lamar Smith added 7 points on three field goals and a 3-pointer.