The Bishop LeBlond girls' basketball team had experienced the high of district titles and making it to the state quarterfinals each of the previous two seasons.

They also experienced snakebite in state quarterfinals each of the previous two seasons, falling one win shy of the Final Four in both years.

The Eagles (27-3) broke their state quarterfinal curse Saturday, defeating Miller 55-39 at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph. LeBlond has punched it ticket to the Final Four for the first time since 1986.

LeBlond got off to a 10-3 start in the first quarter before Miller hit back and made it a 12-7 ballgame at the end of one.

The Eagles proceeded to reel off a 9-0 run to start the second period and led 26-12 at halftime.

Miller (25-5) made its strongest push in the third quarter, getting back to within 31-21. However, third quarter threes by senior Katie Beam and her junior sister, Kayla, pushed LeBlond's lead to 38-24 by the start of the fourth.

The Eagles pushed the lead to as many as 18 points, adding 17 more points to their total over the final eight minutes.

Junior Kyla Conard led LeBlond with 14 points - eight of that in the first quarter. Katie Beam finished with 13, while senior Tatum Studer dropped 11. Senior Shae Lewis scored seven, while juniors Kayla Beam and Kaleigh Ziesel each finished with five.

Ashlynn Helton led Miller with nine points. Rachel Nunez, Haylie Schnake and Alyssa Hill each had eight. The Eagles turned the Cardinals over 16 times, and LeBlond held Miller to just three made field goals in the first half.

LeBlond advances to state semifinals on Friday, March 10 to face New Haven (17-10) at the Hammons Student Center in Springfield. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

It marks just the third ever trip to the Final Four for the LeBlond girls, as the Eagles will try to win a state in girls basketball for the first time since 1983.

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677967350736.jpeg" alt="LeBlond's Kaleigh Ziesel embraces LeBlond coach Jackie Steltenpohl during the Eagles' state quarterfinal win over Miller at the MWSU Fieldhouse Saturday. Photo by Clifton Grooms." />
 <figcaption>LeBlond's Kaleigh Ziesel embraces LeBlond coach Jackie Steltenpohl during the Eagles' state quarterfinal win over Miller at the MWSU Fieldhouse Saturday. Photo by Clifton Grooms.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Bishop LeBlond girls' basketball team had experienced the high of district titles and making it to the state quarterfinals each of the previous two seasons.They also experienced snakebite in state quarterfinals each of the previous two seasons, falling one win shy of the Final Four in both years.The Eagles (27-3) broke their state quarterfinal curse Saturday, defeating Miller 55-39 at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph. LeBlond has punched it ticket to the Final Four for the first time since 1986.LeBlond got off to a 10-3 start in the first quarter before Miller hit back and made it a 12-7 ballgame at the end of one.The Eagles proceeded to reel off a 9-0 run to start the second period and led 26-12 at halftime.Miller (25-5) made its strongest push in the third quarter, getting back to within 31-21. However, third quarter threes by senior Katie Beam and her junior sister, Kayla, pushed LeBlond's lead to 38-24 by the start of the fourth.The Eagles pushed the lead to as many as 18 points, adding 17 more points to their total over the final eight minutes.Junior Kyla Conard led LeBlond with 14 points - eight of that in the first quarter. Katie Beam finished with 13, while senior Tatum Studer dropped 11. Senior Shae Lewis scored seven, while juniors Kayla Beam and Kaleigh Ziesel each finished with five.Ashlynn Helton led Miller with nine points. Rachel Nunez, Haylie Schnake and Alyssa Hill each had eight. The Eagles turned the Cardinals over 16 times, and LeBlond held Miller to just three made field goals in the first half.LeBlond advances to state semifinals on Friday, March 10 to face New Haven (17-10) at the Hammons Student Center in Springfield. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.It marks just the third ever trip to the Final Four for the LeBlond girls, as the Eagles will try to win a state in girls basketball for the first time since 1983.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677967847336.jpeg" alt="Katie Beam. Photo by Clifton Grooms." />
 <figcaption>Katie Beam. Photo by Clifton Grooms.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kyla Conard interview<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/LeBlond-junior-Kyla-Conard---3423-e1vs763" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Jackie Steltenpohl interview<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/LeBlond-GBB-coach-Jackie-Steltenpohl---3423-e1vs78b" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>FULL game broadcast<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Bishop-LeBlond-vs--Miller---Class-2-GBB-state-quarterfinal---3423-e1vs6pu" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond GBB Final Four bound for first time since 1986, beats Miller in state quarterfinals

KANSAS CITY - The Missouri Western women's basketball played a sound first quarter, and matched Fort Hays State step-for-step early.

Hays, however, ended the first half on a 12-3 run to go up by 16 points at halftime, and the Griffons never recovered in a 71-62 loss to the Tigers in the MIAA tournament quarterfinals at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City Friday.

The Griffons (24-7, 18-5 MIAA) went scoreless for the final 3:16 of the second quarter, and then got down 50-30 with 6:37 left in the third quarter.

Missouri Western showed life with a 12-2 run to end the third. Suddenly, the Griffons were only down 56-46 entering the fourth.

Hays went up 63-48 early in the fourth, however, and the Griffons had a scoring drought of nearly four minutes after that.

Missouri Western got back to within nine at 69-60 with 1:37 left, but Hays sunk a pair of free throws with 53 seconds remaining to seal the deal.

Connie Clarke led the Griffons Friday with 23 points and 14 rebounds - her 13th double-double of the season. After a quiet first half, Brionna Budgets finished with 15 points and five boards.

Katie Wagner led Fort Hays State with 23 points and nine rebounds. The Tigers (20-11) made six threes in the victory, while Missouri Western was just 2-of-18 from long range.

The Griffons also went 14-of-23 at the free throw line.

While Fort Hays State faces Central Missouri in MIAA tournament semifinals on Saturday night at 8:15, the Griffons' season has all but certainly come to an end.

Despite matching their win total from a season ago, finishing third in the MIAA and having the sixth toughest schedule in the nation, the Griffons were squarely on the bubble going into Friday, sitting as the No. 8 seed in the latest Central Region Rankings put out on Wednesday

The Great American Conference tournament champion will be an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, and knock the Griffons off the bubble.

The NCAA DII women's basketball tournament selection show is slated for Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677947719155.jpeg" alt="Connie Clarke (left) had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead Missouri Western in a 71-62 loss to Fort Hays State in MIAA tournament quarterfinals in Kansas City Friday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Connie Clarke (left) had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead Missouri Western in a 71-62 loss to Fort Hays State in MIAA tournament quarterfinals in Kansas City Friday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostKANSAS CITY - The Missouri Western women's basketball played a sound first quarter, and matched Fort Hays State step-for-step early.Hays, however, ended the first half on a 12-3 run to go up by 16 points at halftime, and the Griffons never recovered in a 71-62 loss to the Tigers in the MIAA tournament quarterfinals at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City Friday.The Griffons (24-7, 18-5 MIAA) went scoreless for the final 3:16 of the second quarter, and then got down 50-30 with 6:37 left in the third quarter.Missouri Western showed life with a 12-2 run to end the third. Suddenly, the Griffons were only down 56-46 entering the fourth.Hays went up 63-48 early in the fourth, however, and the Griffons had a scoring drought of nearly four minutes after that.Missouri Western got back to within nine at 69-60 with 1:37 left, but Hays sunk a pair of free throws with 53 seconds remaining to seal the deal.Connie Clarke led the Griffons Friday with 23 points and 14 rebounds - her 13th double-double of the season. After a quiet first half, Brionna Budgets finished with 15 points and five boards.Katie Wagner led Fort Hays State with 23 points and nine rebounds. The Tigers (20-11) made six threes in the victory, while Missouri Western was just 2-of-18 from long range.The Griffons also went 14-of-23 at the free throw line.While Fort Hays State faces Central Missouri in MIAA tournament semifinals on Saturday night at 8:15, the Griffons' season has all but certainly come to an end.Despite matching their win total from a season ago, finishing third in the MIAA and having the sixth toughest schedule in the nation, the Griffons were squarely on the bubble going into Friday, sitting as the No. 8 seed in the latest Central Region Rankings put out on WednesdayThe Great American Conference tournament champion will be an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, and knock the Griffons off the bubble.The NCAA DII women's basketball tournament selection show is slated for Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-WBB-assistant-Emily-Wacker---3323-e1vru60" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western WBB falls to Fort Hays State in MIAA quarterfinals Friday

The Benton girls' basketball team didn't get off to the fastest start against Lafayette Thursday.

They just waited until the second quarter.

Leading 14-5 after one, the Cardinals (23-3) scored 21 second quarter points to go up 35-12 at halftime, and they added 23 more points in the third in a 64-21 drubbing of the Irish in Class 4 District 16 semifinals at Benton High School Thursday.

Lafayette (10-18) was able to hold the scoring down for a bit, but Benton used an 11-0 run, which stretched from late in the first to early in the second, to go up 21-5. The Irish were haunted by 13 first half turnovers.

The Cardinals filled the stat sheet in the third quarter, as senior Kelsey Johnson scored 10 points in that period alone. Benton cruised in the fourth quarter, with the running clock in effect.

Sophomore Andrea Simmons led Benton with a game-high 18 points. Johnson finished with 14, while sophomore Eliana Arambula had 11. Talicia Byrd led Lafayette with seven.

The Irish committed 17 turnovers compared to just seven by Benton. The Cardinals knocked down 14-of-22 free throw attempts in the victory as well.

Benton advances to the district championship game for a sixth consecutive season. The Cardinals will face Chillicothe in Class 4 District 16 title game on Saturday night at 6 p.m. at Springer Gymnasium.

Chillicothe (23-4) beat Maryville in the other district semifinal Thursday, 58-42.

<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/6de42174-2b81-4d04-acf5-302a227c4a55">Benton won at Chillicothe</a> back on February 3, 56-43. Benton also beat Chillicothe in the district title last year, 47-39.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677809652783.jpeg" alt="Benton's Andrea Simmons (23) led the Cardinals with 18 points in a 64-21 win over Lafayette in district semifinals Thursday. Stock photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Benton's Andrea Simmons (23) led the Cardinals with 18 points in a 64-21 win over Lafayette in district semifinals Thursday. Stock photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Benton girls' basketball team didn't get off to the fastest start against Lafayette Thursday.They just waited until the second quarter.Leading 14-5 after one, the Cardinals (23-3) scored 21 second quarter points to go up 35-12 at halftime, and they added 23 more points in the third in a 64-21 drubbing of the Irish in Class 4 District 16 semifinals at Benton High School Thursday.Lafayette (10-18) was able to hold the scoring down for a bit, but Benton used an 11-0 run, which stretched from late in the first to early in the second, to go up 21-5. The Irish were haunted by 13 first half turnovers.The Cardinals filled the stat sheet in the third quarter, as senior Kelsey Johnson scored 10 points in that period alone. Benton cruised in the fourth quarter, with the running clock in effect.Sophomore Andrea Simmons led Benton with a game-high 18 points. Johnson finished with 14, while sophomore Eliana Arambula had 11. Talicia Byrd led Lafayette with seven.The Irish committed 17 turnovers compared to just seven by Benton. The Cardinals knocked down 14-of-22 free throw attempts in the victory as well.Benton advances to the district championship game for a sixth consecutive season. The Cardinals will face Chillicothe in Class 4 District 16 title game on Saturday night at 6 p.m. at Springer Gymnasium.Chillicothe (23-4) beat Maryville in the other district semifinal Thursday, 58-42.<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/6de42174-2b81-4d04-acf5-302a227c4a55">Benton won at Chillicothe</a> back on February 3, 56-43. Benton also beat Chillicothe in the district title last year, 47-39.Andrea Simmons interview<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Benton-sophomore-Andrea-Simmons---3223-e1vpf9n" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Benton dominates Lafayette in girls' basketball district semifinal Thursday

KANSAS CITY - The Missouri Western men's basketball team gave themselves a chance in the first half, only trailing Northwest Missouri State 35-27 at the break.

The No. 1 seed Bearcats (28-2, 21-2 MIAA), however, played fairly mistake free in the second half, and used a 12-2 run early in that second half to pull away and ultimately down the Griffons 65-52 in the MIAA tournament quarterfinals at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City Thursday.

Northwest shot 50 percent on the day, and outscored Missouri Western 46-18 in the paint. The Bearcats only had nine turnovers on the day, including just three in the second half.

"They were able to hold us off," Missouri Western assistant head coach Jon Hood said. "(Northwest) is a very good, experienced team. They did what they were supposed to do to get the win. They hit timely shots and we probably could have rebounded a little bit better."

Missouri Western (14-16, 9-14 MIAA) got down 20-8 midway through the first half, but a barrage of consecutive threes from Reese Glover, Julius Dixon and JaRon Thames made it a 20-17 ballgame with 8:55 left in the first half.

The Bearcats answered the bell, going up 33-22 with 4:03 left before halftime. Still, the Griffons hung in and went into the locker room down 35-27.

Dixon scored the first points of the second half for Missouri Western, but Northwest went on an 8-0 run after that to go up 43-29 with 14:37 left in the game. The Bearcats led by double digits the rest of the way.

Wes Dreamer led Northwest with 27 points. He also had eight rebounds. MIAA Player of the Year and St. Joseph native Diego Bernard tallied 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Byron Alexander came off the bench to score 12 for Northwest, who advance to MIAA tournament semifinals for an eighth straight season.

Dixon and Thames led Missouri Western with 11 points each. Taye Fields and Will Eames each had seven. Eames, a three-time all-MIAA honoree, ended his Griffon career with 104 games played and 1185 career points.

He, Alex John and John Anderson, Jr. all played their final game for Missouri Western Thursday.

"They have created the culture and have helped build it and build it," Hood said of the three seniors. "Keep stacking days. That's what (head coach Will Martin) said about Will Eames. Just a very consistent player."

The Griffons head into offseason mode, with seven of their top eight scorers and 12 total players set to come back in 2023-24.

"It's tough when you end on a loss," Hood reflected, "but we'll take the way we finished the season and our momentum into the offseason, build on it, come back and continue to get better."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677789559875.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Will Eames (23) played his final game as a Griffon Thursday, as Missouri Western fell to Northwest Missouri State 65-52 in MIAA tournament quarterfinals in Kansas City Thursday. Stock photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Will Eames (23) played his final game as a Griffon Thursday, as Missouri Western fell to Northwest Missouri State 65-52 in MIAA tournament quarterfinals in Kansas City Thursday. Stock photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostKANSAS CITY - The Missouri Western men's basketball team gave themselves a chance in the first half, only trailing Northwest Missouri State 35-27 at the break.The No. 1 seed Bearcats (28-2, 21-2 MIAA), however, played fairly mistake free in the second half, and used a 12-2 run early in that second half to pull away and ultimately down the Griffons 65-52 in the MIAA tournament quarterfinals at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City Thursday.Northwest shot 50 percent on the day, and outscored Missouri Western 46-18 in the paint. The Bearcats only had nine turnovers on the day, including just three in the second half."They were able to hold us off," Missouri Western assistant head coach Jon Hood said. "(Northwest) is a very good, experienced team. They did what they were supposed to do to get the win. They hit timely shots and we probably could have rebounded a little bit better."Missouri Western (14-16, 9-14 MIAA) got down 20-8 midway through the first half, but a barrage of consecutive threes from Reese Glover, Julius Dixon and JaRon Thames made it a 20-17 ballgame with 8:55 left in the first half.The Bearcats answered the bell, going up 33-22 with 4:03 left before halftime. Still, the Griffons hung in and went into the locker room down 35-27.Dixon scored the first points of the second half for Missouri Western, but Northwest went on an 8-0 run after that to go up 43-29 with 14:37 left in the game. The Bearcats led by double digits the rest of the way.Wes Dreamer led Northwest with 27 points. He also had eight rebounds. MIAA Player of the Year and St. Joseph native Diego Bernard tallied 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.Byron Alexander came off the bench to score 12 for Northwest, who advance to MIAA tournament semifinals for an eighth straight season.Dixon and Thames led Missouri Western with 11 points each. Taye Fields and Will Eames each had seven. Eames, a three-time all-MIAA honoree, ended his Griffon career with 104 games played and 1185 career points.He, Alex John and John Anderson, Jr. all played their final game for Missouri Western Thursday."They have created the culture and have helped build it and build it," Hood said of the three seniors. "Keep stacking days. That's what (head coach Will Martin) said about Will Eames. Just a very consistent player."The Griffons head into offseason mode, with seven of their top eight scorers and 12 total players set to come back in 2023-24."It's tough when you end on a loss," Hood reflected, "but we'll take the way we finished the season and our momentum into the offseason, build on it, come back and continue to get better."<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-MBB-assistant-coach-Jon-Hood---3223-e1vp16d" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Northwest tops Missouri Western in MIAA quarterfinals Thursday

KANSAS CITY - The Missouri Western men's basketball team led for more than 33 minutes, and held on to beat Washburn 69-63 in the opening round of the MIAA men's basketball tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City Wednesday.

The Griffons (14-15, 10-13 MIAA) got off to a 12-5 start, but trailed 30-28 at halftime after the Ichabods ended the first half on a 6-0 run.

Washburn (14-15, 11-12 MIAA) went up by four points early in the second half, but Missouri Western responded with an 8-0 run to go up 36-32 with 17:03 left.

The Griffons never trailed after that. Missouri extended their lead to 53-43 with 8:45 remaining.

Washburn closed the gap, but the Griffons again pushed the lead to 62-54 with 2:11 left. The Ichabods got a three-pointer from Jaden Monday and a pair of free throws from Connor Deffebaugh to make it a 64-63 ballgame with 34 seconds to go.

However, Alex John had a fast break dunk off of a pass from JaRon Thames to put the Griffons up 66-63 with 25 seconds left. Then, Thames and Fields combined to make 3-of-4 free throw attempts in the final 20 seconds to put the game on ice.

The Griffons struggled at the free throw line throughout the entire second half Wednesday. Missouri Western finished the game 13-of-24 at the charity stripe, including just 9-of-20 in the second half.

"Anytime you can get a conference win in the conference tournament on a neutral court, it's extremely difficult to do," Missouri Western assistant coach Jon Hood said. "It was fun to watch and to be a part of.&nbsp; Just have to come out and do it again tomorrow."

Julius Dixon led Missouri Western in scoring with a career-high 20 points on a career-best five made three-pointers. Fields had a game-high 16 rebounds to go with 15 points, tallying his sixth double-double of the season.

"(Fields, Thames) and Julius were locked in and they had a look like, 'Alright, this is going to be a special day," Hood said. "I know Taye and (JaRon) didn't like how it ended down here last year with Rogers State (in the first round)."

Thames had 13 point and a career-best seven steals, while Zion Swader ended with 11. The Griffons nabbed 13 steals and held Washburn to 37.3 percent shooting.

Andrew Orr led Washburn with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Tyler Nelson had 14.

Missouri Western now advances to the MIAA tournament quarterfinals to face No. 1 seed Northwest Missouri State on Thursday at noon. The Bearcats (27-2) had a first-round bye.

The Bearcats have won 23 straight meetings against the Griffons, and ended their season on a 13-game winning streak. Northwest has also won six of the last seven MIAA tournament crowns.

Still, on February 18, Missouri Western hung in until the end against Northwest in a 68-59 loss to the Bearcats in St. Joseph. Hood is hopeful that the Griffons' extra game this week could help them in a big way.

"I like our guys' attitude that they have," Hood said. "I like the guys' preparation they're putting in. Now, we just have to show it in the game. We played them very well in the first half at our place, and that was a fun game to be a part of. Not the result we wanted, but we're going to build on that and we have the momentum."

Tip-off in Thursday's quarterfinal is set for noon. Coverage on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com) starts at 11:30 a.m.

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. JosephPost @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677709335868.jpeg" alt="Julius Dixon (0) goes up for a dunk in Missouri Western's 69-63 win over Washburn at the MIAA tournament in Kansas City Wednesday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Julius Dixon (0) goes up for a dunk in Missouri Western's 69-63 win over Washburn at the MIAA tournament in Kansas City Wednesday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostKANSAS CITY - The Missouri Western men's basketball team led for more than 33 minutes, and held on to beat Washburn 69-63 in the opening round of the MIAA men's basketball tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City Wednesday.The Griffons (14-15, 10-13 MIAA) got off to a 12-5 start, but trailed 30-28 at halftime after the Ichabods ended the first half on a 6-0 run.Washburn (14-15, 11-12 MIAA) went up by four points early in the second half, but Missouri Western responded with an 8-0 run to go up 36-32 with 17:03 left.The Griffons never trailed after that. Missouri extended their lead to 53-43 with 8:45 remaining.Washburn closed the gap, but the Griffons again pushed the lead to 62-54 with 2:11 left. The Ichabods got a three-pointer from Jaden Monday and a pair of free throws from Connor Deffebaugh to make it a 64-63 ballgame with 34 seconds to go.However, Alex John had a fast break dunk off of a pass from JaRon Thames to put the Griffons up 66-63 with 25 seconds left. Then, Thames and Fields combined to make 3-of-4 free throw attempts in the final 20 seconds to put the game on ice.The Griffons struggled at the free throw line throughout the entire second half Wednesday. Missouri Western finished the game 13-of-24 at the charity stripe, including just 9-of-20 in the second half.Still, they made enough when it counted."Anytime you can get a conference win in the conference tournament on a neutral court, it's extremely difficult to do," Missouri Western assistant coach Jon Hood said. "It was fun to watch and to be a part of.&nbsp; Just have to come out and do it again tomorrow."Julius Dixon led Missouri Western in scoring with a career-high 20 points on a career-best five made three-pointers. Fields had a game-high 16 rebounds to go with 15 points, tallying his sixth double-double of the season."(Fields, Thames) and Julius were locked in and they had a look like, 'Alright, this is going to be a special day," Hood said. "I know Taye and (JaRon) didn't like how it ended down here last year with Rogers State (in the first round)."Thames had 13 point and a career-best seven steals, while Zion Swader ended with 11. The Griffons nabbed 13 steals and held Washburn to 37.3 percent shooting.Andrew Orr led Washburn with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Tyler Nelson had 14.Missouri Western now advances to the MIAA tournament quarterfinals to face No. 1 seed Northwest Missouri State on Thursday at noon. The Bearcats (27-2) had a first-round bye.The Bearcats have won 23 straight meetings against the Griffons, and ended their season on a 13-game winning streak. Northwest has also won six of the last seven MIAA tournament crowns.Still, on February 18, Missouri Western hung in until the end against Northwest in a 68-59 loss to the Bearcats in St. Joseph. Hood is hopeful that the Griffons' extra game this week could help them in a big way."I like our guys' attitude that they have," Hood said. "I like the guys' preparation they're putting in. Now, we just have to show it in the game. We played them very well in the first half at our place, and that was a fun game to be a part of. Not the result we wanted, but we're going to build on that and we have the momentum."Tip-off in Thursday's quarterfinal is set for noon. Coverage on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com) starts at 11:30 a.m.Interview with Jon Hood<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-MBB-assistant-coach-Jon-Hood---3123-e1vnc6g" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677709766291.jpeg" alt="Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. JosephPost @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western MBB outlasts Washburn in MIAA tournament, face Bearcats Thursday

KANSAS CITY - Bishop LeBlond got off to a decently strong start, and fended off a furious charge from Polo late in a 49-39 victory at Staley High School Tuesday in a Class 2 state sectional.

LeBlond (26-3) led 27-19 at halftime and then 40-29 early in the fourth. Everything seemed to be going the Golden Eagles' way, but a 10-0 run by Polo made it a 40-39 game in the closing minutes.

LeBlond weathered the storm, and ended the game on a 9-0 run of their own to put the game out of reach.

The Golden Eagles made 7-of-8 free throws in the fourth quarter alone and were 14-of-18 in the whole game.

Senior Shae Lewis scored a team-high 15 points - 11 of that came in the first quarter. Senior Tatum Studer scored 13 of her 14 points in the second half.

Junior Kaleigh Ziesel added nine points. Senior Chloe Gilbert led Polo with 15. Junior Hanna Vaught had 12. The LeBlond defense turned Polo over 16 times.

LeBlond is back in the state quarterfinals for a third straight year. This time, they'll see Miller (25-4) at the Missouri Western Fieldhouse on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

Miller defeated Archie Tuesday in sectionals, 52-40.

East Buchanan loses back-and-forth battle with South Harrison

South Harrison got off to a 9-1 start in the first quarter, and finished strong in a 52-46 win over East Buchanan in a Class 3 state sectional game at Staley High School Tuesday.

South Harrison (23-5) led 24-19 at the break, but then trailed East Buchanan 35-34 at the start of the fourth.

East Buchanan (23-5) led by as many as four, but South Harrison managed to tie and eventually retake the lead in the fourth. The game featured six ties and five lead changes in all.

South Harrison jumped back in front 44-40 and then eventually 50-44 in the waning minutes. East Buchanan's top scorer, senior Gracie Kelsey, was somewhat limited with three first half fouls.

Kelsey finished with a team-high 24 points, but she fouled out with just a couple of minutes left in the game.

South Harrison's star forward, junior Hannah Carter, took advantage of Kelsey's absence on the floor and dropped a game-high 27 points.

Both teams got into the double bonus in the end, but it was South Harrison who got more opportunities at the free throw line. The Bulldogs from Bethany finished 21-of-31 at the stripe. The Bulldogs from Gower were 16-of-26.

South Harrison was especially good at the free throw line late, going 12-of-16 in the fourth quarter alone.

East Buchanan ends another successful season, winning three district titles in the last four seasons. South Harrison advances to state quarterfinals to play El Dorado Springs on Saturday at 3:30 at the Missouri Western Fieldhouse.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677646545091.jpeg" alt="LeBlond's Tatum Studer (14) shoots for three in Tuesday's state sectional against Polo at Staley High School. Photo by Clifton Grooms." />
 <figcaption>LeBlond's Tatum Studer (14) shoots for three in Tuesday's state sectional against Polo at Staley High School. Photo by Clifton Grooms.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostKANSAS CITY - Bishop LeBlond got off to a decently strong start, and fended off a furious charge from Polo late in a 49-39 victory at Staley High School Tuesday in a Class 2 state sectional.LeBlond (26-3) led 27-19 at halftime and then 40-29 early in the fourth. Everything seemed to be going the Golden Eagles' way, but a 10-0 run by Polo made it a 40-39 game in the closing minutes.LeBlond weathered the storm, and ended the game on a 9-0 run of their own to put the game out of reach.The Golden Eagles made 7-of-8 free throws in the fourth quarter alone and were 14-of-18 in the whole game.Senior Shae Lewis scored a team-high 15 points - 11 of that came in the first quarter. Senior Tatum Studer scored 13 of her 14 points in the second half.Junior Kaleigh Ziesel added nine points. Senior Chloe Gilbert led Polo with 15. Junior Hanna Vaught had 12. The LeBlond defense turned Polo over 16 times.LeBlond is back in the state quarterfinals for a third straight year. This time, they'll see Miller (25-4) at the Missouri Western Fieldhouse on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. with a trip to the Final Four on the line.Miller defeated Archie Tuesday in sectionals, 52-40.<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Shae-Lewis--Jackie-Steltenpohl---Bishop-LeBlond-postgame-22823-e1vm31o" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>East Buchanan loses back-and-forth battle with South HarrisonSouth Harrison got off to a 9-1 start in the first quarter, and finished strong in a 52-46 win over East Buchanan in a Class 3 state sectional game at Staley High School Tuesday.South Harrison (23-5) led 24-19 at the break, but then trailed East Buchanan 35-34 at the start of the fourth.East Buchanan (23-5) led by as many as four, but South Harrison managed to tie and eventually retake the lead in the fourth. The game featured six ties and five lead changes in all.South Harrison jumped back in front 44-40 and then eventually 50-44 in the waning minutes. East Buchanan's top scorer, senior Gracie Kelsey, was somewhat limited with three first half fouls.Kelsey finished with a team-high 24 points, but she fouled out with just a couple of minutes left in the game.South Harrison's star forward, junior Hannah Carter, took advantage of Kelsey's absence on the floor and dropped a game-high 27 points.Both teams got into the double bonus in the end, but it was South Harrison who got more opportunities at the free throw line. The Bulldogs from Bethany finished 21-of-31 at the stripe. The Bulldogs from Gower were 16-of-26.South Harrison was especially good at the free throw line late, going 12-of-16 in the fourth quarter alone.East Buchanan ends another successful season, winning three district titles in the last four seasons. South Harrison advances to state quarterfinals to play El Dorado Springs on Saturday at 3:30 at the Missouri Western Fieldhouse.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677647531238.jpeg" alt="Gracie Kelsey dribbles in Tuesday's game against South Harrison at Staley High School. Photo by Clifton Grooms." />
 <figcaption>Gracie Kelsey dribbles in Tuesday's game against South Harrison at Staley High School. Photo by Clifton Grooms.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond girls defeat Polo, East Buchanan falls to South Harrison in state sectionals

The MIAA released their all-conference basketball accolades and awards Tuesday.

In women’s basketball, Missouri Western’s Connie Clarke was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the MIAA. Clarke was the only player in the leagueto total over 200 defensive rebounds. Her 8.6 rebounds per game ranked third in the MIAA while her 83 steals on the season tied for the league high.

Offensively, Clarke's 14.2 points per game ranked sixth in the league. She finished the regular season with the second-best shooting percentage at52.4 percent. Elsewhere, Missouri Western’s Brionna Budgets was named first-team all-MIAA, while Johnni Gonzalez and Trinity Knapp were named honorable mention.

Clarke was named second-team all-MIAA for a second straight season as well.

On the men’s side, Northwest Missouri State swept all of the major awards, with St. Joseph native Diego Bernard earning Defensive Player and Player of the Year accolades.

Bennett Stirtz was named Freshman of the Year, and Ben McCollum is MIAA Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career.

Junior Wes Dreamer was also named as a second-team honoree for the Bearcats. Stirtz, on top of his freshman of the year title, was also named all-MIAA second team in his first year at Northwest.

Missouri Western's Will Eames and Julius Dixon earned all-MIAA honorable mention honors Tuesday. Eames has now earned all-conference honors three times in his career.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677619915137.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Connie Clarke (10) was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday. Stock photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Connie Clarke (10) was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday. Stock photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe MIAA released their all-conference basketball accolades and awards Tuesday.In women’s basketball, Missouri Western’s Connie Clarke was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the MIAA. Clarke was the only player in the leagueto total over 200 defensive rebounds. Her 8.6 rebounds per game ranked third in the MIAA while her 83 steals on the season tied for the league high.Offensively, Clarke's 14.2 points per game ranked sixth in the league. She finished the regular season with the second-best shooting percentage at52.4 percent. Elsewhere, Missouri Western’s Brionna Budgets was named first-team all-MIAA, while Johnni Gonzalez and Trinity Knapp were named honorable mention.Clarke was named second-team all-MIAA for a second straight season as well.On the men’s side, Northwest Missouri State swept all of the major awards, with St. Joseph native Diego Bernard earning Defensive Player and Player of the Year accolades.Bennett Stirtz was named Freshman of the Year, and Ben McCollum is MIAA Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career.Junior Wes Dreamer was also named as a second-team honoree for the Bearcats. Stirtz, on top of his freshman of the year title, was also named all-MIAA second team in his first year at Northwest.Missouri Western's Will Eames and Julius Dixon earned all-MIAA honorable mention honors Tuesday. Eames has now earned all-conference honors three times in his career.

Connie Clarke named Defensive Player of the Year, Bearcat men sweep major awards

The Missouri Western women's basketball team got down by 11 in the first half, rallied to take a five-point lead in the third quarter, but the Griffons fell 68-66 to Pittsburg State on Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Pitt State's Harper Schreiner rebounded a missed layup and her successful put-back with roughly one second to go was the difference in a tight game between two MIAA heavyweights.

Missouri Western (24-6, 18-4 MIAA) found themselves down 15-7 midway through the first quarter and then down 29-18 with 4:45 left in the second.

The Griffons, however, ended the first half on a 15-3 run to go up 33-32 at the break.

"The reason we overcame that deficit is because we found a group that would guard and play hard," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "When we started in a hole, that's valuable time and possessions you don't get back."

Missouri Western led by five points a couple of times in the third quarter, but Pitt (22-6, 17-5 MIAA) retook the lead at 45-43 with 3:37 left in the third after a three-pointer from Grace Pyle.

Down 53-49 entering the fourth, the Griffons tied the game at 66-66 with 14 seconds left, thanks to a Connie Clarke layup.

After a timeout, Pitt State got the ball down by the rim and missed their first two shot attempts, but a third chance by Schreiner just before the buzzer gave the Gorillas a 68-66 lead.

A half-second was put back on the clock, and the Griffons advanced the ball to the half court with a timeout. Jordan Cunningham tried to pass inside to Brionna Budgets, but the pass got tipped and time expired, securing a Pitt State win.

Pitt State outrebounded Missouri Western 39-28, and the Gorillas scored 15 second chance points on 13 offensive rebounds.

"There are just too many plays that we have to make," Whitaker said. "Whether it was a breakaway layup that we didn't finish, a free throw by a great free throw shooter that we didn't finish or a defensive assignment. You have to play as mistake free as possible against great teams."

Clarke led Missouri Western in scoring with 16 points. Cunningham and Budgets each had 13. Pyle led Pitt State with 20 points. Tristan Gegg had 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three.

The Griffons are the No. 3 seed in the MIAA tournament and will face No. 6 seed Fort Hays State in quarterfinals on Friday night at 8:15 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

"They are great kids," Whitaker said of her team, "and I know they'll take responsibility for their missed assignments and lack of execution here and there. I think this game could have been ours, and we didn't play as well as we needed to."

MWSU men dominate against Pitt State, punch ticket to MIAA tourney

Win and you're in. That was the mantra for Missouri Western men's basketball Saturday. Beat Pittsburg State, and you clinch your spot in the MIAA tournament.

The Griffons (13-15, 9-13 MIAA) understood the assignment.

Missouri Western jumped on Pitt State from the get-go, and the Griffons cruised to a 69-45 win over Gorillas at the MWSU Fieldhouse on Senior Day Saturday.

Pitt State (8-20, 5-17 MIAA) shot just 6-of-22 from the field in the first half, allowing Western to take a 34-15 advantage into the locker room.

The lead ballooned to 65-33 with 7:05 left, and the Griffons were able to empty their bench, honor their seniors and have some fun in their regular season finale.

"The goal every year is for Senior Night to not be the last game for your seniors," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "You have the formality and the nice jerseys and the flowers and you do all of that, but our goal was to extend the season for the seniors. I thought those three played really well today."

Missouri Western's seniors, Will Eames, Alex John and John Anderson Jr., all started and scored Saturday. John led the way for the seniors with four points.

"We needed it," John said of the win. "We punched our ticket (to the MIAA tournament). It was really good to see the guys come together and decide, 'Hey, we need this win.' It was good."

Eames had three points, five boards, three assists and two blocks.

JaRon Thames led Missouri Western Saturday with 18 points and nine rebounds. Julius Dixon finished with 14 and Zion Swader added 13. In all, nine Griffons scored and 13 of them played.

Defensively, the Griffons held the Gorillas to just 32.7 percent shooting, including 19.2 percent from three.

"I thought for the whole game, the guys were locked in on the defensive end of the floor," Martin said. "Especially the first half, our team defense and one-on-one matchups, which I thought had tailed off the last few games."

In a season full of ups and downs, the Griffons locked up the No. 9 seed in the MIAA tournament and will face No. 8 seed Washburn on Wednesday at noon at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

The Griffons come in with some newfound confidence, having won their final two games of the regular season.

"To be able to have a little bit of momentum going into the postseason, I think it does give you somewhat of a competitive advantage," Martin said. "I think the experience of this week, playing three games in four days, and playing back-to-back (days), I think that can help us in postseason play, but we'll be focused on Wednesday."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677371732889.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Connie Clarke (10) puts up a shot during the Griffons' 68-66 loss to Pittsburg State on Saturday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Connie Clarke (10) puts up a shot during the Griffons' 68-66 loss to Pittsburg State on Saturday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western women's basketball team got down by 11 in the first half, rallied to take a five-point lead in the third quarter, but the Griffons fell 68-66 to Pittsburg State on Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.Pitt State's Harper Schreiner rebounded a missed layup and her successful put-back with roughly one second to go was the difference in a tight game between two MIAA heavyweights.Missouri Western (24-6, 18-4 MIAA) found themselves down 15-7 midway through the first quarter and then down 29-18 with 4:45 left in the second.The Griffons, however, ended the first half on a 15-3 run to go up 33-32 at the break."The reason we overcame that deficit is because we found a group that would guard and play hard," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "When we started in a hole, that's valuable time and possessions you don't get back."Missouri Western led by five points a couple of times in the third quarter, but Pitt (22-6, 17-5 MIAA) retook the lead at 45-43 with 3:37 left in the third after a three-pointer from Grace Pyle.Down 53-49 entering the fourth, the Griffons tied the game at 66-66 with 14 seconds left, thanks to a Connie Clarke layup.After a timeout, Pitt State got the ball down by the rim and missed their first two shot attempts, but a third chance by Schreiner just before the buzzer gave the Gorillas a 68-66 lead.A half-second was put back on the clock, and the Griffons advanced the ball to the half court with a timeout. Jordan Cunningham tried to pass inside to Brionna Budgets, but the pass got tipped and time expired, securing a Pitt State win.Pitt State outrebounded Missouri Western 39-28, and the Gorillas scored 15 second chance points on 13 offensive rebounds."There are just too many plays that we have to make," Whitaker said. "Whether it was a breakaway layup that we didn't finish, a free throw by a great free throw shooter that we didn't finish or a defensive assignment. You have to play as mistake free as possible against great teams."Clarke led Missouri Western in scoring with 16 points. Cunningham and Budgets each had 13. Pyle led Pitt State with 20 points. Tristan Gegg had 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three.The Griffons are the No. 3 seed in the MIAA tournament and will face No. 6 seed Fort Hays State in quarterfinals on Friday night at 8:15 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City."They are great kids," Whitaker said of her team, "and I know they'll take responsibility for their missed assignments and lack of execution here and there. I think this game could have been ours, and we didn't play as well as we needed to."MWSU men dominate against Pitt State, punch ticket to MIAA tourneyWin and you're in. That was the mantra for Missouri Western men's basketball Saturday. Beat Pittsburg State, and you clinch your spot in the MIAA tournament.The Griffons (13-15, 9-13 MIAA) understood the assignment.Missouri Western jumped on Pitt State from the get-go, and the Griffons cruised to a 69-45 win over Gorillas at the MWSU Fieldhouse on Senior Day Saturday.Pitt State (8-20, 5-17 MIAA) shot just 6-of-22 from the field in the first half, allowing Western to take a 34-15 advantage into the locker room.The lead ballooned to 65-33 with 7:05 left, and the Griffons were able to empty their bench, honor their seniors and have some fun in their regular season finale."The goal every year is for Senior Night to not be the last game for your seniors," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "You have the formality and the nice jerseys and the flowers and you do all of that, but our goal was to extend the season for the seniors. I thought those three played really well today."Missouri Western's seniors, Will Eames, Alex John and John Anderson Jr., all started and scored Saturday. John led the way for the seniors with four points."We needed it," John said of the win. "We punched our ticket (to the MIAA tournament). It was really good to see the guys come together and decide, 'Hey, we need this win.' It was good."Eames had three points, five boards, three assists and two blocks.JaRon Thames led Missouri Western Saturday with 18 points and nine rebounds. Julius Dixon finished with 14 and Zion Swader added 13. In all, nine Griffons scored and 13 of them played.Defensively, the Griffons held the Gorillas to just 32.7 percent shooting, including 19.2 percent from three."I thought for the whole game, the guys were locked in on the defensive end of the floor," Martin said. "Especially the first half, our team defense and one-on-one matchups, which I thought had tailed off the last few games."In a season full of ups and downs, the Griffons locked up the No. 9 seed in the MIAA tournament and will face No. 8 seed Washburn on Wednesday at noon at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.The Griffons come in with some newfound confidence, having won their final two games of the regular season."To be able to have a little bit of momentum going into the postseason, I think it does give you somewhat of a competitive advantage," Martin said. "I think the experience of this week, playing three games in four days, and playing back-to-back (days), I think that can help us in postseason play, but we'll be focused on Wednesday."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677371618669.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Alex John (4) rings the bell after the Griffons' 69-45 win over Pittsburg State on Senior Day at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Alex John (4) rings the bell after the Griffons' 69-45 win over Pittsburg State on Senior Day at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>Postgame interviews<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSUs-Alex-John---Pitt-State-postgame-22523-e1vh88n" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-MBB-coach-Will-Martin---Pitt-State-postgame-22523-e1vh869" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU WBB falls in last second to Pitt State, Griffon men dominate Pitt on Senior Day

Savannah High School reported that Athletic Director Chad Dreyer died unexpectedly&nbsp;Friday evening.

The school notified families in the district via email. School officials say counselors will be available Monday morning to aid grieving students and staff members.

A Savannah alum, Dreyer had worked with the school since 2002. He was named as Savannah's A.D. in February 2016. He also served as an assistant on the football team.

"The entire Savannah R3 community extends our sincerest condolences to the Dreyer family and friends," said school officials in an email Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677296097092.jpeg" alt="Chad Dreyer." />
 <figcaption>Chad Dreyer.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostSavannah High School reported that Athletic Director Chad Dreyer died unexpectedly&nbsp;Friday evening.The school notified families in the district via email. School officials say counselors will be available Monday morning to aid grieving students and staff members.A Savannah alum, Dreyer had worked with the school since 2002. He was named as Savannah's A.D. in February 2016. He also served as an assistant on the football team."The entire Savannah R3 community extends our sincerest condolences to the Dreyer family and friends," said school officials in an email Friday.

Savannah High School announces death of Athletic Director Chad Dreyer Friday

ROSENDALE - North Andrew and Bishop LeBlond have found each other quite a bit in the postseason lately.

The two schools played for an 8-man football state championship this past December, and the Cardinals and Eagles battled on the hardwood for a boys' basketball district title for a third straight year Friday.

LeBlond found themselves down 24-17 early in the third, but a 16-3 run changed the Eagles' fortunes, as LeBlond led 33-27 at the start of the fourth quarter and never looked back in a 51-37 victory at North Andrew High School Friday.

North Andrew (17-8) shut LeBlond down early, holding the Eagles to just two made field goals in the first quarter.

The second quarter was tight throughout, but North Andrew's Collin Patterson hit a corner three at the buzzer to give the Cardinals a 20-17 halftime lead.

"That first half, we had a lot of young guys and a lot of nerves," LeBlond head coach Mitch Girres said. "We just tried to get through the first half. We go into halftime down three. We talked about being more physical and rebounding the ball, and I thought we did a much better job in the second half of sitting down and guarding, keeping the ball out of the paint and not letting them get easy ones."

North Andrew got quick layups from Patterson and Hayden Ecker to begin the third quarter, giving the Cardinals a 24-17 edge.

That's when LeBlond (18-9) finally found its groove on offense, scoring 16 points in the third quarter and pulling ahead 33-27 by the start of the fourth.

North Andrew got down 39-28 early in the fourth before calling timeout. The Cardinals got back to within single digits and trailed 43-35 with 1:56 remaining, but LeBlond got into the bonus and took advantage.

The Eagles were a perfect 10-for-10 at the free throw line in the second half.

"They stepped up and made free throws down the stretch," Girres said. "Really, we had some guys step up tonight that I'm super proud of."

Sophomore Cooper Waterman led LeBlond Friday with 15 points - all in the second half. Fellow sophomore Jacob Winkelbauer finished with 11.

"In the first half, we really couldn't make a shot," Waterman said. "In the second half, once we made a couple of shots, we got it down and we were just ready to win."

Senior Jake Korell logged nine points, while fellow senior Kohen Sumpter added six more off the bench.

"That kid works so hard," Girres said. "I'm super proud of him."

Sophomore Braxon Linville led North Andrew with a game-high 16 points. Ecker ended up with 12 in his final high school game.

This marks back-to-back district titles for LeBlond boys' basketball, who beat North Andrew in St. Joseph in last year's title game 39-33.

It's also nice redemption for LeBlond, considering the Eagles lost a district title game at North Andrew, 47-45, back in late February 2021.

"And in football, losing to them in the state championship," Winkelbauer noted. "We wanted to get them back for that."

Up next for LeBlond is arguably the toughest team in the Class 2 bracket - top ranked and undefeated Plattsburg. The Tigers (28-0) beat West Platte in the C2D15 title Friday, 53-47.

LeBlond will see Plattsburg in state sectionals on Monday night at 6 p.m. at Staley High School.

"It's another opportunity to play an unbelievably good team," Girres said. "It's going be tough. They haven't lost a game all year. We're going to have to figure it out. We're going to enjoy this one while we can, and try to prepare with a short turnaround on Monday."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677293568122.jpeg" alt="The 2022-23 Bishop LeBlond boys' basketball team is the champion of Class 2 District 16. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>The 2022-23 Bishop LeBlond boys' basketball team is the champion of Class 2 District 16. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostROSENDALE - North Andrew and Bishop LeBlond have found each other quite a bit in the postseason lately.The two schools played for an 8-man football state championship this past December, and the Cardinals and Eagles battled on the hardwood for a boys' basketball district title for a third straight year Friday.LeBlond found themselves down 24-17 early in the third, but a 16-3 run changed the Eagles' fortunes, as LeBlond led 33-27 at the start of the fourth quarter and never looked back in a 51-37 victory at North Andrew High School Friday.North Andrew (17-8) shut LeBlond down early, holding the Eagles to just two made field goals in the first quarter.The second quarter was tight throughout, but North Andrew's Collin Patterson hit a corner three at the buzzer to give the Cardinals a 20-17 halftime lead."That first half, we had a lot of young guys and a lot of nerves," LeBlond head coach Mitch Girres said. "We just tried to get through the first half. We go into halftime down three. We talked about being more physical and rebounding the ball, and I thought we did a much better job in the second half of sitting down and guarding, keeping the ball out of the paint and not letting them get easy ones."North Andrew got quick layups from Patterson and Hayden Ecker to begin the third quarter, giving the Cardinals a 24-17 edge.That's when LeBlond (18-9) finally found its groove on offense, scoring 16 points in the third quarter and pulling ahead 33-27 by the start of the fourth.North Andrew got down 39-28 early in the fourth before calling timeout. The Cardinals got back to within single digits and trailed 43-35 with 1:56 remaining, but LeBlond got into the bonus and took advantage.The Eagles were a perfect 10-for-10 at the free throw line in the second half."They stepped up and made free throws down the stretch," Girres said. "Really, we had some guys step up tonight that I'm super proud of."Sophomore Cooper Waterman led LeBlond Friday with 15 points - all in the second half. Fellow sophomore Jacob Winkelbauer finished with 11."In the first half, we really couldn't make a shot," Waterman said. "In the second half, once we made a couple of shots, we got it down and we were just ready to win."Senior Jake Korell logged nine points, while fellow senior Kohen Sumpter added six more off the bench."That kid works so hard," Girres said. "I'm super proud of him."Sophomore Braxon Linville led North Andrew with a game-high 16 points. Ecker ended up with 12 in his final high school game.This marks back-to-back district titles for LeBlond boys' basketball, who beat North Andrew in St. Joseph in last year's title game 39-33.It's also nice redemption for LeBlond, considering the Eagles lost a district title game at North Andrew, 47-45, back in late February 2021."And in football, losing to them in the state championship," Winkelbauer noted. "We wanted to get them back for that."Up next for LeBlond is arguably the toughest team in the Class 2 bracket - top ranked and undefeated Plattsburg. The Tigers (28-0) beat West Platte in the C2D15 title Friday, 53-47.LeBlond will see Plattsburg in state sectionals on Monday night at 6 p.m. at Staley High School."It's another opportunity to play an unbelievably good team," Girres said. "It's going be tough. They haven't lost a game all year. We're going to have to figure it out. We're going to enjoy this one while we can, and try to prepare with a short turnaround on Monday."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677294449206.jpeg" alt="Braxon Linville (right)." />
 <figcaption>Braxon Linville (right).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677294468238.jpeg" alt="Jake Korell (20)." />
 <figcaption>Jake Korell (20).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677294495966.jpeg" alt="Landon Gardner puts up a contested shot." />
 <figcaption>Landon Gardner puts up a contested shot.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677294530185.jpeg" alt="Gunner Lawrence (20)." />
 <figcaption>Gunner Lawrence (20).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677294545832.jpeg" alt="Collin Patterson." />
 <figcaption>Collin Patterson.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677294569727.jpeg" alt="LeBlond coach Mitch Girres after cutting down the net." />
 <figcaption>LeBlond coach Mitch Girres after cutting down the net.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond turns game around in second half, beats North Andrew for district title Friday

The Kansas City Chiefs have promoted from within, promoting Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator to replace Eric Bieniemy.

The 44-year-old Nagy was the Chiefs' offensive coordinator under Andy Reid in 2016 and 2017. Nagy then left for four seasons to be the head coach of the Chicago Bears.

He was 34-31 in the regular season with the Bears, guiding them to the NFC North title in his first season in 2018, when he was named NFL Coach of the Year. Nagy was fired by the Bears after a 6-11 season in 2021.

 He returned to the Chiefs last year as quarterbacks coach and senior offensive assistant. Nagy has also previously coached under Reid for three seasons in Philadelphia.

Nagy played quarterback at the University of Delaware, where Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was one of his receivers. Bieniemy, the Chiefs' offensive coordinator over the past five seasons, recently took a similar position with the Washington Commanders.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677277439621.jpeg" alt="Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs have promoted from within, promoting Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator to replace Eric Bieniemy.The 44-year-old Nagy was the Chiefs' offensive coordinator under Andy Reid in 2016 and 2017. Nagy then left for four seasons to be the head coach of the Chicago Bears.He was 34-31 in the regular season with the Bears, guiding them to the NFC North title in his first season in 2018, when he was named NFL Coach of the Year. Nagy was fired by the Bears after a 6-11 season in 2021. He returned to the Chiefs last year as quarterbacks coach and senior offensive assistant. Nagy has also previously coached under Reid for three seasons in Philadelphia.Nagy played quarterback at the University of Delaware, where Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was one of his receivers. Bieniemy, the Chiefs' offensive coordinator over the past five seasons, recently took a similar position with the Washington Commanders.

Chiefs promote Matt Nagy to offensive coordinator position

The medal matches for Class 1 girls and Class 1 and 2 boys' wrestling took place at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena Thursday, with numerous area wrestlers competing for hardware.

Below is a look at how the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post competitors fared.

100 pounds - Savannah’s Jade Brundige, a freshman, won gold, pinning&nbsp;Rachel Loganbill of Tipton in her title match. Brundige ends the season at 42-4.

Makenna Alden of Lafayette medaled 5th at 100 pounds, becoming the second female wrestler in Lafayette history to medal at state. Alden ends her senior year at 39-14.

105 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Delanie Smith made history Thursday, becoming the first female wrestler in school history to take first at state. Smith beat&nbsp;Alyssa King of St. Charles in a 6-1 decision in the title match. Smith wraps her sophomore campaign at 46-3.

125 pounds - North Andrew’s Jaclyn Riedinger medaled 5th. The senior ends the year at 38-6.

135 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Kalli Schuster quickly became the second female wrestler in school history to win gold at state, topping&nbsp;Elizabeth Henderson of El Dorado Springs 7-0 in the final. Schuster ends her senior year at 46-6.&nbsp;

140 pounds - Benton’s Tatum Levendahl finished second after getting pinned in the title match. Levendahl has qualified for state each of the last three years and finishes her senior year with a 43-7 record.

235 pounds - Cameron’s Hollie Hedgpath finished second after getting pinned in her title match. Hedgpath is a three-time state medalist and ended her senior season with a 44-4 record.

106 pounds - Gallatin's Eli Sperry medaled 4th. A freshman, Sperry ended his season at 33-6.

120 pounds - Maysville's Cooper Berry medaled third. The senior ends his season at 41-8.

138 pounds - Draken Bennett of Maysville medaled 5th. The junior ends the season at 32-11.

157 pounds - Brendan Barton of Maysville medaled 6th. The junior ends the year at 40-10.

175 pounds - Logan Bottcher of Gallatin medaled 6th after a medical forfeit. Bottcher, who medaled 4th the season prior, ends his senior year at 25-9.

190 pounds - Max Heintz of Maysville is a state runner-up. Heintz ends his junior year at 38-13.

215 pounds - Plattsburg's Dakota Rankin medaled 4th after a 1-0 loss in his medal match. Rankin ends his junior season at 35-14.

285 pounds - Gallatin's Gabriel Parker medaled 3rd with a pin over Maysville's Konnor Watkins in the medal match. Parker ends the year at 22-6, while Watkins ends his senior year at 38-17.

106 pounds - Mid-Buchanan's Grant Schuster medaled 5th. The sophomore finished the year at 29-16.

113 pounds - Mid-Buchanan's Spencer Cunningham medaled third after getting a pin his medal match. Cunningham is now a two-time state medalist after he won gold as a freshman last year at 106 pounds.

120 pounds - Savannah's Creighton Cook medaled 6th. Cook finished his sophomore year at 47-11.

132 pounds - Mid-Buchanan's Ryder Coons medaled third with a 6-3 decision in his medal match. Coons earned his second career state medal.

144 pounds - Savannah's Lincoln LaFave medaled 6th. The freshman ends the season at 39-17.

150 pounds - Benton’s Bishop Rush finished second, falling in the title match in a 13-4 major decision. Rush, who medaled 4th at state last season and surpassed 100 career wins this season, finished his senior year at 49-5.

165 pounds - Lafayette’s Jay Greiner is a state champion for the second straight year. Greiner pinned Zach Rackers of Blair Oaks, who came into the match at 53-0.

Greiner, a four-time state medalist and a University of Chicago wrestling signee, finished his senior year at 59-0. Greiner broke the state record in career wins and wins in a single season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677215105020.jpeg" alt="Lafayette wrestler Jay Greiner stands atop the podium after his second career state title Thursday at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships in Columbia. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Lafayette wrestler Jay Greiner stands atop the podium after his second career state title Thursday at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships in Columbia. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe medal matches for Class 1 girls and Class 1 and 2 boys' wrestling took place at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena Thursday, with numerous area wrestlers competing for hardware.Below is a look at how the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post competitors fared.Class 1 girls100 pounds - Savannah’s Jade Brundige, a freshman, won gold, pinning&nbsp;Rachel Loganbill of Tipton in her title match. Brundige ends the season at 42-4.Makenna Alden of Lafayette medaled 5th at 100 pounds, becoming the second female wrestler in Lafayette history to medal at state. Alden ends her senior year at 39-14.105 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Delanie Smith made history Thursday, becoming the first female wrestler in school history to take first at state. Smith beat&nbsp;Alyssa King of St. Charles in a 6-1 decision in the title match. Smith wraps her sophomore campaign at 46-3.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Your 1st EVER Mid-Buchanan Girls State Champion Delanie Smith!!!!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OutWorkEm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OutWorkEm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MBDragonSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MBDragonSports</a> <a href="https://t.co/KK8QSZnrH4">pic.twitter.com/KK8QSZnrH4</a>&mdash; Dragon Wrestling (@MB_Wrestling) <a href="https://twitter.com/MB_Wrestling/status/1628912159479500801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>125 pounds - North Andrew’s Jaclyn Riedinger medaled 5th. The senior ends the year at 38-6.135 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Kalli Schuster quickly became the second female wrestler in school history to win gold at state, topping&nbsp;Elizabeth Henderson of El Dorado Springs 7-0 in the final. Schuster ends her senior year at 46-6.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Ladies and gentleman your 2nd EVER MB Girls State Champion Kalli Schuster!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OutWorkEm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OutWorkEm</a> <a href="https://t.co/2fKfmlEfu1">pic.twitter.com/2fKfmlEfu1</a>&mdash; Dragon Wrestling (@MB_Wrestling) <a href="https://twitter.com/MB_Wrestling/status/1628930706381438976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>140 pounds - Benton’s Tatum Levendahl finished second after getting pinned in the title match. Levendahl has qualified for state each of the last three years and finishes her senior year with a 43-7 record.235 pounds - Cameron’s Hollie Hedgpath finished second after getting pinned in her title match. Hedgpath is a three-time state medalist and ended her senior season with a 44-4 record.Class 1 boys106 pounds - Gallatin's Eli Sperry medaled 4th. A freshman, Sperry ended his season at 33-6.120 pounds - Maysville's Cooper Berry medaled third. The senior ends his season at 41-8.138 pounds - Draken Bennett of Maysville medaled 5th. The junior ends the season at 32-11.157 pounds - Brendan Barton of Maysville medaled 6th. The junior ends the year at 40-10.175 pounds - Logan Bottcher of Gallatin medaled 6th after a medical forfeit. Bottcher, who medaled 4th the season prior, ends his senior year at 25-9.190 pounds - Max Heintz of Maysville is a state runner-up. Heintz ends his junior year at 38-13.215 pounds - Plattsburg's Dakota Rankin medaled 4th after a 1-0 loss in his medal match. Rankin ends his junior season at 35-14.285 pounds - Gallatin's Gabriel Parker medaled 3rd with a pin over Maysville's Konnor Watkins in the medal match. Parker ends the year at 22-6, while Watkins ends his senior year at 38-17.Class 2 boys106 pounds - Mid-Buchanan's Grant Schuster medaled 5th. The sophomore finished the year at 29-16.113 pounds - Mid-Buchanan's Spencer Cunningham medaled third after getting a pin his medal match. Cunningham is now a two-time state medalist after he won gold as a freshman last year at 106 pounds.120 pounds - Savannah's Creighton Cook medaled 6th. Cook finished his sophomore year at 47-11.132 pounds - Mid-Buchanan's Ryder Coons medaled third with a 6-3 decision in his medal match. Coons earned his second career state medal.144 pounds - Savannah's Lincoln LaFave medaled 6th. The freshman ends the season at 39-17.150 pounds - Benton’s Bishop Rush finished second, falling in the title match in a 13-4 major decision. Rush, who medaled 4th at state last season and surpassed 100 career wins this season, finished his senior year at 49-5.165 pounds - Lafayette’s Jay Greiner is a state champion for the second straight year. Greiner pinned Zach Rackers of Blair Oaks, who came into the match at 53-0.Greiner, a four-time state medalist and a University of Chicago wrestling signee, finished his senior year at 59-0. Greiner broke the state record in career wins and wins in a single season.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BACK-2-BACK!!! Jay Greiner leaves his mark on Missouri high school wrestling.☘️🤼‍♂️ -2-time state champ -most wins (season and career) -most pins in season -most consecutive pins -most matches wrestled in career -most matches wrestled w/o being pinned <a href="https://t.co/FL8z7O5bMI">pic.twitter.com/FL8z7O5bMI</a>&mdash; Lafayette High School (@LHSIrish) <a href="https://twitter.com/LHSIrish/status/1628947304890699777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Staying at 165 pounds, Mid-Buchanan's Colton Kirkham medaled 5th. Kirkham has now medaled at state three times. He ends his junior year at 36-10.175 pounds - Jackson Perkins of Lafayette medaled 3rd. Zach Kelly of Mid-Buchanan medaled 4th in that class. It’s Kelly’s second career state medal.190 pounds -&nbsp; Savannah’s Cooper Burnsides finished second after falling 11-3 in a major decision in his title match. Burnsides earned his second career state medal and finished his junior season at 48-7.Staying at 190 pounds, Mid-Buchanan’s Wade Stanton medaled 3rd after a first period pin in his medal match. It’s his third career state medal. Stanton, a two-time state champion, ends his senior year at 41-3. He's signed to wrestle at William Jewell next year.215 pounds - Owen Stockbauer of Mid-Buchanan medaled 4th. A two-time state qualifier, Stockbauer ends his junior year at 37-14.285 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Seth Cruz medaled 3rd. It’s his third career state medal. Cruz ended his senior year at 38-10.The Mid-Buchanan boys finished second in the team standings with 135.5 points - 10 points shy of what would have been their third consecutive state title. Of the nine Dragons who qualified for state, eight of them medaled.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677215483312.jpeg" alt="Mid-Buchanan poses with their second place team trophy at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships in Columbia. Photo courtesy of KQTV." />
 <figcaption>Mid-Buchanan poses with their second place team trophy at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships in Columbia. Photo courtesy of KQTV.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.