MARYVILLE -&nbsp;

&nbsp;The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team has reached the&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Tournament championship game yet again with a 102-74 rout of No. 5-seeded Central Oklahoma at Bearcat Arena in Friday's semifinal round. Northwest (23-1) won its nation-leading 18th straight game, their 17th consecutive&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Tournament game and they've reached their 16th&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;championship game - a league record.

"That says a lot about the program and the culture we've established," head coach Ben McCollum said. "The kids that we have are consistently able to get themselves up for games. We take everyone's best shot, and this is when that pays off. We're used to championship-type games, because every game is a championship for everybody else."

Northwest is now seeking its its fifth straight MIAA tournament title.

"I think it goes to show how special of a group this is," said senior Ryan Hawkins. "From the coaches to the managers. Everyone is invested and put in the work. We went through a whole preseason, not knowing if we'd have a season. So, I think it goes back to the prep we were doing in August and September, without even knowing if we would have a season." Hawkins recorded the tournament's first-ever triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

"He was pretty impressive," McCollum said of Hawkins. "Just rebounding wise, defending and being able to share the basketball which is something he works on a lot. Offensively, I think we're sharing the ball a lot better."

Junior Trevor Hudgins&nbsp;dropped in 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three-point range.&nbsp;

"I think it goes to show the weapons we have around us," Hawkins said of Hudgins' performance. "It was fun. I think we're starting to find our rhythm offensively. Today, we took great shots all game long." The Bearcats shot 60.0% for the game - marking the fourth straight game they have shot 60% or better. Northwest will now play Washburn for the MIAA tournament title on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.&nbsp;

The Ichabods (18-6) beat Missouri Western in the other semifinal Friday, 101-72. Washburn handed Northwest its lone loss of the season - an 84-82 defeat in overtime back on Jan. 7 in Maryville.

The Bearcats returned the favor, beating Washburn in an equally entertaining rematch, 88-85, in overtime in Topeka on Feb. 20.

This will be the third time in four years that the MIAA tournament title will be settled between Washburn and Northwest.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614996727404.png" alt="Northwest junior and Lafayette St. Joseph alum Diego Bernard moves the ball up court in the Bearcats' 102-74 win over Central Oklahoma in the MIAA tournament semifinals at Bearcat Arena. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Northwest junior and Lafayette St. Joseph alum Diego Bernard moves the ball up court in the Bearcats' 102-74 win over Central Oklahoma in the MIAA tournament semifinals at Bearcat Arena. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMARYVILLE -&nbsp;

&nbsp;The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team has reached the&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Tournament championship game yet again with a 102-74 rout of No. 5-seeded Central Oklahoma at Bearcat Arena in Friday's semifinal round. Northwest (23-1) won its nation-leading 18th straight game, their 17th consecutive&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Tournament game and they've reached their 16th&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;championship game - a league record."That says a lot about the program and the culture we've established," head coach Ben McCollum said. "The kids that we have are consistently able to get themselves up for games. We take everyone's best shot, and this is when that pays off. We're used to championship-type games, because every game is a championship for everybody else."Northwest is now seeking its its fifth straight MIAA tournament title."I think it goes to show how special of a group this is," said senior Ryan Hawkins. "From the coaches to the managers. Everyone is invested and put in the work. We went through a whole preseason, not knowing if we'd have a season. So, I think it goes back to the prep we were doing in August and September, without even knowing if we would have a season." Hawkins recorded the tournament's first-ever triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists."He was pretty impressive," McCollum said of Hawkins. "Just rebounding wise, defending and being able to share the basketball which is something he works on a lot. Offensively, I think we're sharing the ball a lot better."Junior Trevor Hudgins&nbsp;dropped in 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three-point range.&nbsp;"I think it goes to show the weapons we have around us," Hawkins said of Hudgins' performance. "It was fun. I think we're starting to find our rhythm offensively. Today, we took great shots all game long." The Bearcats shot 60.0% for the game - marking the fourth straight game they have shot 60% or better. Northwest will now play Washburn for the MIAA tournament title on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.&nbsp;The Ichabods (18-6) beat Missouri Western in the other semifinal Friday, 101-72. Washburn handed Northwest its lone loss of the season - an 84-82 defeat in overtime back on Jan. 7 in Maryville.The Bearcats returned the favor, beating Washburn in an equally entertaining rematch, 88-85, in overtime in Topeka on Feb. 20.This will be the third time in four years that the MIAA tournament title will be settled between Washburn and Northwest.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Northwest Missouri State cruises past Central Oklahoma, advances to MIAA tournament title

MARYVILLE - Benton had been on the losing again against Maryville twice this season alone.

The Spoofhounds got a 12-2 start the first time, and won 54-42. That was December. In February, Maryville got off to a 15-2 start, and won 57-37.

Coach Chris Michaels and his girls fixated on both of those first quarters.

"All we've been preaching since that February game (against Maryville) is 'Guys, our first quarters have to get better,'" Michaels said. "And if our first quarters get better and we're in the game, we're dangerous. And that's what we just saw. Right?

"We've proved that we can play all four (quarters) now, so we have to continue to play all four for the rest of these games."

Benton flipped the script Thursday. The Cardinals (13-9) built an 11-6 lead after the first quarter, and never lost the lead again in a 45-40 win over Maryville (22-2) in a Class 4 District 16 championship played on the Spoofhounds' home floor.

It marks the third district title for the Benton girls in the last four years, with this most recent one perhaps taking on a little more special meaning.

"That's probably one of the best teams in the state," Michaels said of Maryville. "If not the best. So, to come up here and do what we did...that makes us proud."

Benton limited Maryville to just two made field goals in the first quarter, as the Spoofhounds made just one of their first six attempts from three.

Senior and future Kansas State Wildcat Serena Sundell, who scored three points in the first eight minutes and still ended up with a game-high 21, was able to drive the lane some in the second quarter, getting a couple of bunnies and sinking 3-of-4 attempts from the free throw line.

But time and again, Benton had the answer. Three-pointers by freshman Avery Morlock and sophomores Kelsey Johnson and Peyton Anderson propelled the Cardinals to a 24-14 lead halfway through the second.

"That lead gave us confidence and it helped us play better after that," Johnson said. "It was great."

In all, the Cardinals made six three-pointers Thursday, including five in the first half.

"It just really helped us get hot," said Anderson, who led her team with 11 points. "Especially against a good player against Serena Sundell. We really just had to get hot before she did, and it worked out for us."

Backed into a corner, Maryville hit back, reeling off an 8-0 run in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Junior Lauren Burright, however, had a huge put back layup within the final 10 seconds to put Benton up 26-22 at half.

"We knew they were going to go on a run," Michaels said, "but, can you hold the run to just a little bit of a stint and then make our run? We held them to eight instead of allowing them to get 15-20. That's what a good team does."

After throwing up some bricks from deep early, Maryville found some momentum from behind the arc in the third quarter. Sundell and freshman Ava Dumke each buried a triple, tying the game at 34 with 2:12 left in the third.

With Maryville's home gym rocking and with momentum on the Spoofhounds' side, Benton never waivered. Junior Jaida Cox got fouled in the final 30 seconds of the third quarter, and made one of her two free throws to put the Cardinals back in front, 35-34 entering the fourth.

While the home crowd was into it, Cox had plenty fans of her own, cheering her on as she sunk that shot.

"Did you think we were away?" Michaels asked honestly, "because I'll tell you right now, from behind my bench, I had to scream every single second, and those were all Benton people. So, I told the girls in the locker room, we travel well enough to where home court advantage is wherever we play. Those fans did everything they could to help us win the game.

"There were a lot of people. We haven't gotten to feel that much this year."

Cox's signature moment may have come in the first 24 seconds of the fourth quarter, when she nailed a three from the top of the key to put the Cardinals back up by two possessions at 38-34.

Leading 40-38 with over four minutes left, the game kind of ground to a halt, as both teams exchanged fouls, turnovers and missed free throws.&nbsp;

Sundell and sophomore Rylee Vierthaler each missed the front end of a one-and-one, which could have potentially tied it.

After winning a critical jump ball with 1:09 to go, Benton soon got into the bonus themselves, and junior Kianna Herrera made both of her free throws to put Benton ahead 42-38 with 56.5 left.

Less than 20 seconds later, Benton forced a turnover and Lauren Burright broke free for a wide open lay-in. It was 44-38 with 37 seconds to go.

The Cardinal side of the gym could feel it, while the Spoofhound side sat in silent disbelief.

"We've lost to them many times," Johnson said. "We knew it'd be a tough one coming in, and it's an awesome feeling being able to beat them."

After winning a district title in his first year as the North Andrew girls' coach in 2019, Michaels is making quite the first impression in his return to the South Side, getting the Cardinals a district crown in his first year at the helm.

A 2009 Benton graduate himself, Michaels knows well enough the high standard of Cardinal athletics. He saw his girls live up to that standard on Thursday night.

"You saw Benton basketball out there tonight," he said. "If anybody has watched Benton basketball before, that was it. That was what we wanted them to do. These girls work their tails off for us months on end. This is the one they wanted. We're obviously not done. We have to keep going and get what we need to get."

Benton will now take on Center (8-11) in the state sectional playoffs at 6 p.m. on March 10.

Benton 45 - 11, 15, 9, 10 Maryville 40 - 6, 16, 12, 6

Benton scorers -&nbsp;Peyton Anderson - 11,&nbsp;Kianna Herrera - 9, Kelsey Johnson - 9, Jaida Cox - 7, Lauren Burright - 6 , Avery Morlock - 3.

Maryville scorers -&nbsp;Serena Sundell - 21,&nbsp; Rylee Vierthaler - 6,&nbsp;Emily Cassavaugh - 5, Anastyn Pettlon - 3, Ava Dumke - 3, Lauren Cullin - 2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614916897134.jpeg" alt="Benton girls' basketball is the champion of the 2021 Class 4 District 16 bracket after taking down Maryville 45-40 on the road Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Benton girls' basketball is the champion of the 2021 Class 4 District 16 bracket after taking down Maryville 45-40 on the road Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMARYVILLE - Benton had been on the losing again against Maryville twice this season alone.The Spoofhounds got a 12-2 start the first time, and won 54-42. That was December. In February, Maryville got off to a 15-2 start, and won 57-37.Coach Chris Michaels and his girls fixated on both of those first quarters."All we've been preaching since that February game (against Maryville) is 'Guys, our first quarters have to get better,'" Michaels said. "And if our first quarters get better and we're in the game, we're dangerous. And that's what we just saw. Right?"We've proved that we can play all four (quarters) now, so we have to continue to play all four for the rest of these games."Benton flipped the script Thursday. The Cardinals (13-9) built an 11-6 lead after the first quarter, and never lost the lead again in a 45-40 win over Maryville (22-2) in a Class 4 District 16 championship played on the Spoofhounds' home floor.It marks the third district title for the Benton girls in the last four years, with this most recent one perhaps taking on a little more special meaning."That's probably one of the best teams in the state," Michaels said of Maryville. "If not the best. So, to come up here and do what we did...that makes us proud."Benton limited Maryville to just two made field goals in the first quarter, as the Spoofhounds made just one of their first six attempts from three.Senior and future Kansas State Wildcat Serena Sundell, who scored three points in the first eight minutes and still ended up with a game-high 21, was able to drive the lane some in the second quarter, getting a couple of bunnies and sinking 3-of-4 attempts from the free throw line.But time and again, Benton had the answer. Three-pointers by freshman Avery Morlock and sophomores Kelsey Johnson and Peyton Anderson propelled the Cardinals to a 24-14 lead halfway through the second."That lead gave us confidence and it helped us play better after that," Johnson said. "It was great."In all, the Cardinals made six three-pointers Thursday, including five in the first half."It just really helped us get hot," said Anderson, who led her team with 11 points. "Especially against a good player against Serena Sundell. We really just had to get hot before she did, and it worked out for us."Backed into a corner, Maryville hit back, reeling off an 8-0 run in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Junior Lauren Burright, however, had a huge put back layup within the final 10 seconds to put Benton up 26-22 at half."We knew they were going to go on a run," Michaels said, "but, can you hold the run to just a little bit of a stint and then make our run? We held them to eight instead of allowing them to get 15-20. That's what a good team does."After throwing up some bricks from deep early, Maryville found some momentum from behind the arc in the third quarter. Sundell and freshman Ava Dumke each buried a triple, tying the game at 34 with 2:12 left in the third.With Maryville's home gym rocking and with momentum on the Spoofhounds' side, Benton never waivered. Junior Jaida Cox got fouled in the final 30 seconds of the third quarter, and made one of her two free throws to put the Cardinals back in front, 35-34 entering the fourth.While the home crowd was into it, Cox had plenty fans of her own, cheering her on as she sunk that shot."Did you think we were away?" Michaels asked honestly, "because I'll tell you right now, from behind my bench, I had to scream every single second, and those were all Benton people. So, I told the girls in the locker room, we travel well enough to where home court advantage is wherever we play. Those fans did everything they could to help us win the game."There were a lot of people. We haven't gotten to feel that much this year."Cox's signature moment may have come in the first 24 seconds of the fourth quarter, when she nailed a three from the top of the key to put the Cardinals back up by two possessions at 38-34.Leading 40-38 with over four minutes left, the game kind of ground to a halt, as both teams exchanged fouls, turnovers and missed free throws.&nbsp;Sundell and sophomore Rylee Vierthaler each missed the front end of a one-and-one, which could have potentially tied it.After winning a critical jump ball with 1:09 to go, Benton soon got into the bonus themselves, and junior Kianna Herrera made both of her free throws to put Benton ahead 42-38 with 56.5 left.Less than 20 seconds later, Benton forced a turnover and Lauren Burright broke free for a wide open lay-in. It was 44-38 with 37 seconds to go.The Cardinal side of the gym could feel it, while the Spoofhound side sat in silent disbelief."We've lost to them many times," Johnson said. "We knew it'd be a tough one coming in, and it's an awesome feeling being able to beat them."After winning a district title in his first year as the North Andrew girls' coach in 2019, Michaels is making quite the first impression in his return to the South Side, getting the Cardinals a district crown in his first year at the helm.A 2009 Benton graduate himself, Michaels knows well enough the high standard of Cardinal athletics. He saw his girls live up to that standard on Thursday night."You saw Benton basketball out there tonight," he said. "If anybody has watched Benton basketball before, that was it. That was what we wanted them to do. These girls work their tails off for us months on end. This is the one they wanted. We're obviously not done. We have to keep going and get what we need to get."Benton will now take on Center (8-11) in the state sectional playoffs at 6 p.m. on March 10.Benton 45 - 11, 15, 9, 10 Maryville 40 - 6, 16, 12, 6Benton scorers -&nbsp;Peyton Anderson - 11,&nbsp;Kianna Herrera - 9, Kelsey Johnson - 9, Jaida Cox - 7, Lauren Burright - 6 , Avery Morlock - 3.Maryville scorers -&nbsp;Serena Sundell - 21,&nbsp; Rylee Vierthaler - 6,&nbsp;Emily Cassavaugh - 5, Anastyn Pettlon - 3, Ava Dumke - 3, Lauren Cullin - 2.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614916956915.jpeg" alt="Kelsey Johnson (2) dribbles the ball down the floor in the first half of Benton's 45-40 win over Maryville in the Class 4 District 16 championship Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Kelsey Johnson (2) dribbles the ball down the floor in the first half of Benton's 45-40 win over Maryville in the Class 4 District 16 championship Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614917013078.jpeg" alt="Benton's Kianna Herrera is guarded by Maryville's Anastyn Pettlon in the second half of the Cardinals' 45-40 win over the Spoofhounds Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Benton's Kianna Herrera is guarded by Maryville's Anastyn Pettlon in the second half of the Cardinals' 45-40 win over the Spoofhounds Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614916844703.jpeg" alt="Members of the Benton student section pose with the girl's basketball team after their district championship victory at Maryville Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Members of the Benton student section pose with the girl's basketball team after their district championship victory at Maryville Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Benton builds early lead, leans on defense in district title win over Maryville

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Arrowhead Stadium has a new name. The Kansas City Chiefs announced the stadium will be known as GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. 

The team reached a naming rights agreement with Government Employees Health Association, which is the Chiefs' exclusive partner for health, dental and vision plans. 

GEHA and Chiefs officials said they are committed to ensuring Arrowhead Stadium remains the identity of the venue. It is the first time in Chiefs history that the organization has sold naming rights for Arrowhead. The stadium opened in 1972 and is one of the NFL's most recognizable venues.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Arrowhead Stadium has a new name. The Kansas City Chiefs announced the stadium will be known as GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The team reached a naming rights agreement with Government Employees Health Association, which is the Chiefs' exclusive partner for health, dental and vision plans. GEHA and Chiefs officials said they are committed to ensuring Arrowhead Stadium remains the identity of the venue. It is the first time in Chiefs history that the organization has sold naming rights for Arrowhead. The stadium opened in 1972 and is one of the NFL's most recognizable venues.

Chiefs sell naming rights to field at Arrowhead Stadium

The St. Joseph Mustangs will feature a heavy dose of local talent, with 13 players from the St. Joseph area on the team this summer. 

The Mustangs also will see four players return from the 2019 MINK League Championship squad as they seek a seventh title this summer at Phil Welch Stadium.

Some familiar names highlight the roster, including two former Lafayette baseball players, Ike Book and Cole Slibowski. The Mustangs also feature Jaren Guck from Bishop LeBlond and St. Joseph Central alum Dawson Smith, who enters his third season with the Mustangs.

There will also be five former Savannah baseball players - Braden Berry, Micah Diamond, Dakota Spicer, Chase Spoonmore, and Noah Bodenhousen.

East Buchanan’s Harper Beattie is also on the Mustangs' roster. Mid-Buchanan alum Brady Holden&nbsp;and former West Platte Blue Jay Mack Stephenson&nbsp;will both be return for the Mustangs.

Stephenson has already been named the starting pitcher for the Mustangs' season opener against the Des Moines Peak Prospects on June 2nd in St. Joseph. The Peak Prospects are the newest member of the MINK League. To go along with a large local group, third-year manager Johnny Coy brings in a range of new players from Rhode Island to Japan. “These players are all so excited to come to St. Joe and put on the Mustang uniform,” Coy said in a statement. “St. Joe has a great reputation all across the country as one of the best places to play summer collegiate baseball. I am excited to see what they can do on the field and try to bring another championship back to our city.” Coy’s coaching staff will feature former Mustangs pitcher Preston Bailey as the pitching coach, Jeremy Franke as hitting coach, both having coached with the team in previous years. New to the coaching in 2021 is Wes Sanger, who will serve as the Assistant Bench Coach.&nbsp;

The full schedule can be <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/b9ef2279-7910-4513-8749-83e8190ad16a">viewed here</a>. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 816.279.STJO

Reid Briney- Missouri Western State University&nbsp; Jax Himell- Lamar CC&nbsp;

1st base&nbsp; Sean O’Malley- Salve Regina&nbsp;

2nd base Noah Bodenhousen- North Central Community College (Savannah) Ryosuke Tada- Japan&nbsp;

Shortstop Cole Slibowski- KCK (Lafayette) Harper Beattie-Benedictine (East Buchanan)

3rd base Chase Spoonmore- Iowa Western (Savannah) Michael Paule- Jefferson College&nbsp;

Outfield Brady Holden-Missouri Western (Mid-Buchanan) Derrick Mayes-Southern University Sam Kissane-Lindenwood University&nbsp; Dakota Spicer- Truman State (Savannah) Ike Book- Lincoln Trail (Lafayette) Jake Grauberger-Johnson County CC

Pitchers&nbsp; Dawson Smith- Emporia State LHP (St. Joseph Central) Mack Stephenson- William Jewell RHP (West Platte) Justin Wood- Missouri Western Drake Kanallakan-Maryville University&nbsp; Will Hann-Barton Community College&nbsp; Jaren Guck-Truman State (Bishop LeBlond) Danny Hammond- Creighton&nbsp; Jacob Wierich- Missouri Western Micah Diamond- Northeastern JC (Savannah) Braden Berry- Iowa Western (Savannah) Tyler Boyett- Southwestern&nbsp; Jeremy Gutierrez- Salve Regina&nbsp; Tanner Lukowski- Fort Hays State Eli Tormes- KCK (Smithville) Jay Greco-North Central Community College&nbsp; Matt Fred- Texas Wesleyan University&nbsp;

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">Mustangs 2021 Roster Release: This year, you&#39;ll see a record 13 collegiate baseball players on our roster that originally call the St. Joseph area home. Coach Coy also drops the Opening Day starter, a familiar face to the Mustangs. <a href="https://t.co/AdLyk1sxye">https://t.co/AdLyk1sxye</a> <a href="https://t.co/ExJBcSCSrw">pic.twitter.com/ExJBcSCSrw</a>&mdash; St. Joseph Mustangs (@StJoeMustangs) <a href="https://twitter.com/StJoeMustangs/status/1367546815059525636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Mustangs will feature a heavy dose of local talent, with 13 players from the St. Joseph area on the team this summer. The Mustangs also will see four players return from the 2019 MINK League Championship squad as they seek a seventh title this summer at Phil Welch Stadium.Some familiar names highlight the roster, including two former Lafayette baseball players, Ike Book and Cole Slibowski. The Mustangs also feature Jaren Guck from Bishop LeBlond and St. Joseph Central alum Dawson Smith, who enters his third season with the Mustangs.There will also be five former Savannah baseball players - Braden Berry, Micah Diamond, Dakota Spicer, Chase Spoonmore, and Noah Bodenhousen.East Buchanan’s Harper Beattie is also on the Mustangs' roster. Mid-Buchanan alum Brady Holden&nbsp;and former West Platte Blue Jay Mack Stephenson&nbsp;will both be return for the Mustangs.Stephenson has already been named the starting pitcher for the Mustangs' season opener against the Des Moines Peak Prospects on June 2nd in St. Joseph. The Peak Prospects are the newest member of the MINK League. To go along with a large local group, third-year manager Johnny Coy brings in a range of new players from Rhode Island to Japan. “These players are all so excited to come to St. Joe and put on the Mustang uniform,” Coy said in a statement. “St. Joe has a great reputation all across the country as one of the best places to play summer collegiate baseball. I am excited to see what they can do on the field and try to bring another championship back to our city.” Coy’s coaching staff will feature former Mustangs pitcher Preston Bailey as the pitching coach, Jeremy Franke as hitting coach, both having coached with the team in previous years. New to the coaching in 2021 is Wes Sanger, who will serve as the Assistant Bench Coach.&nbsp;The full schedule can be <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/b9ef2279-7910-4513-8749-83e8190ad16a">viewed here</a>. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 816.279.STJO2021 St. Joseph Mustangs rosterCatchersReid Briney- Missouri Western State University&nbsp; Jax Himell- Lamar CC&nbsp;1st base&nbsp; Sean O’Malley- Salve Regina&nbsp;2nd base Noah Bodenhousen- North Central Community College (Savannah) Ryosuke Tada- Japan&nbsp;Shortstop Cole Slibowski- KCK (Lafayette) Harper Beattie-Benedictine (East Buchanan)3rd base Chase Spoonmore- Iowa Western (Savannah) Michael Paule- Jefferson College&nbsp;Outfield Brady Holden-Missouri Western (Mid-Buchanan) Derrick Mayes-Southern University Sam Kissane-Lindenwood University&nbsp; Dakota Spicer- Truman State (Savannah) Ike Book- Lincoln Trail (Lafayette) Jake Grauberger-Johnson County CCPitchers&nbsp; Dawson Smith- Emporia State LHP (St. Joseph Central) Mack Stephenson- William Jewell RHP (West Platte) Justin Wood- Missouri Western Drake Kanallakan-Maryville University&nbsp; Will Hann-Barton Community College&nbsp; Jaren Guck-Truman State (Bishop LeBlond) Danny Hammond- Creighton&nbsp; Jacob Wierich- Missouri Western Micah Diamond- Northeastern JC (Savannah) Braden Berry- Iowa Western (Savannah) Tyler Boyett- Southwestern&nbsp; Jeremy Gutierrez- Salve Regina&nbsp; Tanner Lukowski- Fort Hays State Eli Tormes- KCK (Smithville) Jay Greco-North Central Community College&nbsp; Matt Fred- Texas Wesleyan University&nbsp;

St. Joseph Mustangs unveil 2021 roster Thursday

The Kansas City Royals announced Thursday that for the first time in 18 months, fans will once again be welcomed back into Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals host the Texas Rangers on April 1 to open the 2021 regular season. The initial plan calls for pod-style seating to accommodate 10,000 fans per game, with goals to expand the capacity monthly, as the season progresses and if it's safe to do so.

This gives Royals Chairman/CEO John Sherman the first opportunity to welcome Royals fans into ‘The K’ since he took ownership of the ball club in November 2019.

“I can’t wait to welcome our fans back to Kauffman Stadium for Opening Day”, said Sherman in a release.&nbsp; “I am grateful for all of the support our fans and partners extended to us during these remarkable times.&nbsp; Our ownership group is excited about this 2021 Royals team.&nbsp; We look forward to a great summer watching the Royals compete on behalf of this great community.”

“Though we were able to return to the field last year, there was a huge component missing and it was felt by all of us with no fans in Kauffman Stadium,” said general manager Dayton Moore. “We play this game for our fans and the anticipation of seeing even a percentage of them in the ballpark when 2021 begins makes us wish we could open the season tomorrow.”

New protocols and guidelines will be in place at Kaufmann, including a seating capacity of about 30 percent to start the season. Seating will be comprised of socially distanced seating pods. Season ticket members will have priority access beginning the week of March 8th&nbsp;to select their seats for the 13 scheduled home games in April. 

The general public will have the option to purchase single-game tickets on March 24th. Future home game, on-sale dates will be announced later.

Second baseman and outfielder Whit Merrifield expressed his excitement about playing in front of fans to start the new season.

“Just playing in front of a few fans right now in spring training has made these games so much more exciting and interesting for all of us,” said Merrifield said. “The thought of at least 10,000 fans in Kauffman Stadium on April 1 makes my juices flow already and knowing our fans, they’ll make it sound like the ballpark is packed. We can’t wait to come home and play in front of our fans.”

St. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Royals announced Thursday that for the first time in 18 months, fans will once again be welcomed back into Kauffman Stadium.The Royals host the Texas Rangers on April 1 to open the 2021 regular season. The initial plan calls for pod-style seating to accommodate 10,000 fans per game, with goals to expand the capacity monthly, as the season progresses and if it's safe to do so.This gives Royals Chairman/CEO John Sherman the first opportunity to welcome Royals fans into ‘The K’ since he took ownership of the ball club in November 2019.“I can’t wait to welcome our fans back to Kauffman Stadium for Opening Day”, said Sherman in a release.&nbsp; “I am grateful for all of the support our fans and partners extended to us during these remarkable times.&nbsp; Our ownership group is excited about this 2021 Royals team.&nbsp; We look forward to a great summer watching the Royals compete on behalf of this great community.”“Though we were able to return to the field last year, there was a huge component missing and it was felt by all of us with no fans in Kauffman Stadium,” said general manager Dayton Moore. “We play this game for our fans and the anticipation of seeing even a percentage of them in the ballpark when 2021 begins makes us wish we could open the season tomorrow.”New protocols and guidelines will be in place at Kaufmann, including a seating capacity of about 30 percent to start the season. Seating will be comprised of socially distanced seating pods. Season ticket members will have priority access beginning the week of March 8th&nbsp;to select their seats for the 13 scheduled home games in April. The general public will have the option to purchase single-game tickets on March 24th. Future home game, on-sale dates will be announced later.Second baseman and outfielder Whit Merrifield expressed his excitement about playing in front of fans to start the new season.“Just playing in front of a few fans right now in spring training has made these games so much more exciting and interesting for all of us,” said Merrifield said. “The thought of at least 10,000 fans in Kauffman Stadium on April 1 makes my juices flow already and knowing our fans, they’ll make it sound like the ballpark is packed. We can’t wait to come home and play in front of our fans.”

Kansas City Royals welcoming fans back to Kauffman Stadium in 2021

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP)- Dru Smith scored the game-winner, banking a baseline drive reverse layup off the glass with 0.7 seconds on the clock and Missouri held on to defeat Florida 72-70 for the Tigers’ first-ever win in Gainesville.

Florida had made up a 10-point gap by fighting through the entirety of the second half to close on an 8-0 run and tie at 70-70 with 18 seconds left.

Dru Smith scored 17 points and had nine assists and a season-high six steals to lead Missouri, Mitchell Smith scored 14 and Mark Smith 11. Xavier Pinson scored 14, making four 3-pointers, and Jeremiah Tilmon added 12 points.

Tre Mann scored 21 points to lead Florida, Tyree Appleby added 12 with five assists and Noah Locke scored 11.&nbsp;

Mizzou wraps up the regular season on Saturday when they host LSU at 2 p.m.

&nbsp;Esmery Martinez scored 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds to help No. 20 West Virginia beat Kansas State 72-64. Kysre Gondrezick added 14 points, Kirsten Deans and 13 points and nine assists, and Jasmine Carson scored 11 points for West Virginia (19-4, 13-4 Big 12).

Ayoka Lee, a 6-foot-6 sophomore center, scored 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds for Kansas State, which led for just 30 seconds. The rest of the Wildcats made just 14 of 45 (31%) from the field. 

The Mountaineers play No. 6 and Big 12-leading Baylor on Monday with a chance to lock up the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, which begins March 11.

K-State concludes the regular season Saturday at home against Iowa State at 4 p.m.

St. Joseph PostGAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP)- Dru Smith scored the game-winner, banking a baseline drive reverse layup off the glass with 0.7 seconds on the clock and Missouri held on to defeat Florida 72-70 for the Tigers’ first-ever win in Gainesville.Florida had made up a 10-point gap by fighting through the entirety of the second half to close on an 8-0 run and tie at 70-70 with 18 seconds left.Dru Smith scored 17 points and had nine assists and a season-high six steals to lead Missouri, Mitchell Smith scored 14 and Mark Smith 11. Xavier Pinson scored 14, making four 3-pointers, and Jeremiah Tilmon added 12 points.Tre Mann scored 21 points to lead Florida, Tyree Appleby added 12 with five assists and Noah Locke scored 11.&nbsp;Mizzou wraps up the regular season on Saturday when they host LSU at 2 p.m.Kansas State&nbsp;Esmery Martinez scored 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds to help No. 20 West Virginia beat Kansas State 72-64. Kysre Gondrezick added 14 points, Kirsten Deans and 13 points and nine assists, and Jasmine Carson scored 11 points for West Virginia (19-4, 13-4 Big 12).Ayoka Lee, a 6-foot-6 sophomore center, scored 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds for Kansas State, which led for just 30 seconds. The rest of the Wildcats made just 14 of 45 (31%) from the field. The Mountaineers play No. 6 and Big 12-leading Baylor on Monday with a chance to lock up the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, which begins March 11.K-State concludes the regular season Saturday at home against Iowa State at 4 p.m.

College basketball roundup - Dru Smith hits game winner for Mizzou, K-State falls to West Virginia

A lighter fare on Wednesday, but some important games nonetheless.

Class 4 District 16 semifinal Benton 53 Maryville 48. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/50102ee2-8fb8-41eb-9e6a-db721a5cdc33">Full coverage here</a>. The Cardinals go on the road Friday to play Richmond in the district championship on Friday night at 6.

Class 1 Sectional Playoffs Platte Valley 58 Stanberry 34. Platte Valley (28-0) advances to the Elite 8, and will play Santa Fe on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Class 2 Sectional Playoffs Bishop LeBlond 47 Plattsburg 32. The Eagles come home Saturday to host Wellington-Napoleon on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Thursday schedule - girls' basketball

Class 4 District 16 championship Benton @ Maryville, 6 p.m. St. Joseph Post will be here!

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostA lighter fare on Wednesday, but some important games nonetheless.Boys' basketballClass 4 District 16 semifinal Benton 53 Maryville 48. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/50102ee2-8fb8-41eb-9e6a-db721a5cdc33">Full coverage here</a>. The Cardinals go on the road Friday to play Richmond in the district championship on Friday night at 6.Girls' basketballClass 1 Sectional Playoffs Platte Valley 58 Stanberry 34. Platte Valley (28-0) advances to the Elite 8, and will play Santa Fe on Saturday at 1 p.m.Class 2 Sectional Playoffs Bishop LeBlond 47 Plattsburg 32. The Eagles come home Saturday to host Wellington-Napoleon on Saturday at 1 p.m.Thursday schedule - girls' basketballClass 4 District 16 championship Benton @ Maryville, 6 p.m. St. Joseph Post will be here!

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area high school scoreboard - March 3, 2021

The Missouri Western men's basketball team (14-9) rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat Lincoln in overtime, 84-76, at the MWSU Fieldhouse on Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament.

The No. 3 seed Griffons now advance to the semifinals on Friday, and they'll play No. 2 seed Washburn at 7:30 p.m. at Bearcat Arena.

Northwest Missouri State is the host of the semifinals and the championship of the MIAA Tournament. Missouri Western got off to a slow start Wednesday, as Lincoln used an early 13-2 run and led for the next 37.5 minutes.

The Griffons missed their first 11 three-point attempts, and the Blue Tigers led by as many as 13 points in the first half.

On top of that, All-MIAA 2nd&nbsp;Team point guard&nbsp;Tyrell Carroll&nbsp;had to leave the game in the first half with an injury and did not return.

Head coach Will Martin said Carroll is mostly day-to-day at this point with a sprained ankle. Lincoln led 43-30 at halftime, and scored the first four points of the second half to build a 17-point advantage and force a Missouri Western timeout. The Griffons then started their comeback, and immediately went on a 16-4 run and only trailed 51-46 with 11:37 to go.

Junior Q Mays, who had a monster night for the Griffons with a career-high 32 points after stepping in for an injured Carroll, hit a jump-shot that pulled Missouri Western within two, 63-61, with 3:17 left.

"You saw tonight that our team can respond and the next man up can step up," Martin said of Mays' performance.

Trailing 70-66 with 20 seconds left, Will Eames&nbsp;grabbed an offensive rebound after a missed three, and he got the ball to&nbsp;Reese Glover, who drew a foul and made a three-pointer with 7.9 second left in regulation to pull within one. Glover made the free throw to tie the game at 70 and force overtime. The Blue Tigers scored the first two points of OT, but Missouri Western took command with an 8-0 run to take the lead and they'd never look back. Western outscored Lincoln 14-6 in overtime to complete the comeback.

After having to rally from a 15-point deficit to beat Nebraska-Kearney this past Saturday, Martin said going through that experience was extremely helpful in Wednesday's game.

"And I said, 'We're still in this. We've been here,'" Martin said. "'We've got to get stops, and we've got to be locked in. I need everybody on board.' And they were." Glover finished with 14 points.&nbsp;Caleb Bennett&nbsp;added 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Missouri Western finished the game 13-of-39 from the three-point line after missing their first 11. They shot just 38.2% (26-68) from the field but they outrebounded Lincoln 42-36, including 14-6 on the offensive glass. On Friday, Northwest Missouri State plays No. 5 seed Central Oklahoma in the first semifinal at 5:00 p.m. at Bearcat Arena.

UCO beat Missouri Southern, 109-101 Wednesday, which helps Missouri Western's chances of making the NCAA tournament immensely.

The Griffons will then play No. 2 seed Washburn for the third time this season at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Washburn defeated Rogers State, 78-59, in their semifinal Wednesday.

Friday's game between Western and Washburn will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680 AM, 95.3 FM) with coverage starting at 7:05.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614857067166.jpeg" alt="The Griffons ring the bell after an 84-76 comeback win over Lincoln in the MIAA quarterfinals at MWSU Fieldhouse Wednesday. Photo via GoGriffons.com." />
 <figcaption>The Griffons ring the bell after an 84-76 comeback win over Lincoln in the MIAA quarterfinals at MWSU Fieldhouse Wednesday. Photo via GoGriffons.com.</figcaption>
 </figure>St. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western men's basketball team (14-9) rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat Lincoln in overtime, 84-76, at the MWSU Fieldhouse on Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament.The No. 3 seed Griffons now advance to the semifinals on Friday, and they'll play No. 2 seed Washburn at 7:30 p.m. at Bearcat Arena.Northwest Missouri State is the host of the semifinals and the championship of the MIAA Tournament. Missouri Western got off to a slow start Wednesday, as Lincoln used an early 13-2 run and led for the next 37.5 minutes.The Griffons missed their first 11 three-point attempts, and the Blue Tigers led by as many as 13 points in the first half.On top of that, All-MIAA 2nd&nbsp;Team point guard&nbsp;Tyrell Carroll&nbsp;had to leave the game in the first half with an injury and did not return.Head coach Will Martin said Carroll is mostly day-to-day at this point with a sprained ankle. Lincoln led 43-30 at halftime, and scored the first four points of the second half to build a 17-point advantage and force a Missouri Western timeout. The Griffons then started their comeback, and immediately went on a 16-4 run and only trailed 51-46 with 11:37 to go.Junior Q Mays, who had a monster night for the Griffons with a career-high 32 points after stepping in for an injured Carroll, hit a jump-shot that pulled Missouri Western within two, 63-61, with 3:17 left."You saw tonight that our team can respond and the next man up can step up," Martin said of Mays' performance.Trailing 70-66 with 20 seconds left, Will Eames&nbsp;grabbed an offensive rebound after a missed three, and he got the ball to&nbsp;Reese Glover, who drew a foul and made a three-pointer with 7.9 second left in regulation to pull within one. Glover made the free throw to tie the game at 70 and force overtime. The Blue Tigers scored the first two points of OT, but Missouri Western took command with an 8-0 run to take the lead and they'd never look back. Western outscored Lincoln 14-6 in overtime to complete the comeback.After having to rally from a 15-point deficit to beat Nebraska-Kearney this past Saturday, Martin said going through that experience was extremely helpful in Wednesday's game."And I said, 'We're still in this. We've been here,'" Martin said. "'We've got to get stops, and we've got to be locked in. I need everybody on board.' And they were." Glover finished with 14 points.&nbsp;Caleb Bennett&nbsp;added 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Missouri Western finished the game 13-of-39 from the three-point line after missing their first 11. They shot just 38.2% (26-68) from the field but they outrebounded Lincoln 42-36, including 14-6 on the offensive glass. On Friday, Northwest Missouri State plays No. 5 seed Central Oklahoma in the first semifinal at 5:00 p.m. at Bearcat Arena.UCO beat Missouri Southern, 109-101 Wednesday, which helps Missouri Western's chances of making the NCAA tournament immensely.The Griffons will then play No. 2 seed Washburn for the third time this season at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Washburn defeated Rogers State, 78-59, in their semifinal Wednesday.Friday's game between Western and Washburn will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680 AM, 95.3 FM) with coverage starting at 7:05.

Missouri Western erases 17-point deficit, comes back to beat Lincoln in MIAA quarterfinal

No. 1 seed and No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State (22-1) put on a scoring display in a 100-61&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Tournament quarterfinal victory over Emporia State at Bearcat Arena Wednesday. The Bearcats shot 60 percent or better for the third straight game and moved its current win streak to 17 in a row.

"I thought we were really locked in and had a good game plan," Bearcat coach Ben McCollum said. "Just really good defensively. That's the best defense we've played all year." Junior and MIAA Player of the Year Trevor&nbsp;Hudgins&nbsp;scored 31&nbsp;points&nbsp;on 11-of-15 shooting, including 7-of-10 from three.

"I feel like tonight we just played really good with a lot of energy," Hudgins said. "Very intense and a lot of focus. We were just making shots and getting stops."

Senior Ryan Hawkins tallied 25 points and became the school's all-time leading rebounder with a double-double (10 rebounds).

Junior and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year Diego Bernard notched 18 points, nine rebounds, four steals and two assists. The game was decided basically in the first five minutes with Northwest making its first six shots and taking a 20-5 lead. The Bearcats led 60-19 at the half - the largest scoring margin ever in an&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Tournament game.

Northwest continued its shooting crusade in the second half, building a 50-point lead at 93-43.

"It's fun to watch," McCollum said. "They're good kids and they play hard. We were able to continue our fight throughout. I thought (Emporia) was going to make a run, but our defense held up so well."

Northwest will play again Friday in the first&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Tournament semifinal against Central Oklahoma at 5 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.&nbsp;

You can follow St. Joseph Post on Twitter @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614828235345.png" alt="Northwest Missouri State's Trevor Hudgins dribbles at the top of the key in the first half of the Bearcats' 100-61 win over Emporia State in the MIAA Quarterfinals. Photo by Whitnee Ice." />
 <figcaption>Northwest Missouri State's Trevor Hudgins dribbles at the top of the key in the first half of the Bearcats' 100-61 win over Emporia State in the MIAA Quarterfinals. Photo by Whitnee Ice.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph Post&nbsp;No. 1 seed and No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State (22-1) put on a scoring display in a 100-61&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Tournament quarterfinal victory over Emporia State at Bearcat Arena Wednesday. The Bearcats shot 60 percent or better for the third straight game and moved its current win streak to 17 in a row."I thought we were really locked in and had a good game plan," Bearcat coach Ben McCollum said. "Just really good defensively. That's the best defense we've played all year." Junior and MIAA Player of the Year Trevor&nbsp;Hudgins&nbsp;scored 31&nbsp;points&nbsp;on 11-of-15 shooting, including 7-of-10 from three."I feel like tonight we just played really good with a lot of energy," Hudgins said. "Very intense and a lot of focus. We were just making shots and getting stops."Senior Ryan Hawkins tallied 25 points and became the school's all-time leading rebounder with a double-double (10 rebounds).Junior and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year Diego Bernard notched 18 points, nine rebounds, four steals and two assists. The game was decided basically in the first five minutes with Northwest making its first six shots and taking a 20-5 lead. The Bearcats led 60-19 at the half - the largest scoring margin ever in an&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Tournament game.Northwest continued its shooting crusade in the second half, building a 50-point lead at 93-43."It's fun to watch," McCollum said. "They're good kids and they play hard. We were able to continue our fight throughout. I thought (Emporia) was going to make a run, but our defense held up so well."Northwest will play again Friday in the first&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Tournament semifinal against Central Oklahoma at 5 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.&nbsp;You can follow St. Joseph Post on Twitter @StJosephPost.

Northwest Missouri State blows past Emporia State in MIAA quarterfinal Wednesday

The Benton boys had been idle for a full week, coming off of a 45-36 loss to Center.

Entering Wednesday's district semifinal against Maryville, the Cardinals were a little sluggish to start, trailing 13-4 after the first and then 27-13 at halftime.

"We just talked at halftime and we said we have to push the floor more and get them tired and wear them out," said junior Kason Mauzey, who scored 17 points after getting hurt in last Wednesday's game.

"We thought we were in better shape than them. We just had to push the ball and beat them down the court."

No. 2 seed Benton (13-11) outscored Maryville 39-21 in the second half and flipped the game on its head in a 53-48 win over the Spoofhounds (14-8) in front of a raucous Springer Gym in a Class 4 District 16 semifinal.

For Cardinals' coach Gary Belcher, the home environment made a tangible difference.

"What we experienced tonight is why we need people in the building," he said. "The atmosphere was tremendous and our kids fed off of that."

The Spoofhounds brought their legions of supporters too, and the team fed off of that early. Maryville raced out to a 6-0 start and forced Benton to miss five of their first six shots.

Benton woke up a bit in the second quarter, going on a 9-2 run to pull within 18-13, but the Spoofhounds answered with a 9-0 spurt to take a 14-point lead into halftime.

Staring down the barrel of a four-game losing streak to end the season, Belcher and his guys didn't panic, but rather regrouped at halftime.

"We just talked about the things we didn't do well in the first half and things we had to get better at in the second," Belcher said. "It was on them, and I told them that after the game. It was all about them. Their will just kind of took over, and the energy started, and it snowballed from there."

Benton juniors Richard Coy III and Carlson Newlon each made three-pointers, while Mauzey scored six hard earned points in the paint in the third quarter.

Suddenly, Benton was only down 35-29 entering the fourth.&nbsp;

"It was a good feeling," Newlon said, "just pushing the ball. I mean, being down 14 at halftime, no one wants to do that. But, we knew we could come back and win. We just had to push the floor. Our teammates were getting the ball out to us."

The Cardinals kept their foot on the gas, starting the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 39 with 5:28 to play, marking the first tie since the game's beginning.

Benton led by as many as seven, but Maryville battled back on a couple of possessions to stay within striking distance. Senior and Northwest football signee Marc Gustafson scored six points in the fourth quarter alone, while sophomore Caeden Stoecklein made a corner three to make it 52-48 with 28.8 remaining.

Already in the bonus, Benton continued to make free throws. The Cardinals made their first 14 attempts from the foul line, and wound up going 15-of-19 on the night.

"When you're trying to protect the lead and put the game away, that's what you have to do," Belcher said on the free throws.

After playing (and beating) Maryville for a third time this season, Benton will get a different rematch in Friday's 6 p.m. district championship when they play at Richmond.

The Spartans (21-3) took down Chillicothe 63-44 Wednesday in the other semifinal.

Benton hung with Richmond in St. Joseph just 11 days ago, but the Spartans prevailed 50-45.

Looking to build off the momentum from Wednesday's thrill ride, the Cardinals are grateful for the chance to play another game.

"If the guys bring the same energy Friday, we'll have a chance," Belcher said, "and I think they will, because they're pretty excited in that locker room."

Benton 53 - 4, 10, 15, 24 Maryville 48 - 13, 14, 8, 13

Benton scorers - Carlson Newlon - 20, Kason Mauzey - 17, Richard Coy III - 7, Adrian Byrd - 5, Denver Domann - 2, Peyton Frasher - 2

Maryville scorers - Marc Gustafson - 15, Caden Stoecklein - 13, Spencer Willnerd - 8, Keaton Stone - 6, Caleb Kreizinger - 4, Trey Houchin - 2

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614826357618.jpeg" alt="Benton's Kason Mauzey (30) goes in for a late layup in the second half of the Cardinals' 53-48 win over Maryville in the Class 4 District 16 semifinal. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Benton's Kason Mauzey (30) goes in for a late layup in the second half of the Cardinals' 53-48 win over Maryville in the Class 4 District 16 semifinal. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Benton boys had been idle for a full week, coming off of a 45-36 loss to Center.Entering Wednesday's district semifinal against Maryville, the Cardinals were a little sluggish to start, trailing 13-4 after the first and then 27-13 at halftime.Then, something changed."We just talked at halftime and we said we have to push the floor more and get them tired and wear them out," said junior Kason Mauzey, who scored 17 points after getting hurt in last Wednesday's game."We thought we were in better shape than them. We just had to push the ball and beat them down the court."No. 2 seed Benton (13-11) outscored Maryville 39-21 in the second half and flipped the game on its head in a 53-48 win over the Spoofhounds (14-8) in front of a raucous Springer Gym in a Class 4 District 16 semifinal.For Cardinals' coach Gary Belcher, the home environment made a tangible difference."What we experienced tonight is why we need people in the building," he said. "The atmosphere was tremendous and our kids fed off of that."The Spoofhounds brought their legions of supporters too, and the team fed off of that early. Maryville raced out to a 6-0 start and forced Benton to miss five of their first six shots.Benton woke up a bit in the second quarter, going on a 9-2 run to pull within 18-13, but the Spoofhounds answered with a 9-0 spurt to take a 14-point lead into halftime.Staring down the barrel of a four-game losing streak to end the season, Belcher and his guys didn't panic, but rather regrouped at halftime."We just talked about the things we didn't do well in the first half and things we had to get better at in the second," Belcher said. "It was on them, and I told them that after the game. It was all about them. Their will just kind of took over, and the energy started, and it snowballed from there."Benton juniors Richard Coy III and Carlson Newlon each made three-pointers, while Mauzey scored six hard earned points in the paint in the third quarter.Suddenly, Benton was only down 35-29 entering the fourth.&nbsp;"It was a good feeling," Newlon said, "just pushing the ball. I mean, being down 14 at halftime, no one wants to do that. But, we knew we could come back and win. We just had to push the floor. Our teammates were getting the ball out to us."The Cardinals kept their foot on the gas, starting the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 39 with 5:28 to play, marking the first tie since the game's beginning.Benton led by as many as seven, but Maryville battled back on a couple of possessions to stay within striking distance. Senior and Northwest football signee Marc Gustafson scored six points in the fourth quarter alone, while sophomore Caeden Stoecklein made a corner three to make it 52-48 with 28.8 remaining.Already in the bonus, Benton continued to make free throws. The Cardinals made their first 14 attempts from the foul line, and wound up going 15-of-19 on the night."When you're trying to protect the lead and put the game away, that's what you have to do," Belcher said on the free throws.After playing (and beating) Maryville for a third time this season, Benton will get a different rematch in Friday's 6 p.m. district championship when they play at Richmond.The Spartans (21-3) took down Chillicothe 63-44 Wednesday in the other semifinal.Benton hung with Richmond in St. Joseph just 11 days ago, but the Spartans prevailed 50-45.Looking to build off the momentum from Wednesday's thrill ride, the Cardinals are grateful for the chance to play another game."If the guys bring the same energy Friday, we'll have a chance," Belcher said, "and I think they will, because they're pretty excited in that locker room."Benton 53 - 4, 10, 15, 24 Maryville 48 - 13, 14, 8, 13Benton scorers - Carlson Newlon - 20, Kason Mauzey - 17, Richard Coy III - 7, Adrian Byrd - 5, Denver Domann - 2, Peyton Frasher - 2Maryville scorers - Marc Gustafson - 15, Caden Stoecklein - 13, Spencer Willnerd - 8, Keaton Stone - 6, Caleb Kreizinger - 4, Trey Houchin - 2<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614826417130.jpeg" alt="Benton's Richard Coy III dribbles the ball in the second half during the Cardinals' 53-48 win over Maryville in the Class 4 District 16 semifinal. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Benton's Richard Coy III dribbles the ball in the second half during the Cardinals' 53-48 win over Maryville in the Class 4 District 16 semifinal. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614826483136.jpeg" alt="Members of the Benton student section celebrate after the Cardinals' 53-48 win over Maryville in the district semifinal Wednesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Members of the Benton student section celebrate after the Cardinals' 53-48 win over Maryville in the district semifinal Wednesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Benton rallies from 14 down, stuns Maryville in district semifinal Wednesday

Missouri Western junior and St. Joseph Central alum Jordan Garr has been selected to compete in the NCAA Indoor Track &amp; Field National Championships next week in Birmingham, Alabama.

Garr is just the second Griffon in the history of the men's program to qualify for the NCAA Meet. Phil Thompson made it in long jump in 2018. 

Garr competed in seven indoor meets this season and won four titles. He capped it off by becoming the first Missouri Western track &amp; field athlete to win an individual MIAA championship this past Sunday in Topeka. 

Garr's mark of 58 feet and 6 3/4 inches at the MIAA Championship broke his own school record and has him ranked seventh in the nation going into the NCAA meet.

The NCAA Division II Championships start March 11th and run through March 13th.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614567114764.png" alt="Jordan Garr. Photo via GoGriffons.com." />
 <figcaption>Jordan Garr. Photo via GoGriffons.com.</figcaption>
 </figure>St. Joseph PostMissouri Western junior and St. Joseph Central alum Jordan Garr has been selected to compete in the NCAA Indoor Track &amp; Field National Championships next week in Birmingham, Alabama.Garr is just the second Griffon in the history of the men's program to qualify for the NCAA Meet. Phil Thompson made it in long jump in 2018. Garr competed in seven indoor meets this season and won four titles. He capped it off by becoming the first Missouri Western track &amp; field athlete to win an individual MIAA championship this past Sunday in Topeka. Garr's mark of 58 feet and 6 3/4 inches at the MIAA Championship broke his own school record and has him ranked seventh in the nation going into the NCAA meet.The NCAA Division II Championships start March 11th and run through March 13th.

Missouri Western junior, St. Joseph alum Jordan Garr selected to compete in NCAA championships

The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team continues to reap the rewards of winning eight straight MIAA regular season titles. The Bearcats took home three of the four men's basketball specialty awards and landed four players on the all-league teams. Junior Trevor&nbsp;Hudgins&nbsp;(Player of the Year, First Team&nbsp;All-MIAA), senior Ryan Hawkins (First Team&nbsp;All-MIAA, All-Defensive Team), junior Diego Bernard (Defensive Player of the Year, Second Team&nbsp;All-MIAA, All-Defensive Team), sophomore Luke Waters (Honorable Mention&nbsp;All-MIAA&nbsp;and head coach Ben McCollum (MIAA&nbsp;Coach of the Year) collected conference accolades following a vote of the league's coaches. Ben McCollum secured his seventh&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Coach of the Year Award after leading the Bearcats to their eighth consecutive&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;regular season title.

Northwest produced an&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;single-season record 21 league wins this season. McCollum has guided the Bearcats to 10 consecutive 20-win seasons, including a mark of 90-2 over the past three years, and a career record of 293-77.&nbsp;&nbsp; For the sixth straight season, the&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Player of the Year is a Bearcat. Junior Trevor&nbsp;Hudgins captured back-to-back&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Player of the Year honors, and secured first-team&nbsp;all-MIAA&nbsp;status for the second straight season.

Hudgins&nbsp;averaged 19.2 points per game and shot 53.9 percent from the floor and 52.8 percent from three-point range. He dished out 111 assists (5.0/game) and has a 3.16 career assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks No. 2 among all NCAA men's basketball players.

Diego Bernard, a Lafayette St. Joseph alum, was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year Wednesday.

Bernard also moved up to second-team all-MIAA status and tallied his third straight appearance on the MIAA's all-Defensive squad. Bernard averaged 12.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks this season.

Hawkins earned first-team all-MIAA honors for the second straight season. He also landed a spot on the MIAA's all-Defensive squad for the third straight year.

Hawkins averaged 21.4 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game and 1.8 steals per game. Hawkins shot 53.8% from the field, including 44.4% from three-point range.

Sophomore Luke Waters earned honorable mention all-MIAA honors for the first time in his collegiate career, averaging 9.7 points and shooting 58.5 percent from the field.

Waters buried 25 three-pointers and shot 42.4% from beyond the three-point arc.&nbsp;

Northwest starts its defense of the MIAA Tournament title Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. against Emporia State in Bearcat Arena. Northwest has captured five straight MIAA Tournament championships.

Four Missouri Western men's basketball players were honored by the conference. Griffon junior&nbsp;Tyrell Carroll&nbsp;is on the All-MIAA Second Team and he's also on the All-Defensive Team, while junior&nbsp;Caleb Bennett, sophomore&nbsp;Will Eames&nbsp;and sophomore&nbsp;Reese Glover&nbsp;have been named honorable mention All-MIAA. The four players honored by the league are tied for the most of any team with Northwest Missouri State. This the third straight season Carroll has been honored by the MIAA.&nbsp; He was honorable mention as a freshman and was named First-Team as a sophomore.

Carroll averaged 18.5 points per game. He finished sixth in the MIAA in scoring, was fifth in assists (4.7) and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9). Carroll led the MIAA in free throws made (107), and he was one of the best defenders in the league this season, averaging 2.6 steals per game to lead the MIAA. Carroll is also moving up the MWSU all-time lists. He's now seventh in Griffon history in scoring (1348), third in assists (372), sixth in free throws made (305), fifth in free throws attempted (434), and he's first in steals since 1999 with 148. Bennett earned all-conference honors in his first year in a Griffon uniform after redshirting last season. The St. Joseph native averaged 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Bennett was 10th&nbsp;in the MIAA in steals this season at 1.5 per game and helped MWSU lead the league in steals and turnovers forced. This is the second straight year Eames has earned honorable mention all-league honors, as he was also the MIAA Freshman of the Year last season. The sophomore from Lee's Summit averaged 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season.

Eames finished fourth in the MIAA in rebounding and had the third most defensive rebounds. He had seven double-doubles this season, which is fourth most in the league and 14th&nbsp;in the nation. Eames had 12 games during the regular season with nine or more rebounds.

This is the first all-MIAA honor for Glover as he averaged 11.7 points per game and shot 40.5 percent from the three-point line this season. Glover led the MIAA and the NCAA in three-point field goals made (68) and three-point field goals per game (3.24).

**Northwest Missouri State women's honors**

Northwest Missouri State freshman guard Molly&nbsp;Hartnett&nbsp;and senior guard Mallory&nbsp;McConkey&nbsp;were recognized by the MIAA Wednesday. Hartnett received the&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Freshman of the Year award and was voted&nbsp;All-MIAA&nbsp;Honorable Mention after her breakout season, leading the team in scoring with 14.0 points per game, pulling down 4.0 rebounds per game, recording a team-high 59 assists and tallying 14 steals.

She also led the team and was fifth in the&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;with 86 made free throws on 112 attempts, shooting 76.8% from the line.&nbsp;Hartnett&nbsp;finishes her freshman campaign with 309 points while shooting 38.9% from the floor. McConkey was recognized as&nbsp;All-MIAA&nbsp;Honorable Mention for the second straight year.&nbsp;McConkey&nbsp;scored 7.3 points per game while recording 5.6 rebounds per contest.

She also tallied 42 assists along with 15 steals and 13 blocks.

McConkey&nbsp;also led the team in shooting percentage, hitting 40.5% of her shots from the floor while going 18-for-23 from the free throw line for 78.3%.&nbsp;&nbsp;

No members of the Missouri Western women's team were recognized.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614799290012.jpeg" alt="Northwest Missouri State men's basketball coach Ben McCollum was named the MIAA Coach of the Year on Wednesday." />
 <figcaption>Northwest Missouri State men's basketball coach Ben McCollum was named the MIAA Coach of the Year on Wednesday.</figcaption>
 </figure>St. Joseph PostThe No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team continues to reap the rewards of winning eight straight MIAA regular season titles. The Bearcats took home three of the four men's basketball specialty awards and landed four players on the all-league teams. Junior Trevor&nbsp;Hudgins&nbsp;(Player of the Year, First Team&nbsp;All-MIAA), senior Ryan Hawkins (First Team&nbsp;All-MIAA, All-Defensive Team), junior Diego Bernard (Defensive Player of the Year, Second Team&nbsp;All-MIAA, All-Defensive Team), sophomore Luke Waters (Honorable Mention&nbsp;All-MIAA&nbsp;and head coach Ben McCollum (MIAA&nbsp;Coach of the Year) collected conference accolades following a vote of the league's coaches. Ben McCollum secured his seventh&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Coach of the Year Award after leading the Bearcats to their eighth consecutive&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;regular season title.Northwest produced an&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;single-season record 21 league wins this season. McCollum has guided the Bearcats to 10 consecutive 20-win seasons, including a mark of 90-2 over the past three years, and a career record of 293-77.&nbsp;&nbsp; For the sixth straight season, the&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Player of the Year is a Bearcat. Junior Trevor&nbsp;Hudgins captured back-to-back&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Player of the Year honors, and secured first-team&nbsp;all-MIAA&nbsp;status for the second straight season.Hudgins&nbsp;averaged 19.2 points per game and shot 53.9 percent from the floor and 52.8 percent from three-point range. He dished out 111 assists (5.0/game) and has a 3.16 career assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks No. 2 among all NCAA men's basketball players.Diego Bernard, a Lafayette St. Joseph alum, was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year Wednesday.Bernard also moved up to second-team all-MIAA status and tallied his third straight appearance on the MIAA's all-Defensive squad. Bernard averaged 12.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks this season.Hawkins earned first-team all-MIAA honors for the second straight season. He also landed a spot on the MIAA's all-Defensive squad for the third straight year.Hawkins averaged 21.4 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game and 1.8 steals per game. Hawkins shot 53.8% from the field, including 44.4% from three-point range.Sophomore Luke Waters earned honorable mention all-MIAA honors for the first time in his collegiate career, averaging 9.7 points and shooting 58.5 percent from the field.Waters buried 25 three-pointers and shot 42.4% from beyond the three-point arc.&nbsp;Northwest starts its defense of the MIAA Tournament title Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. against Emporia State in Bearcat Arena. Northwest has captured five straight MIAA Tournament championships.**Missouri Western men's honors**Four Missouri Western men's basketball players were honored by the conference. Griffon junior&nbsp;Tyrell Carroll&nbsp;is on the All-MIAA Second Team and he's also on the All-Defensive Team, while junior&nbsp;Caleb Bennett, sophomore&nbsp;Will Eames&nbsp;and sophomore&nbsp;Reese Glover&nbsp;have been named honorable mention All-MIAA. The four players honored by the league are tied for the most of any team with Northwest Missouri State. This the third straight season Carroll has been honored by the MIAA.&nbsp; He was honorable mention as a freshman and was named First-Team as a sophomore.Carroll averaged 18.5 points per game. He finished sixth in the MIAA in scoring, was fifth in assists (4.7) and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9). Carroll led the MIAA in free throws made (107), and he was one of the best defenders in the league this season, averaging 2.6 steals per game to lead the MIAA. Carroll is also moving up the MWSU all-time lists. He's now seventh in Griffon history in scoring (1348), third in assists (372), sixth in free throws made (305), fifth in free throws attempted (434), and he's first in steals since 1999 with 148. Bennett earned all-conference honors in his first year in a Griffon uniform after redshirting last season. The St. Joseph native averaged 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Bennett was 10th&nbsp;in the MIAA in steals this season at 1.5 per game and helped MWSU lead the league in steals and turnovers forced. This is the second straight year Eames has earned honorable mention all-league honors, as he was also the MIAA Freshman of the Year last season. The sophomore from Lee's Summit averaged 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season.Eames finished fourth in the MIAA in rebounding and had the third most defensive rebounds. He had seven double-doubles this season, which is fourth most in the league and 14th&nbsp;in the nation. Eames had 12 games during the regular season with nine or more rebounds. This is the first all-MIAA honor for Glover as he averaged 11.7 points per game and shot 40.5 percent from the three-point line this season. Glover led the MIAA and the NCAA in three-point field goals made (68) and three-point field goals per game (3.24).**Northwest Missouri State women's honors**Northwest Missouri State freshman guard Molly&nbsp;Hartnett&nbsp;and senior guard Mallory&nbsp;McConkey&nbsp;were recognized by the MIAA Wednesday. Hartnett received the&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;Freshman of the Year award and was voted&nbsp;All-MIAA&nbsp;Honorable Mention after her breakout season, leading the team in scoring with 14.0 points per game, pulling down 4.0 rebounds per game, recording a team-high 59 assists and tallying 14 steals.She also led the team and was fifth in the&nbsp;MIAA&nbsp;with 86 made free throws on 112 attempts, shooting 76.8% from the line.&nbsp;Hartnett&nbsp;finishes her freshman campaign with 309 points while shooting 38.9% from the floor. McConkey was recognized as&nbsp;All-MIAA&nbsp;Honorable Mention for the second straight year.&nbsp;McConkey&nbsp;scored 7.3 points per game while recording 5.6 rebounds per contest.She also tallied 42 assists along with 15 steals and 13 blocks.McConkey&nbsp;also led the team in shooting percentage, hitting 40.5% of her shots from the floor while going 18-for-23 from the free throw line for 78.3%.&nbsp;&nbsp;No members of the Missouri Western women's team were recognized.

Northwest Missouri State cleans up on MIAA awards, Missouri Western receives honors as well

Another night of terrific games and big performances. Let's get to it.

Class 2 Sectional round North Andrew 48 Mid-Buchanan 45. A thrilling game between two of the area's best. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/85193fbb-9664-4a86-9153-fd378822d2c7">Full coverage here</a>. The Cardinals face Lakeland on Friday night at 6 in the quarterfinal round.

Class 1 Sectional round Mound City 70 Stanberry 55. Junior Tony Osburn eclipsed 2,000 career points (yes, as a junior), scoring 26 points, including 21 in the second half. The Bulldogs fought hard throughout, trailing only 24-21 at halftime and getting to within single digits in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers face Orrick (16-6) on Friday at 6 p.m. in quarterfinals.

#1 Maryville 65&nbsp;#5 Savannah 30. The Savages played a physical game, trailing only 29-16 at the half, but Serena Sundell does what Serena Sundell does, and got on a role, scoring 30 points. The Spoofhounds (22-1) as a team made eight threes. Rylee Benight scored her 1,000th career point for Savannah, leading her team with 15 points.

The Spoofhounds will host Benton in the championship on Thursday night at 6 p.m. The Cardinals beat Chillicothe, 41-26, in the other semifinal.

Class 5 District 16 semifinal &nbsp;#2 Kearney 46&nbsp;#3 Lafayette 41. The Irish end the year at 17-8.

Class 6 District 16 semifinal #1 Staley 61 #5 St. Joseph Central 46. The Indians end their season at 15-12.

**Wednesday schedule - boys' basketball**

Class 4 District 16 semifinal #3 Maryville @ #2 Benton, 6 p.m. St. Joseph Post will be here!

**Wednesday schedule - girls' basketball**

Class 1 sectional playoffs Stanberry @ Platte Valley, 6 p.m. in Conception Junction.

Class 2 sectional playoffs Bishop LeBlond @ Plattsburg, 6 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614746006246.jpeg" alt="Maryville's Ava Dumke (13) goes up for two in the second half of the Spoofhounds' 60-42 win over Savannah in a Class 4 District 16 semifinal Tuesday. Photo by Whitnee Ice." />
 <figcaption>Maryville's Ava Dumke (13) goes up for two in the second half of the Spoofhounds' 60-42 win over Savannah in a Class 4 District 16 semifinal Tuesday. Photo by Whitnee Ice.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostAnother night of terrific games and big performances. Let's get to it.**Tuesday scores - boys**Class 2 Sectional round North Andrew 48 Mid-Buchanan 45. A thrilling game between two of the area's best. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/85193fbb-9664-4a86-9153-fd378822d2c7">Full coverage here</a>. The Cardinals face Lakeland on Friday night at 6 in the quarterfinal round.Class 1 Sectional round Mound City 70 Stanberry 55. Junior Tony Osburn eclipsed 2,000 career points (yes, as a junior), scoring 26 points, including 21 in the second half. The Bulldogs fought hard throughout, trailing only 24-21 at halftime and getting to within single digits in the fourth quarter.The Panthers face Orrick (16-6) on Friday at 6 p.m. in quarterfinals.**Tuesday scores - girls**Class 4 District 16 semifinals#1 Maryville 65&nbsp;#5 Savannah 30. The Savages played a physical game, trailing only 29-16 at the half, but Serena Sundell does what Serena Sundell does, and got on a role, scoring 30 points. The Spoofhounds (22-1) as a team made eight threes. Rylee Benight scored her 1,000th career point for Savannah, leading her team with 15 points.The Spoofhounds will host Benton in the championship on Thursday night at 6 p.m. The Cardinals beat Chillicothe, 41-26, in the other semifinal.Class 5 District 16 semifinal &nbsp;#2 Kearney 46&nbsp;#3 Lafayette 41. The Irish end the year at 17-8.Class 6 District 16 semifinal #1 Staley 61 #5 St. Joseph Central 46. The Indians end their season at 15-12.**Wednesday schedule - boys' basketball**Class 4 District 16 semifinal #3 Maryville @ #2 Benton, 6 p.m. St. Joseph Post will be here!**Wednesday schedule - girls' basketball** Class 1 sectional playoffs Stanberry @ Platte Valley, 6 p.m. in Conception Junction.Class 2 sectional playoffs Bishop LeBlond @ Plattsburg, 6 p.m.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area high school scoreboard - March 2, 2021

FAUCETT - Just five days ago, North Andrew got to play a district championship game on their home floor for the first time in years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614743619421.jpeg" alt="North Andrew's Hayden Ecker (left) goes in for a layup against Mid-Buchanan's Blake Hunter (5) in the second half of the Cardinals' 48-45 win over the Dragons Tuesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>North Andrew's Hayden Ecker (left) goes in for a layup against Mid-Buchanan's Blake Hunter (5) in the second half of the Cardinals' 48-45 win over the Dragons Tuesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostFAUCETT - Just five days ago, North Andrew got to play a district championship game on their home floor for the first time in years.They had to dig deep and sink some late free throws in order to <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/17cff9f6-7e1c-42f7-9f72-fdd76801cc17">beat Bishop LeBlond 51-46</a>.Now in the state sectional playoffs, the Cardinals had to go on the road and try and recreate their postseason magic from last week in another close game.They did that.North Andrew (21-8) won its fifth straight game, outlasting District 15 champion Mid-Buchanan, 48-45, in front of a capacity crowd on the Dragons' home floor in a Class 2 sectional playoff Tuesday.There's no doubt - last week's nail biter against the Eagles proved to be a key learning experience, as North Andrew went toe-to-toe with another area contender yet again."It really helped us be calm late in the game," said senior Tanner McDaniel, who scored 11 for the Cardinals. "Especially whenever it gets close. Like tonight, it got close and (the LeBlond game) helped prepare us for that again."Getting behind 6-2 early, North Andrew reeled off a 9-0 run to grab an early lead, but Mid-Buchanan hit back. Senior Javan Noyes buried a trio of threes, including one right before the buzzer, to put the Dragons ahead 15-13 after one quarter.Neither team faltered in the second, as senior Brewer Wheeler hit a couple of threes to put North Andrew ahead by as many as six, but junior Caiden Bailey answered back with a triple, and the Dragons only trailed 34-32 at halftime.Both teams struggled to get into a rhythm offensively in the third quarter, as North Andrew outscored Mid-Buchanan 9-6 over those eight minutes.The Cardinals had built their biggest lead, 41-33, with about a minute to go in the third, but a quick stop-and-pop three by Noyes, and then a steal and quick transition by Noyes, made it 41-38 in a matter of 15 seconds.Noyes ended up with a game-high 17 points - 15 of that was from three.Senior Keaton Hannah was able to make a quick baseline jumper just a few seconds before the end of the third however, putting North Andrew back up two possessions, 43-38.Right from the get-go in the fourth, it was anyone's guess as to who was going to win. After another big three from Noyes, and a couple of layups by sophomore Joe Clark and senior Stetson Lieffring, Mid-Buchanan only trailed 46-45 with 1:03 left.North Andrew held the ball for as long as they could after that, and eventually, drew enough fouls to reach the bonus.With 32.3 left, Brewer Wheeler converted both free throws in a critical one-and-one, putting the Cardinals ahead 48-45."(Mid-Buchanan) is a great team," Wheeler said after scoring a team-high 12 points. "It's a good win. They're one of the best in the state, so it feels good to come into their house and get a win."Mid-Buchanan (21-6) tried to draw up a tying shot in the half-court a couple of times, using a timeout with just under eight seconds left. A ball that went out-of-bounds with 1.2 remaining gave the Dragons one last look and it wasn't a bad one.Caiden Bailey threw up a contested, fall-away three- point attempt from the left wing that hit the iron, but bounced off.North Andrew is back in the Elite 8 for the first time since 2018, when the Cardinals took third at state."There's been a lot of grind and a lot of hard work and emotion put into this," said a winded, but jubilant coach Wade Bryson afterward. "Right now, I'm just happy and proud of my guys."The Cardinals will face Lakeland (24-1) on Friday at 6 p.m. Lakeland throttled Wellington-Napoleon, 79-46, on Tuesday.Coach Bryson admitted - as of Tuesday night, he didn't know a whole lot&nbsp; about either team."Thank God for all of the livestreams this year," he said. "We're excited to still be playing at this point. We're thankful to get to practice two more times. No matter who we play Friday, we're looking forward to it."North Andrew 48 - 13, 21, 9, 4 Mid-Buchanan 45 - 15, 17, 6, 7North Andrew scorers - Brewer Wheeler - 12, Tanner McDaniel - 11, Clayton Linville - 10, Hayden Ecker - 7, Owen Graham - 4, Keaton Hannah - 4Mid-Buchanan scorers - Javan Noyes - 17, Joe Clark - 7, Stetson Lieffring - 5, Caiden Bailey - 9, Blake Hunter - 3, Tyler Brown - 2, Lane Ellison 2.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614743753485.jpeg" alt="North Andrew's Brewer Wheeler lines up for crucial free throws late in the fourth quarter during the Cardinals' 48-45 win on Tuesday in Class 2 sectional playoffs. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>North Andrew's Brewer Wheeler lines up for crucial free throws late in the fourth quarter during the Cardinals' 48-45 win on Tuesday in Class 2 sectional playoffs. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614743876840.jpeg" alt="Mid-Buchanan's Joe Clark (0) goes up for two against North Andrew's Owen Graham in the first half of Tuesday's Class 2 sectional playoff game. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Mid-Buchanan's Joe Clark (0) goes up for two against North Andrew's Owen Graham in the first half of Tuesday's Class 2 sectional playoff game. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614743809599.jpeg" alt="North Andrew fans who made the trip give their Cardinals a standing ovation after the 48-45 win over Mid-Buchanan Tuesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>North Andrew fans who made the trip give their Cardinals a standing ovation after the 48-45 win over Mid-Buchanan Tuesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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