Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Dexter, Missouri – The Bernie Mules varsity boys basketball had a slow start to Friday night’s SCAA Championship game. The Woodland Cardinals jumped out to a 8-0 lead in the first quarter hitting 4 buckets before the Mules were able to sink one of their own. Once the Mules put some points on the board, they never looked back and defeated the Cardinals 59-45 to earn another SCAA Tournament Championship title!
“We kind of felt coming in they might have an initial burst because of the excitement that they haven’t been in the championship game in a long time,” commented head Bernie coach Brad Botsch. “We kind of knew coming out we might have to absorb that and we tried to get our kids motivated to understand that.”
Jake Wagners had a terrific game. He hit six 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points for the Mules.
B.J. Jennings and Justin Stanfield each contributed 11 points for Bernie. Stanfield had one trey.
Matt Vernon and Devin Trammell each added a trey for Bernie.
Woodland’s Garret Reynolds completed the evening with 20 points including one trey. Evan Grindstaff also was in double figures tallying 14 points.
Bernie (19-1) has won back-to-back SCAA titles. They are currently ranked #4 in the latest Class 2 state poll. Bernie was to play Twin Rivers on Tuesday, but that game was cancelled due to weather. Their next stop will be Notre Dame on Friday at 6 p.m. when they take on the Bulldogs on their turf.
"Right now, especially with some of our offense on crutches, we just have to grind games out," Botsch said. "It's just not going to be pretty. I thought the kids rose up and really guarded well after that initial burst from Woodland.
"It's a nice accomplishment to win the tournament back-to-back years," Botsch added. "It's never easy when you come play in the Stoddard County Tournament and I'm real proud of our kids."
Final Score Bernie 59 Woodland 45
Woodland 8 4 16 17 - 45
Bernie 4 19 20 16 - 59
Woodland (45) - Evan Grindstaff 14, Garret Reynolds 20, Cole Schlief 2, Landon Jackson 2, Devon Gramlisch 5, Garrett Faulkner 2. FG 19, FT 6/10, F 13. (3-pointers: Garret Reynolds 1. Fouled Out: none)
Bernie (59) - Matt Vernon 3, Jake Wagner 20, Brandon Sparks 1, B.J. Jennings 11, Justin Stanfield 11, J.R. Pregel 2, Devin Trammell 7, Joey Walker 4. FG 20, FT 10/17, F 13. (3-pointers: Jake Wagner 6, Matt Vernon 1, Justin Stanfield 1, Devin Trammell 1. Fouled Out: none)
