By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

HAYTI - Jamie Massey covered the paint like a man possessed in Thursday night's Class 2, District 1 matchup between Bernie and Holcomb. The 6'9" center accounted for 29 of Holcomb's 55 points in their 55-44 double-overtime upset of the Bernie Mules.

Things were looking great for Bernie early in the contest; Troy Kirkpatrick hit four threes in the first quarter to push the Mules out to a 17-6 lead. Kirkpatrick was good from downtown two more times in the second quarter, but a deep trey from Aaron Reeves and six point effort from Massey pulled the Hornets within eight heading into halftime.

Massey put together another six point effort in the third, coupled with treys from Reeves and Patrick Skelton. Kirkpatrick hit his seventh three of the night early in the frame, but Holcomb pulled within four at the end of the frame.

David Baker scored all six of Bernie's points in the fourth quarter, and the Hornets were able to keep up the momentum and force overtime.

A pair of three point plays were the only offensive output in the low-scoring overtime period. The Mules were only able to hit two shots from the floor in the second overtime, while Holcomb connected on nine of 11 trips to the charity stripe to ice the 55-49 victory.

“This one is hard to swallow as we controlled much of the game and had great opportunities to win or increase our lead," Bernie head coach Brad Botsch said. "Holcomb did a good job not allowing us to run away from them in the first half and our lack of poise and experience in win-or-go-home situations caught up to us."

"We really needed a better night offensively from our upperclassmen than what we got, and we were very tentative offensively all night," he continued. "I thought we played hard defensively as we usually always do, but felt we really struggled overall in scoring. We had some turn-overs in key spots and missed some easy buckets that really contributed to our offensive woes."

Despite the disappointing finale, which ended Bernie's two year hold on the Class 2, District 1 title, Botsch was proud of his team's determination and composure throughout a season filled with adversity.

"These kids played through a lot of adversity this season. They never quit trying and never questioned why we push them so hard to succeed. Losing at the end always hurts because we put in so much time and effort into practicing and playing, but our kids for the most part embrace hard work and dedication, and I’m proud of them for that," He said. "We’ve got virtually everyone coming back next season, and we really feel like we’ve got the potential to be real solid for the next several years if the kids will maintain focus and improve on their individual weaknesses."

Bernie ends the season with a 17-11 record. Holcomb (23-5) will face off against the host Hayti Indians (18-9) for the Class 2, District 1 title on Friday (Mar. 2) night. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

LANTANA, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic University baseball team dusted off their cleats on Wednesday night as they took on No. 19-ranked Mercyhurst College as part of the Palm Beach Challenge at the Santaluces Complex. The Sailfish hadn't played a game in eight days and perhaps some of that rust coupled with a strong offensive performance by the nationally-ranked Lakers ended with Mercyhurst holding on for a 10-6 win.

Senior starting pitcher Logan Thomas (2-1) was handed his first loss of the season as he was touched for 15 hits allowed in five innings of work as he was tagged for seven earned runs while totaling one walk and five strikeouts.

Each team would score a run in the first-inning as the Lakers (7-2) rallied from two outs and nobody on to register three consecutive singles to move in front 1-0. PBA senior left-fielder Nick Natale promptly tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first as he launched his second homerun of the season over the left-centerfield fence.

Things would remain 1-1 entering the top of the fifth as Thomas worked in and out of trouble as his pitch count began to rise. Mercyhurst added a pair of runs in the fifth as third-baseman Ethan Santora produced a solo homer while a second run came in to score later in the frame on a Colin Loughner RBI single.

Palm Beach Atlantic (6-3) cut the deficit back to a single run in their half of the fifth inning as leadoff man Matt Perkowski registered his team-leading third homer of the season on a drive out to right-field.

The biggest inning of the night came in the sixth as Mercyhurst plated four runs, effectively ending the night for Thomas, as the Lakers moved in front 7-2.

Still not giving up, the Fish plated two more runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning as freshman Matt Wisniewski plated Travis Murray and Justin Sizemore on a two-run single.

Now into the Lakers' bullpen following a solid starting assignment by MC right-hander Brad Duffy, the Fish hoped to mount a solid comeback.

The Lakers put to rest those aspirations with a single run in the eighth and two more in the ninth to help offset a pair of PBA runs coming in to score in the ninth on a RBI single from Murray and a sacrifice fly by Sizemore.

Following Duffy (1-0) and his 5.1 innings of work (four runs, seven hits allowed) was right-hander Zach Leitten who earned the save following a 3.2 stint on the hill while allowing only two hits and striking out five batters.

The Fish received a solid pitching effort from their pen as well with left-handers Jonathan Kies and Kenny Frosch tossing a combined two innings of scoreless baseball while Jeremiah Cothiere and Peter Graffeo each threw well also.

Santora closed out the game with a 4-for-5 day with four runs driven in for MC while Ryan Siegel and Shane Latshaw each chipped in three hits apiece to lead the 18-hit attack.

Palm Beach Atlantic was led by Perkowski, Murray, and Sizemore who each produced a pair of hits.

The Sailfish will welcome in Valdosta State University over the weekend for a three-game series at the Santaluces Complex. PBA and VSU will battle at 6:30 pm on Friday, March 2nd and then again on Saturday, March 3rd for a double-header beginning at 1 pm. All three games will be broadcast on the Sailfish Sports Network.

Click here for the full box score.

ST. LOUIS - Maryville pushed across three runs in the bottom of the third for all the offense it would need and cruised to a 7-0 victory over Lincoln in the home opener for the Saints. Three Maryville pitchers combined to shut out the Blue Tigers.

Bryce Bastien drew a leadoff walk to start the third inning, and Colby White beat out a bunt to put the first two runners aboard. Nick Little sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Andrew Naegeli followed with an infield hit to third to load the bases. Jared Green, who went 3-for-4 on the day, laced an RBI single to left and the ball bounced away from Lincoln’s fielder as all three runs came around to score.

Maryville starter Brandon Sarkissian held the Blue Tigers to just two hits and did not allow a run over four innings. Brett Hancock came on in the fifth inning and also shut down the Lincoln attack over the next four frames to pick up the win. The Saints stretched out their lead with a single tally in the sixth. Mike Wilkinson reached on a fielder’s choice, and Bastien was safe after a Lincoln fielding error. Colby White’s grounder plated Wilkinson as the Saints went up 4-0.

Maryville put the game away with three runs in the seventh. Naegeli and Green had back-to-back singles, and Kyle Kinyon’s walk loaded the bases.

Dexter native Bob Miller’s RBI single pushed across a run, and the Saints added another tally when Green scored on a Lincoln miscue at the plate. Wilkinson lifted a sac fly to right to bring home the final run of the game for the Saints.

Matt Staback retired the final three batters as the Saints (1-3) picked up their first win of the season. Lincoln tried to get its running game going but Kinyon would not allow the Blue Tigers (0-7) to do so. The Saints catcher threw out four potential base stealers in the game, including two in a row in the sixth inning, to stymie Lincoln on the base paths.

Click here for the game's box score.

FULTON - In the third meeting of the season between the schools, the William Woods University women's basketball team held Missouri Baptist to just six field goal makes in the second half en route to a 63-41 win. Megan Aubuchon (Old Monroe, Mo.) finished one block shy of a school single-game mark with eight and was in sight of a triple-double with eight points and eight rebounds on the evening as well.

The game didn't get off to the most auspicious of starts for the Owls, as Missouri Baptist controlled the opening tap and jumped out to a 5-8 lead. A pair of 3-pointers from the Spartans bookended a second-chance layup from Iesha McDaniel to build the margin.

But WWU bounced back, uncorking an 18-4 run to turn a three-point deficit into an 11-point advantage. The run was sparked by the first of three first-half rejections by Aubuchon, as she swatted the ball into the hands of Sharron Andrews (Oakland/Hayward, Calif.). Andrews found Blake French (St. Charles, Mo.) in transition for the layup to put the Owls in fron 9-8 with 16:12 on the clock and WWU never trailed again in the game.

It wasn't smooth sailing all the way for William Woods, however, as the Spartans threatened to close the gap going into halftime. After rolling to a 23-12 lead with 11:47 to go, WWU didn't score for nearly seven minutes, as MBU whittled away at the lead.

The Spartans came as close as 23-21 with 5:10 to go, as Mandy Kirby rattled home a pair of free throws, but the Owls rediscovered the range and took a 29-23 lead into the locker room at halftime. French kept the Spartans from closing to a single point, with a huge block on a Kirby 3-pointer with 1:42 left.

In the second half, the Owls just overpowered the Spartans, keeping MBU off the board for the first four minutes of the period and allowing just 10 points on two field goal makes over the first 10:00. As the Owls coasted to the win, MBU was able to manage a consolation bucket with 32.4 seconds left.

All but three WWU players scored in the contest, with Katie Scherder (Bowling Green, Mo.) leading all scorers with 12. Andrews chipped in 10 on the night, with Ashlee Taylor (Dexter, Mo.) leading the Owls to a 43-34 rebounding edge as she grabbed 10. Taylor was one point shy of a double-double with her nine point effort.

Aubuchon nearly missed equaling a record that has been held since 1988, as she came up one block shy of Lana Unnewehr's nine-rejection outing against Fontbonne from December 2, 1988.

William Woods advances to the semifinal round of the AMC Postseason Tournament, and will host #3 seed Williams Baptist on Friday night. Tipoff for the game is set for 7 p.m.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

PARK HILLS - Riley Owens dropped in a layup for the Park Hills Central Lady Rebels in the first 30 seconds of Wednesday night's Class 4 Sectional matchup with the Dexter Lady Bearcats - it would be the Rebels only lead for the rest of the night.

Despite a sluggish start, the Lady Bearcats were able to keep their Show Me Showdown hopes alive with a 64-49 victory. Even with playoff experience, head coach Chad Allen attributed his young team's slow start to nerves.

"It looked like we came out a little nervous, which is to be expected a little bit. We tried to rely on Brittany Harris most of the first half, and we weren't very aggressive offensively," he said. "Give Park Hills credit - I thought they came out and really battled hard. I thought conditioning was a big factor, a big key to this game."

Harris was the lifeblood of the Bearcat offense, accounting for over 50 percent of her team's first half points on the way to a 25 point, 14 rebound double-double.

"She put us on her shoulders in the first half," Allen said of the junior. "We got into halftime and talked about it for a little bit, said we couldn't keep relying on Brittany. I thought the girls responded really well, and looked much more aggressive in the second half."

The Lady Bearcats took the lead on a Harris layup at 5:08 in the first, and never gave it back. Alison Jarrell knocked down a three late in the first to push the 'Cats to a 15-11 advantage.

Briley Merritt hit a trey for Park Hills at the 5:15 mark in the second, but Jarrell answered on the next possession. A three point play from Mackenzie Jones pulled the Rebels within one with just over 40 seconds left in the half, but Erika Cobb buried a three to put DHS up by four at the half.

The Lady Bearcats, much like in Friday's Class 4, District 1 Championship game against Notre Dame, came out with another level of intensity on the defensive side of the court in the third quarter.

"[Our defense was great], especially in that third quarter; we limited them to four points," Allen said of the second-half defensive resurgence. "I thought we really got after it defensively, and a lot of it came down to conditioning. We wore Park Hills down, especially going up and down the floor so much in the first half, and I thought that was the biggest key to our win tonight."

A layup from Harris and trey from Hannah Noe sparked the Lady Bearcats' offense in the second half, and a deep two from Mollie Whitehead late in the frame nudged the 'Cats to a 49-34 advantage heading into the fourth.

Katelynn Frazier dropped in four points in the fourth quarter, and had a chance for a three point play, but just missed the free throw. Jarrell knocked down her third trey of the contest at the 3:45 mark, and the Lady 'Cats were able to run their delay game for the rest of the contest to take the 64-49 win.

Owens and Skaggs combined 34 of the Rebels' 49 points in the contest. Allen noted the duo as his squad's defensive focus in the game.

"We talked about them all week, about how we were going to limit them," he said. "Owens is so hard to stop - one on one, she's so hard to stop. She's a good shooter, and she's very fast - I'd say she was as fast as [Summer] Burger from Notre Dame, just a lot bigger. It was tough for our guards to handle her, but they did a good job."

With the win, the Lady 'Cats will advance to the quarterfinal round of the MSHSAA Class 4 bracket, where the will face off against Miller Career Academy - Miller picked up a 69-56 win over Pacific in their sectional matchup. The Phoenix were able to hand the Lady 'Cats their first loss of the season in the finals of the Farmington Invitational Tournament on Dec. 3.

"They're big, and last time we played them we got beat by 17," Allen said. "We didn't play well that game, so hopefully this time we can give them a better game. There's no doubt in my mind that we can beat them, but we'll have to be much more aggressive offensively."

The Bearcats and Phoenix will rematch on Saturday, March 3 at the Farmington Civic Center. The winner of the contest will move on to the final four and play in the Show Me Showdown, held at Mizzou Arena.

Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.