SCAA Hoops Results: Red-Hot Bell City Cubs win again, Richland and Advance suffer losses

BELL CITY , Mo. - The January success continued for the Bell City Cubs varsity boys basketball team Thursday night against Zalma.

Bell City outscored Zalma by 28 points in the second half on its way to a convincing 76-43 home victory.

"I think our defense really turned it up," Bell City first-year coach C.J. Hadley said of his team's strong second-half performance. "We always have our offense. I just feel like it's all about defense. We stepped it up on defense and that's what really helped us."

Bell City, which has won four of its last five games, extended its pressure defense beyond half court for much of the contest.

The Bulldogs played the Cubs to a 12-12 stalemate in the first quarter. Bell City took its largest first-half lead at 28-20 with 1:42 remaining in the second quarter. Zalma managed to trim the deficit to 33-28 by halftime.

The Cubs increased its advantage to 42-32 with 3:37 remaining in the third quarter and led 55-37 at the start of the fourth period. Zalma trailed by at least 18 throughout the fourth quarter.

Bell City hit all four of its 3-pointers after halftime.

Bobby Wright tallied all 13 of his points in the third quarter for the Cubs. He hit two treys.

Nate Finney scored all 12 of his points in the second half for Bell City. He hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Brent Overbey tallied 15 of his team-high 18 points in the first half for Zalma.

No player had more than one 2-pointer in the second half for the Bulldogs.

Aaron Smith scored 11 points for Bell City.

Bell City improves to 4-10 with the victory. Bell City returns to action Friday when it hosts Leopold.

"We have been on a little bit of a winning streak," Hadley said. "We are a young team with one senior and three juniors. Our freshmen and sophomores have stepped up to help us win those games. They are buying in and we are getting better every day defensively."

Bell City 76, Zalma 43

ZHS 12 16 9 6 - 43

BCS 12 21 22 21 - 76

ZALMA (43) - Peyton Ford 2, Alex Steinberg 5, Brent Overbey 18, Andrew Hovis 6, Christopher Lombeida 2, Caleb Hankins 2, D.J. Hankins 8. FG 16, FT 10/17, F 20. (3-pointers: Overbey 1. Fouled out: Ford)

BELL CITY (76) - Taylor Ogden 2, Nate Finney 12, Tyler Evans 4, Nolan Schaefer 8, Aaron Smith 11, Cole Nichols 2, Austin Hicks 6, Bobby Wright 13, Cameron Polley 1, Royce Liggins 6, Peyton Maddox 9. Quinton Herkenhoff 2. FG 28, FT 16/24, F 21. (3-pointers: Finney 2, Wright 2. Fouled out: none)

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Notre Dame beats Advance 84-55

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Notre Dame Bulldogs varsity boys basketball team outscored the Advance Hornets in every quarter on its way to an 84-55 home win Thursday.

Four players tallied at least 11 points for Notre Dame. Quinn Poythress led the way with 17 points, Chase Urhahn scored 15 points, Grant Ressel tallied 11 points and Jordan Barber tallied 11 points.

Lane Below hit all three of Advance's treys. He finished with 22 points. Austin Miller tallied 11 points. Dawson Mayo and Eli Seger both scored eight points for the Hornets.

Notre Dame beat Advance 68-44 in the junior varsity contest.

Advance (11-6) will play Bell City in the first round of the varsity SCAA boys basketball tournament Jan. 28 at 8:30 p.m. at the Bearcat Event Center in Dexter.

Advance 84, Notre Dame 55

AHS 14 17 10 14 - 55

NDS 18 24 24 18 - 84

ADVANCE (55) - Austin Miller 11, Lane Below 22, Eli Seger 8, Alex Morse 2, Richard Nixon III 2, Ben Trout 2, Dawson Mayo 8. FG 13, FT 26/36, F 18. (3-pointers: Below 3. Fouled out: none)

NOTRE DAME (84) - Chase Urhahn 15, Hunter Eftink 8, Tanner Shively 3, Quinn Poythress 17, Trenton Schumer 4, Grant Ressel 11, Jordan Barber 11, Thomas Himmelberg 3, Derek Hulshof 9, Dean Crippen 1, Bobby Jansen 2. FG 30, FT 19/29 , F 28. (3-pointers: Urhahn 1, Poythress 1, Ressel 2, Himmelberg 1. Fouled out: none)

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Leopold cruises by Richland 105-35

ESSEX, Mo. - The Richland Rebels varsity boys basketball team suffered a 105-35 home loss to the Leopold Wildcats Thursday night.

Leopold (12-2) outscored Richland 61-15 in the first half and continued to pad its lead after halftime.

Wesley Stoverink tallied a game-high 24 points for Leopold. Zach Beal added 19 points and Cameron Davis scored 16 more.

Five-foot-eleven freshman guard Jerry Craft led the Rebels with eight points.

Richland (0-10) visits Zalma Friday.

Leopold 105, Richland 35

LHS 32 29 27 17 - 105

RHS 7 8 8 12 - 35

LEOPOLD (105) - Parker Brown 9, Austin Bucher 6, Dillan Vandeven 7, Zach Elfrink 9, Cameron Davis 16, Cord Cooper 5, Zach Beel 19, Wesley Stoverink 34. FG 44, FT 5/14, F 9. (3-pointers: Brown 1, Vandeven 1, Davis 1, Cooper 1. Fouled out: None)

RICHLAND (35) - Skyler Harper 4, Tristan Wamble 6, Jacob Gonzales 4, Preston Tilley 6, Josh Thornton 5, Jerry Craft 8, Tyler Maddox 2. FG 12, FT 5/10, F 9. (3-pointers: Wamble 2. Fouled out: Wamble)