Top seeds roll at Senath

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Clarkton's Justin Brown (left) shoots over Gideon's Dustin Horad during the first round of the Senath-Hornersville Lions Invitational Tuesday night at Senath. [Click to enlarge]

SENATH, Mo. -- It seemed like the Clarkton-Gideon game was going to follow the pattern of blowouts by the top seeds that predominated the first round of the boys' division of the Senath-Hornersville Lions Invitational.

Not quite.

Third-seeded Clarkton led by 11 points after one quarter and took a 16-point lead to the final period, but had to hold off a late Gideon rally to take a 79-69 win over the Bulldogs in the final game of night here Tuesday.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler South Pemiscot's Ben Smith (center) battles for a loose ball with Senath-Hornersville's Skyler Droke (left) and Cody Anderson during Tuesday's first-round action. [Click to enlarge]

In other first-round games Tuesday, it was No. 1 Hayti 91, Delta C7 41; fourth-seeded South Pemiscot 91, Senath-Hornersville 61; and No. 2 Gosnell, Ark. 66, North Pemiscot 39.

The Reindeer, the defending tournament champions, led nearly wire-to-wire, but never could put Gideon away as the Bulldogs got a big night from senior Jordan Boone, who scored a game-high 29 points.

"I was just glad our guys didn't quit," Gideon coach Daniel Sexton said. "We got down early and we had a tough time hitting our shots early."

Clarkton (2-1) led 23-12 after one period and took a 40-26 lead to the break, but the 'Dogs managed to stay within striking distance and finally began to cut into the lead late.

Travis Miller's basket with 2:13 left in the contest made it a 10-point game (69-59) and a Jared Foster field goal with 47 seconds made it 74-66.

However, the Reindeer made five of their six free throws in the game's final 1:24 to hold onto the lead.

"We just hung on to the ball and tried to keep things under control a little bit," Clarkton coach Scott Blackburn said.

Said Sexton: "I wasn't sure if we should foul at the end or keep trying to steal. They did a good job of keeping the ball in their shooters' hands."

Clarkton finished the game 18-for-26 (69 percent) at the foul line.

"That's low for us," said Blackburn. "Our first two games we were shooting 85 percent. We've got some guys that are banged up and it's hard to shoot free throws after getting knocked down hard."

Justin Brown and Dustin Ferguson each scored 19 points to lead the Reindeer, while Chris Jones and Casey Redden both tossed in 10 each.

Miller added 12 points for Gideon.

Clarkton takes on Gosnell in Friday's semifinals, while the Bulldogs take on North Pemiscot in a consolation semifinal earlier that evening.

South Pemiscot 91, Senath-H'ville 61
Dustin Hunter scored a career- and evening-high 35 points for the host Lions, but it was not enough to overcome five players in double figures by the Bulldogs of South Pemiscot.

Senath-Hornersville (0-2) cut the Bulldogs' lead to 15 points twice in the third quarter, but South Pem used a 14-3 run late in the game to pull away.

Maurichio Clay led the 'Dogs (1-0) with 21 points, while Kaleb Canoy added 20.

South Pem faces Hayti in the semifinals Friday at 7 p.m., while the Lions take on Delta C7 at 4 p.m. Friday in consolation play.

Hayti 91, Delta C7 41
The top-seeded Indians lived up to expectations in Tuesday's first game, taking a 24-8 lead after one period and leading 47-17 at the break.

Hayti had four players in double figures on the night, led by 15 points from Shaun Jones. Antonio Jones added 14 points, while Jamestic Gooden tossed in 12 and William Cooper finished with 11.

Sloan Richardson scored 12 points to pace the Chargers (0-1).

Gosnell (Ark.) 66, North Pemiscot 39
Deantre Scott scored a game-high 19 points and Ethan Bryant added 12 as the Pirates rolled into a semifinal matchup against Clarkton.

Gosnell led 21-8 after one period, 39-17 at the intermission and 55-25 entering the final period.

Britton Wilson paced the Mustangs (0-2) with 14 points, while Grant St. Cin added 13 in the loss.