By: David Sharp
Top seeded Green City (22-6, Ranked eighth in Missouri Boys Class 1) fired out to a 20-9 lead in their February 25, 2022 boy’s championship game and powered to a 63-38 win over Grundy County/ Newtown-Harris.
The Panthers (20-8) played Green City closer in the second quarter. Green City held a 32- 19 halftime lead. The Gophers had a strong third quarter for a 46-26 lead.
Corbin Axtell led Grundy County with 18 points. Zach Cross was in double figures with 12 Panther points.
Laydon Fields led all scorers with 27 points. Grant O’Haver scored 11 points. Aaron Peavler tossed in nine points. Asher Buggs-Tipton scored seven points. Kaden Hatcher put in six points. Kaden Johnson added three Gopher points.
Green City defeated Mercer (11-16) by a 78-33 in the boy’s semifinal round.
The Gophers will travel to the St. Joseph, Missouri Civic Center on Tuesday, March 1 for their Class 1 Sectional match with Braymer (15-13). The Green City Sectional game has a scheduled 4:45PM tipoff.
The winner of the Green City vs Braymer Sectional contest faces the winner of a powerhouse Sectional matchup. Second ranked Mound City (27-1) challenges third ranked Stanberry (22-3) at the Civic Center at 8:15PM.
Sectional Winners will meet on Saturday, March 5 at 7:45PM at the St. Joseph, Missouri Quarterfinal held at the Missouri Western State University Fieldhouse.
Mound City averaged scoring 75 points per game this season. Defending State Champion South Iron County is averaging 75 points per game this season. The Panthers scored 100 points or more eight times last season. Iron County is in the top bracket.
Green City is averaging 70.4 points per game this season. If the Gophers make the final four at Springfield, They would play on Friday, March 11 at 8PM. North Shelby is among the four teams playing for that state semifinal slot.
The Class 1-3 MSHSAA Basketball Championships are scheduled for March 10- 12, 2022 at Springfield.
