Advance, Oran boys basketball teams headline district tournaments

The Advance and Oran boys basketball teams have built a healthy postseason rivalry over the years.

The two teams met in the Class 2 District 3 championship the past four years, however, district realignment will offer a different route this season as top-seeded Oran and second-seeded Advance will each vie for the Class 1 District 2 crown at Bell City High School.

The tournament starts Saturday, beginning with Advance and seventh-seeded Delta at noon. Oran will square off against No. 8 The Fulton School at St. Albans at 3:45 p.m. "It's going to be just like it was last year. They've got about four starters back from last year," Advance coach Bubba Wheetley said about the Eagles. "I knew going into this district tournament that they were going to be one of the teams to beat."

Fourth-seeded Risco will take on No. 5 Richland at 5 p.m., and No. 3 Bell City will face sixth-seeded Oak Ridge at 6:15 p.m. to conclude Saturday's action.

The semifinals are slated for 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Monday, while the championship will be played at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

"I'm not even worried about Oran right now. I'm worried about Bell City," said Wheetley, whose squad would face the Cubs in the semifinals if both teams advance. "You've got to beat Bell City first, and that's going to be a tough task."

Wheetley said his team should benefit from the return of sophomore Preston Wuebker, who's averaging 12.3 points per game but is recovering from an injury.

"I think these kids are ready. I hope they are," Wheetley said. "I thought we played pretty good down the stretch, kind of like last year. I thought we picked it up after the Stoddard County [Athletics Association Conference] Tournament. ... I hope they're ready. I don't know. They're young. You never know about these kids, but I think we'll be alright."

<a href="http://www.semoball.com/bracket/1802/">Class 3 District 2

Every team's sights will likely be set on Charleston.

The top-seeded Bluejays are one of three new teams in this year's district but could be tested by a group that include No. 2 Woodland.

Scott City High School will host the tournament, which begins noon Saturday with a matchup between third-seeded Arcadia Valley and sixth-seeded East Prairie.

"It's a good opportunity for our kids, and we're definitely looking forward to it," Scott City coach Mark Dannenmueller said about hosting the district tournament. "We're pretty excited about it."

Woodland and No. 7 Saxony Lutheran will square off at 1:30 p.m., followed by Charleston and eighth-seeded Clearwater at 4:30 p.m.

Fourth-seeded Scott City will conclude first-round action against No. 5 Kelly at 7:30 p.m.

The semifinals are scheduled for 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the championship is slated for 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

"We know it's going to be tough," Dannenmueller said. "The top three seeds are all good teams, but we feel like we can compete with anybody. ... We're confident going into it. We're just going to take it one game at a time and see where it goes."

<a href="http://www.semoball.com/bracket/1798/">Class 2 District 1

Scott County Central's quest for a state-record 18th state championship begins Saturday at Bloomfield High School.

The top-seeded Braves, who are ranked third in Class 2 by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, will take on eighth-seeded Chaffee at 1 p.m. in the tournament opener.

"It's a really good field. It's a great tournament with great coaches," Scott County Central coach Frank Staple said. "You've got some good teams in there. ... Every game is going to be tough, so we'll have to be on our 'A' game if we want to come out on top."

It'll be a new challenge for SCC, which competed in Class 1 a year ago. Staple said his team has made a lot of progress since finishing fourth in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

"Overall, I think we're doing a lot of things well," Staple said. "There's still always room for improvement, but I'm pleased with the way we've been playing, for the most part, since January."

No. 4 South Pemiscot and fifth-seeded Campbell will square off at 2:15 p.m. Saturday, followed by No. 2 Bernie and seventh-seeded Holcomb at 3:30 p.m. Third-seeded Bloomfield and No. 6 Cooter will wrap up opening-round play at 4:45 p.m.

The semifinals are slated for 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the title game will take place at 7:15 p.m. Thursday.

<a href="http://www.semoball.com/bracket/1800/">Class 2 District 3

Top-seeded Ellington will get the tournament underway against eighth-seeded Kingston at 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Bismarck High School.

No. 3 Meadow Heights will square off against sixth-seeded Valley at 1:45 p.m., followed by a matchup between No. 2 Valle Catholic and No. 7 St. Vincent.

"I think Ellington is the team to beat without a doubt," Meadow Heights coach Mark Verticchio said. "... I think we've gotten better, but with our inexperience and our youth, I don't think we've overcome as much as I'd hoped we would."

Fourth-seeded Viburnum will face fifth-seeded Bismarck in the nightcap to conclude Saturday's action. The semifinals are scheduled for 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, while the championship will be played at 7:15 p.m. Thursday.

"We've got a shot to make a little noise. ... We'll have to play well," Verticchio said. "We don't shoot the ball very well, which means anybody can beat us. But if we can play good defense and get a couple guys going that have been playing pretty well all year -- particularly Jacob Douglas, Jacob Hunt and Tyler Cook -- we can win a game and maybe hopefully two."

<a href="http://www.semoball.com/bracket/1797/">Class 1 District 3

South Iron, which is ranked No. 2 in Class 1 by the MBCA, headlines this year's tournament field.

The top-seeded Panthers will host the tournament and face No. 7 Leopold at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

"Obviously, to win the district, you're going to have to try and go through them," Zalma coach Bryant Fernetti said about South Iron. "Once you get past South Iron, there's a lot of parity with the rest of the teams in the tournament."

Other first-round games include fourth-seeded Zalma and No. 5 Marquand-Zion at 7 p.m. Saturday.

"We think we've definitely made a lot of improvements this year," Fernetti said. "We have the capability to play with anybody. I think we can compete with anybody in the district if we just show up and play well, so I feel good about our team."

Second-seeded Summersville will take on seventh-seeded Bunker at 11:30 p.m., followed by third-seeded Eminence and sixth-seeded Lesterville at 2:30 p.m.

The semifinals will take place at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the championship is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday.