Fourth-seeded Meadow Heights' boys basketball team used a halftime buzzer beater to shift the mometum its way and dispose of fifth-seeded South Iron 77-70 in the first round of the Class 2, District 2 tournament Monday at Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Joey Bell scored 40 points for the second straight game. Bell has also scored 30 points in six of his last seven games.

His halftime 3-pointer set the tone for the second half. Meadow Heights also used 12 fourth-quarter points from freshman Terry Wagner as it notched its 19th victory of the season.

"That shot by Bell at the buzzer really got us going," said Meadow Heights coach Tom Brown. "The last couple of games he has been doing what a senior is supposed to do at the end of the season. He has really stepped up."

Meadow Heights and move on to play top-seeded Advance, a 73-53 winner over Greenville, in the second round.

After trailing 11-5 early in the first quarter, the Panthers (19-6) went on an 8-0 run and battled back and forth with South Iron the rest of the first half. Meadow Heights entered the locker room with a 33-32 advantage.

But it was a mix of freshmen providing the excitement along with Bell in the second half, as the Panthers slowly put things away.

"You wouldn't believe our freshmen,they came up big." said Brown.

Advance 73, Greenville 53

Top-seeded Advance grabbed a 15-point first quarter lead and went on to rout No. 8 Greenville in the first round of the Class 2, District 2 tournament at Poplar Bluff, Mo.

The Hornets (20-7) lead 41-26 at halftime and 53-36 after three quarters. Jared Ritter turned in a big game for Advance with 28 points. Eric O'Hare added 15 points for Advance and Zach Hudson had 12.

Bell City 117, Marquand 53

Defending Class 1 state champion Bell City scored 70 points in the first half and doubled up No. 8 Marquand in the opening round of the Class 1, District 2 tournament at Delta, Mo.

The top-seeded Cubs led 32-9 after the first quarter and were up 70-21 at halftime. Bell City's returning all-staters Dominitrix Johnson and Eric Henry combined for 36 points in their half of play. Johnson had 23 of the 36 points and added 11 rebounds in the half.

The Cubs had six scorers in double figures. Kenyon Wright, Jeff Liggins and Zak McIntyre had 12 points apiece and Randy Conn had 14.

Adam Statler paced Marquand with 15 points and Josh King had 13.

Oran 93, Oak Ridge 41

Second-seeded Oran cruised past No. 7 Oak Ridge in a first-round game in the Class 1, District 2 tournament at Delta, Mo.

Oran jumped in front 24-7 after the first quarter and led 44-21 at halftime.

Oran was led by Nathan Seyer's 20 points. Patrick Friga had 15 points, Ryne Wood added 14 and Garrett Roslen 11. Zach Ruesler led Oak Ridge with 24 points.

Delta 62, Scott County Central 58

Sixth-seeded Delta outscored Scott County Central 14-3 in the in the third quarter and went on to upset the No. 3 Braves at the Class 1, District 2 tournament.

Delta clung to a 28-25 halftime lead before the deciding third quarter. Brent Menz led the Bobcats with 19 points. Daniel Cook had 13 points for Delta and Joey Keys had 11. Chris Pullen led the Braves with 19 points and Jeremy Johnson had 11.

Leopold 54, Zalma 44

Fourth-seeded Leopold led 25-18 at halftime and held on for an opening round win at the Class 1, District 2 tournament.

Leopold led 16-14 after the first quarter and 38-32 after three quarters. Josh Van de Ven led Leopold with 23 points and Kevin Holzum added 17. Chad Wiseman, who scored his 1,000th career point, led Zalma with 21 points. Jamie Mangrum added 11 points.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Kelly 55, Scott City 35

No. 1 seed Kelly outscored Scott City 15-4 in the first quarter and cruised from their in an opening-round win at the Class 3, District 2 tournament in Bloomfield, Mo.

Fourth-seeded Scott City was only outscored 27-24 in the second and third quarters, but could only manage a total of 11 points the other two quarters. Kelly's win puts them at 21-5. Kelly will face third-seeded Charleston in Friday's championship game. Charleston defeated second-seeded Clearwater 56-51.

Dana Essner led the Hawks with 13 points. Cara Scherer added 11 points for Kelly and Kelly Essner had 10. Amanda Raines led Scott City with 12 points.

-- From staff reports