ST. VINCENT CLAIMS OPENER IN STE. GENEVIEVE TOURNEY

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- After having their scheduled tourney opener postponed Tuesday night by inclement weather, St. Vincent High's boys basketball team began play Wednesday night in the Ste. Genevieve Tournament with a 55-54 victory over Valle.

The Indians, who improved their record to 3-2 with their third straight win, will play St. Pius at 6 tonight as the four-team, round-robin event continues.

Tyler Wengert scored 15 points and Derek Kutz added 10 as the Indians built a 50-39 lead after three quarters before a furious Valle rally fell just short.

"We had to hold on, like a boxer I guess," said St. Vincent coach Bruce Valleroy.

Ryan Kuehn paced Valle with 17 points. Ryan Odneal scored 15.

Bloomfield Tournament

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The weather-plagued Bloomfield Christmas Tournament was finally able to complete its first round Wednesday.

Only three opening-round games were finished Tuesday, with four being postponed totally and a contest between Bernie and Hayti being suspended at halftime because of poor road conditions.

When play resumed Wednesday, No. 11 seed Bernie completed an upset of No. 6 Hayti 60-51.

Also Wednesday, it was No. 3 Portageville 59, No. 14 Van Buren 28; No. 8 Richland 75, No. 9 Greenville 55; and No. 10 East Carter County 74, No. 7 Puxico 59.

Eight games are scheduled for today, with the championship quarterfinals featuring No. 1 Dexter vs. Richland at 4 p.m., No. 4 Twin Rivers vs. No. 5 Kennett at 5:30, Portageville vs. Bernie at 7 and No. 2 Doniphan vs. East Carter at 8:30.