FAVORITES RULE IN SCOTT-MISSISSIPPI; SCOTT CITY, KELLY CLAIM LOPSIDED WINS

CHAFFEE -- The favorites rolled into the semifinals of the Scott-Mississippi Conference boys basketball tournament by posting lopsided victories Tuesday night.

Scott City, the second seed, pulled away in the second half to knock off No. 7 East Prairie 76-47.

Tuesday's other opening-round game was a total blowout as third-seeded Kelly dismantled No. 6 Oak Ridge 91-36.

Also Tuesday, in junior varsity action, East Prairie edged Kelly 51-48.

There will be one varsity semifinal game tonight and it figures to be a good one as Scott City meets Kelly at 8:30.

The other varsity semifinal, pitting top-seeded Scott County Central against No. 4 Delta, will be played Thursday night at 7.

Also tonight, in JV play, Oran takes on Scott City at 5:30 and Oak Ridge faces Chaffee at 7.

Scott City 76, East Prairie 47

The Rams only led 28-20 at halftime but an effective pressure defense in the second half led to an easy victory.

"Our press was really effective in the third and fourth quarters," said Scott City coach Derek Urhahn, whose team raised its record to 9-6. "The trap really hurt them."

Brent Anderson led a balanced Scott City offensive attack with 19 points. Greg Klund and Shannon Smith each scored 18 while Mike Leible added 13.

East Prairie, which fell to 1-10, got 12 points from Gary Scott.

Scott City outscored the Eagles 20-14 in the third quarter and 28-13 in the final period.

Kelly 91, Oak Ridge 36

This one was over early as Kelly led 19-7 after one quarter and 53-18 at halftime.

Pat Hulshof had a big first half for the Hawks, scoring 19 of his game-high 23 points during the opening two periods. Cory Heisserer added 19 points.

Eleven players scored for Kelly as the Hawks raised their record to 7-8.

Oak Ridge, now 3-10, was led by Charlie Fowler with 12 points.

Scott-Miss Tournament

(First Round)

KELLY 91, OAK RIDGE 36TS10R,12R,14R,16R,18R,20R

OAK RIDGE 7 11 14 4 - 36

KELLY 19 34 18 20 - 91

OAK RIDGE (36)

Bogenpohl 2, McLane 3, Chesnick 6, Schreiner 4, Franklin 2, Mangels 7, Fowler 12. FG 14 FT 8-14 F 22 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)

KELLY (91)

Burger 4, Waters 6, Dirnberger 8, Davis 4, Schaefer 2, Heisserer 19, Hulshof 23, Francis 6, Tarno 8, Stuckey 9, Carlisle 2. FG 36 FT 15-32 F 14. (3-pointers: Hulshof 4. Fouled out: none)

SCOTT CITY 76, EAST PRAIRIE 47

EAST PRAIRIE 4 16 14 13 - 47

SCOTT CITY 13 15 20 28 - 76

EAST PRAIRIE (47)

Groves 7, Kinsolving 6, Scott 12, Johnson 3, Brewer 9, Jackson 5, Allred 5. FG 15 FT 14-29 F 17 (3-pointers: Groves 1, Kinsolving 1, Johnson 1. Fouled out: none)

SCOTT CITY (76)

Anderson 19, Smith 18, Wooten 8, Leible 13, Klund 18. FG 30 FT 13-22 F 24. (3-pointers: Smith 2, Klund 1. Fouled out: Leible, Ressel)