Four GRC Teams capture Tournament Championships

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

Four GRC Teams captured Tournament Championships this past Friday and Saturday.  St. Joseph Christian girls captured the Platte Valley Invitational Tournament Championship on Friday, Polo girls and Gallatin boys won the Gallatin Invitational Tournament and Putnam County won the Tri-Rivers Classic on Saturday.

St. Joseph Christian Lions

St. Joseph Christian defeated Nodaway Valley 42-36 in the Championship of the Platte Valley Invitational on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University.  The Lions got out to a 9-6 lead after the first quarter and expanded it to 20-13 by halftime.  The lead expanded to 33-22 after the third quarter backed by the 3-point shooting of Ella Bowman.  Nodaway Valley was able to cut the Christian lead to 38-34 late before Maya Freudenthal and Lexi McDaniel each sunk a pair of free throws.  The win was the 2nd straight PVI Championship for St. Joseph Christian.  

Ella Bowman led the Lions with 14 points, including a career-high 3 three-pointers.  Lexi McDaniel added 10 points for the Lions.

Photo: St. Joseph Christian Athletics Facebook Page

Polo Lady Panthers

Polo Lady Panthers used a strong pressure defense to get out to a 26-8 lead over rival Braymer in the Championship of the Gallatin Invitational Tournament.  The Lady Panthers used that great start to knock off Braymer 55-32.  The win was the 3rd straight Gallatin Tournament Championship for Polo.

The Lady Panthers were led in scoring with a career-high 22 by Hanna Vaught, 13 by Chloe Gilbert and 12 by Lily Gentry.

Photo: Polo R-VII School District Facebook Page

Gallatin Bulldogs

Gallatin Bulldogs pulled away in the 4th quarter of the Gallatin Invitational Tournament against  Maysville after the two played a tight game through three quarters.  Gallatin led 11-9 after the first quarter.  They were able to extend it to 23-19 at halftime.  The two teams played evenly in the third quarter with Gallatin leading 38-34.  Gallatin finally put some distance between them and Maysville to win 59-43.

The Bulldogs were led in scoring by Brett Hemry with 13 and Isaac Bird with 12.

Photo: Kim Conkling

Putnam County Midgets

After a slow start falling behind 7-2, the Putnam County Midgets were able to come back and tie the Championship game of the Tri-Rivers Classic against the Schuyler County Rams at 11 to end the first quarter.  A tightly contested second quarter had the Midgets up 31-30 at the half.  The Midgets started to pull away, stretching the lead to 10 midway through the third quarter.  They would extend it to 55-44 by the end of the third.  However, the Rams would make a comeback, cutting the lead to 59-57 with two minutes left in the game.  The Midgets were able to hold on for a 63-59 wins.

Owen Ream led the Midgets with 24 points.  Trace Riediger added 19.

Photo: Putnam County R-I Basketball Facebook Page