Girls and Boys Basketball Playoffs Are Underway

There is something about post-season basketball that brings out the best in the Stars.

North, after a sluggish end to the regular season, bounced back to knock off 60-44 on Saturday afternoon in the championship game of the boys Class 5 District 2 Tournament at Central.

The Stars (25-4) advance to face Cape Girardeau Central (20-5) in a sectional contest Wednesday at the Farmington Civic Center at 6 p.m.

Senior B.J. Young led North with 21 points. Junior Jordon Granger added 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks.

Tre Anderson paced Central (26-2) with 14 points.

North won its first 19 games this season but struggled down the stretch losing four of its final seven games.

But as usual, the Stars bounced back.

Last season, they followed a similar trend, closing the regular season 5-6 before winning the district title.

"We gear our season for the playoffs," North coach Randy Reed said earlier this month.

Young, who is headed to the University of Arkansas, hit a key 3-pointer late in the second quarter on Saturday to help North to a 24-20 lead at the break.

The North defense held the high-powered Hawks to a season-low 44 points. Central came into the game averaging 73.7 points per game. The Hawks previous single-game low was 58 points.  

Senior Akintoye Okunrinboye added 14 points for the Stars.

Girls Make a Playoff Run

The girls rolled to a 59-41 victory over McCluer North in the girls’ championship game Saturday at Central.

Senior guard  led the Hawks with 20 points. Central is riding a seven-game winning streak.

Kaci Cason paced North (19-9) with 16 points.

The Hawks zipped out to an early 20-7 lead and never looked back.

Hazelwood Central (22-5) will face Poplar Bluff (21-6) in a sectional game Wednesday in Farmington at 7:45 p.m.