SV girls claim top seed in district tournament

Fresh off tying the school record for wins in a season (20), St. Vincent girls’ basketball coach Mel Kirn turned his attention to the postseason. The Indians were named the top seed in the Class 2, District 3 when the bracket was recently announced.
“The girls have played hard the whole year and have earned the top seed,” Kirn said.
St. Vincent and second seed Oran will have byes into the semifinals as the Indians will take on the winner of Puxico (6-14) and Greenville (6-14) on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. at Advance High School. Oran will take on the winner of third seed Meadow Heights (15-6) and Advance/Bell City (4-16).
The title game will be on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.
Despite St. Vincent having the top seed, Kirn realizes that Oran will be tough.
“They are most likely the team to beat,” he said.
The Eagles have won the district title nine straight seasons, including ending St. Vincent’s season the last four years.
“If we play like we have all season, we can do well,” Kirn said. “I have full confidence in this team.”
While the girls have the top seed, the St. Vincent boys aren’t too far behind. The Indians (12-10) are the second seed in the Class 2, District 4 tournament. The Indians will have a bye into the semifinals and will play the winner of third seed Crystal City (12-12) and New Haven (6-14) on Feb. 22 at Crystal City High School at 7:30 p.m. The Indians beat Crystal City 71-51 on Jan. 6.

Principia (18-4) earned the top seed in the tournament and will take on the winner of Valley (11-11) and Bismarck (9-11) on Feb. 22.
Valleroy likes his team’s chances to make a deep run should they play up to its capabilities.
“We need to play more consistent,” he said.
St. Vincent fell to Principia 71-43 Dec. 19, but Valleroy feels like his team is playing better now than they were before Christmas.
“It was tough watching them on film and then watching them live,” he said. “Their coach admitted that they had some players who played well that night and it was probably their best game up to that point. Teams are going to have to stop their point guard. He hurt us on the drive and he scored more than 20 and I don’t think we stopped him once. They are the team to beat.”

Saxony Lutheran is on quite the hot streak, winning 10 straight games. The Crusaders hope that this stretch of play transfers to the postseason. Saxony (15-8) is seeded third in the Class 3, District 2 tournament, when the brackets were recently announced.
The Crusaders will take on Scott City (10-14) Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Saxony Lutheran High School.
Saxony defeated Scott City 53-25 on Jan. 26 as the Crusaders were in the midst of its streak.
The winner of that game will take on the winner of Woodland/Chaffee on Feb. 22.
Defending Class 3 state champion Charleston (19-5) is the top seed in the tournament and will face the winner of Valle Catholic/Kelly.