Schools
MRH Hoops: Blue Devils Take Second in Tournament Nail-Biters
The Maplewood Richmond Heights boys basketball team took second place in the Poplar Bluff Showdown Tournament, while the girls took second in the Cardinal Ritter Christmas Tournament.
The boys and girls basketball teams did especially well over the holiday break.
MRH boys hoops
The Blue Devils attended the nationally-renowned Poplar Bluff Showdown Tournament in Poplar Bluff (MO), and won two of three games to take second place.
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In fact, MRH nearly won the whole thing, losing the title game to defending Tennessee 8A state champ Booker T. Washington High School (Memphis) by one point, in a 51-50 thriller that tourney organizers claim might be the best game the Poplar Bluff event has ever seen.
All-tournament team selection Kahlid Hagens had 20 points and seven assists in the championship game loss, and remains MRH’s leading scorer this season with a 13.3 points/game average.
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Teammate Jake Hensel is second on the team this season, with an 11.9 points/game total.
MRH girls hoops
The MRH girls took second in the Cardinal Ritter Christmas Tournament last week, also by winning two of three games.
In doing so, the Blue Devils earned perhaps their best win of the season. They knocked off Missouri state title contender Gateway Tech, 48-46, in the tourney semifinals Dec. 27.
Senior Antonia Lee had 19 points, including three 3-pointers in the upset over Gateway Tech. She was MRH’s selection on the All-Tournament team, as well.
Both MRH squads will begin 2012 action Wednesday night with road games at Bayless High School in South County.
The girls game will get underway at 5:30, and the boys contest is tentatively scheduled for 6:30.
MRH BLUE DEVILS REMAINING BASKETBALL SCHEDULES
BOYS HOOPS Jan. 4 6:30 p.m. at Bayless* Jan. 6 6:30 p.m. vs. Valley Park* Jan. 13 6:30 p.m. vs. Hancock* Jan. 18 6:30 p.m. at Soldan Jan. 20 7 p.m. vs. Cape Central Jan. 24 6:30 p.m. at Brentwood* Jan. 27 6:30 p.m. vs. Crossroads* Feb. 3 6:30 p.m. at Valley Park* Feb. 4 3 p.m. vs. Whitfield Feb. 7 6:30 p.m. at Hancock* Feb. 9 6:30 p.m. at Hazelwood Central Feb. 10 6:30 p.m. vs. Bayless* Feb. 11 3 p.m. vs. Chaminade Feb. 14 6:30 p.m. vs. Brentwood Feb. 17 6:30 p.m. at Crossroads* Feb. 18 2:30 p.m. vs. Scott County C.* denotes South Central Athletic Association conference game.
GIRLS HOOPS Jan. 4 5:30 p.m. at Bayless* Jan. 6 6:30 p.m. at Valley Park* Jan. 13 6:30 p.m. at Hancock* Jan. 18 6 p.m. vs. Affton Jan. 23 6:30 p.m. vs. Brentwood* Jan. 31 4 p.m. vs. Crossroads* Feb. 3 5:30 p.m. vs. Valley Park* Feb. 7 6:30 p.m. vs. Hancock* Feb. 8 5:30 p.m. vs. Clayton Feb. 10 5 p.m. vs. Bayless* Feb. 15 6 p.m. at Brentwood* Feb. 16 5 p.m. at Northwest Academy Feb. 17 5:30 p.m. vs. Crossroads* * denotes South Central Athletic Association conference game.