The Chillicothe Hornets featured the young, fast, but undersized Benton Cardinals on Tuesday night at the Savannah Invitational Tournament, 62-46, moving to 2-0 on the season. Tim Cool’s team was paced by 19 points from Konner Sewell, 16 from Westley Brandsgaard, and 12 points from Walker Graves.
With a squad hit hard by graduation losses, Gary Belcher’s “South Siders” will rely on quick tempo and a pressing style of defense to overcoming a lack of front-court size, and while that has worked in spurts early, the rebuilding process at BHS continues, with the Cardinals going 0-2 in pool play over a 24 hour stretch (lost to LeBlond on Monday night). Chol Ater led Benton with 17 points, Mason Byrd had nine, and Simi Bingham eight.
The Maryville girls and boys took Tuesday night victories in Savannah, with the Lady ‘Hounds beating the Central JV 38-30, while the Maryville boys won a low-scoring affair against rival Savannah 42-35. The final game of the second night of the tournament saw Savannah’s girls rock Bishop LeBlond 66-16.
Wednesday is a night off at Savannah, with Thursday now holding four semifinal games. At 4 o’clock, the Maryville boys duel with Platte County, followed by the Maryville girls going against Staley at 5:30. At 7 o’clock, the Chillicothe boys match-up with Bishop LeBlond, while the Savannah girls duel with Chillicothe at 8:30.
Two teams, after going 0-2 in pool play, are locked into Friday night’s fifth place games, with the LeBlond girls in the 4:30 contest, while the Savannah boys play at 6:00. The third place girls game follows at 7:30.
Championship Saturday begins with the third place boys game at 1 o’clock, followed by the championship girls game at 2:30, and boys title tilt at 4 o’clock.
