Scio youth basketball tournament heads to championship day

It was all on the line for the Bulls vs. Hornets and the Huskies vs. Tar Heels Thursday, March 18, as the possibility of elimination loomed large inside Barr Memorial Gymnasium in Scio. Offense was the key factor in victory, and the four teams, known for offensive strength, had a final opportunity to show what they could bring.

In the opening contest of the evening, the third- and fourth-grade Huskies and Tar Heels walked onto the court both poised and confident. Following the ensuing jump ball, the Huskies immediately showed their opponents what to expect. Harper Dunlap shot a 10-foot jumper that not only tickled the net but carried a winning signature. Though the Huskies had some of the best guns in the division in Parker Phillipson, Koly Anderson and Owen Guthrie, a very solid game plan from the Tar Heels paid the game’s final bill with a winning score of 16-11.

In the evening closer, the fifth- and sixth-grade Bulls and the Hornets were also hoping for an encore of their previous outing. Continue to play or go home put a bad taste in their mouths and, temporarily, all friendships were off for the evening. Fifty-nine points of offense described the game as both teams gave their best. However, when the final horn sounded, the Bulls had pocketed the bigger share of the 59 points and won by a score of 33-26.

Both the Huskies and the Hornets received their participation certificates.

“In the third- and fourth-grade loser bracket, the No. 1 seed Tar Heels defeated the No. 3 seeded Huskies," said League President Steve Coffman. “Leading the Tar Heels was Harper Dunlap with 10 points. The team got 2 points each from Hadley Coffman, Karysa Bryant, and Mailinn Davia. In the Huskies scoring, Kolt Anderson scored 7 and 2 from Jaylon Agostini.”

“In the fifth- and sixth-grade bracket semifinal, the No. 3 seed Bulls defeated No. 4 seed Hornets. The Bulls got 23 points from Paxton Smith, 4 points from Carter Helms and 2 points each from Brynlee Hutton, Liam Harris and Corbin McKeever. The Hornets had a bunch in the scoring column, starting with Blake Barcroft with 11 points, 4 points each from Drezner Litzenberg and Spencer Miller, while Keagan Mallernee and Maddox Valesko each added 2 points.”

The full Saturday, March 21, schedule includes championship day, an All-Star game and a coaches game. It all begins at 9 a.m. with the third- and fourth-grade No. 1 seed Tar Heels vs. the No. 2 seed Knights.

At 10 a.m., the fifth- and sixth-grade Spartans face the No. 3 seed Bulls. At 11 a.m. is the third- and fourth-grade All-Star game. At noon is the fifth- and sixth-grade All-Star game. At 1 p.m. is the pre-K-second grade All-Star game. The day will end with the annual coaches game at 2 p.m.

“What I have noticed over the last two weeks in the double-elimination tournament is how close the games have been,” Coffman said. “There were also a few nail-biters that came down to the wire. It just goes to show how much better the kids and teams are getting. There’s no blowouts like there were early on in the season. The credit for the improvement goes to both the coaches and players for the work that has been put in during this season.”