Emma Harris’ buzzer-beating layup lifted the Seckman Jaguars to a 48-46 girls basketball victory over the Alton Redbirds on Saturday night in Hillsboro, Mo.
The victory gave Seckman the championship in the 36th annual Hillsboro Tournament. The Redbirds, seeded No. 8 in the eight-team tourney, settle for runner-up with little reason for regret.
“Overall our girls played a great game,” Alton coach Bob Rickman said. “It was exciting, back and forth, and Seckman just made the shot they needed to.”
Alton, which beat top-seeded Hillsboro and fifth-seeded Freeburg to earn its title shot, is 3-19. The Redbirds return home for a Southwestern Conference date Tuesday against the Collinsville Kahoks.
“These girls are getting better,” Rickman said, “We have won or been within 10 (points) the last five games. We are a young team that is getting better.”
The Jaguars, from Imperial, Missouri, broke a first-quarter tie to take a 24-19 halftime lead. The Redbirds surged ahead 33-30 after three quarters, but could not finish off the Jags.
“We got in some foul trouble, the game was called tight,” Rickman said. “But it was balanced. They made more of the plays they needed to down the stretch. … No one play defined the game, a shot here, free throw there, loose ball or turnover, any one could made the difference.”
Crishonna Hickman scored 11 points and Kenya Burnett finished with 10 for the Redbirds. Both were named to the all-tournament team. Seckman got 12 points apiece from Lauren Stamm and Sam Stuckmeyer.
Gillespie 49, Pana 42 – A big fourth-quarter surge sent the Miners to a South Central Conference victory over the host Panthers in Pana. Gillespie is 14-10. Pana is 12-11.
The Panthers led 28-24 at the half and took a three-point edge to a fourth quarter that saw the Miners close with a 14-4 run. Karli Carr scored 14 points to lead Gillespie, which got eight points each from Rylee Jarman, Paige Niemeyer and Amanda Schmidt. Pana was paced by Jenna Dudra’s 11 points.
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