Cairo Boys and Canton Girls Repeat as La Plata Tournament Champions

The Cairo boys and Canton girls captured La Plata Tournament championships Saturday. Atlanta’s boys and Schuyler County’s girls grabbed third place.

Cairo defeated the La Plata boys 57-37 for a second straight La Plata Tournament title win against the hosts. Bearcat senior Jayden Warren shined late in the first quarter.

Eric Duick with the calls on Glory 97 and centralmoinfo.com. Cairo closed the first quarter with a 20-11 lead, then entered the half up 35-24. Head coach Nic Zenker reacted to 17-2 Cairo’s second tournament championship this year.

Zenker’s sophomore forward Gage Wilson scored 20 in the Bearcats’ third victory opposite the Bulldogs this season. La Plata head coach Greg Buescher discussed the challenges Cairo presents.

The 12-7 Bulldogs received 10 points from senior Tel Wheeler.

For the second straight year, Canton knocked off Green City to capture the girl’s championship at the La Plata Tournament. Lauren Frazier paced the Lady Tigers with 36 points on their way to a 76-66 victory. Frazier hit back-to-back baskets down the stretch to seal the victory.

Colin Schowe with the call. Frazier was complimented by Abby Jarvis and Tegan Burbridge with 18 points each. Canton girls coach Danielle Baker said the win will serve her 11-9 Lady Tigers well for the stretch run.

Despite early foul trouble Green City’s Brooke Littrell still poured in 31 points for the Lady Gophers. The loss dropped Green City to 17-1 on the season. Green City coach Cody Moore said the defense wasn’t good enough on the night.

In the boy’s third place game, Atlanta overcame a 13 point deficit to start the fourth quarter to beat North Shelby 56-51. The Hornets outscored North Shelby 24-6 in the final quarter to complete the comeback. Atlanta coach Jason White said he was thrilled with his team’s comeback.

Bryce Teter led the Hornets with 14 points, while Brynn Baker added 12 in the victory. North Shelby jumped out to a 24-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and held serve over the next two quarters. However, they failed to make a single shot from the field in the final quarter as Atlanta came from behind. North Shelby coach Landon Daniel said it all went wrong in the fourth.

The Schuyler County girls opened the third quarter on a 16-0 run en route to a 71-50 win in the girl’s third place game versus North Shelby. Lady Rams head coach Thomas Kirkland noted the Schuyler County offense caught fire.

Kirkland’s Lady Rams connected on seven straight threes early in the contest. Sophomore MaKinley Aeschliman provided 21 points and freshman Jacie Morris recorded 17 for the 15-6 Lady Rams. North Shelby’s Lalaine Treasure paced the 12-8 Lady Raiders with 14.

The Atlanta girls and Green City boys claimed consolation plaques Saturday. Hear full postgame interviews below.

Cairo boys coach Nic Zenker: