Community Returns to Show-Me-Showdown, Meadville Falls to St. E in Shooting Gallery

For the second straight year, the Community girls and St. Elizabeth boys are heading back to Springfield for the Class 1 Show-Me-Showdown after picking up quarterfinal victories Friday night at MACC.

The Community Lady Trojans defeated Green City 60-53. The Lady Gophers played Community strong defensively throughout the entire game, and held multiple leads. Community preserved a one point lead late in the fourth quarter until their leading scorer stepped up in a big way.

Scott Lunte with the call on Glory 97 and centralmoinfo.com. After the missed and-one, it forced Green City to foul. Senior Natalie Thomas helped ice the game with five straight made free-throws down the stretch. Green City senior Brooke Littrell finished a with game-high 35 points and caps off her high school career with 3,216 points which ranks fifth all-time for any high school girls basketball player in Missouri. Community coach Bob Curtis discussed defending the UCM commit.

Thomas tallied a team-high 29 points for the 28-1 top ranked Lady Trojans. Green City finishes the season 27-2. Coach Cody Moore’s Lady Gophers have fallen in the quarterfinal round for the third time in four years.

Community faces Saturday’s Walnut Grove/Montrose winner in the semifinals Thursday at JQH Arena in Springfield. Regional Radio has pregame coverage at 4:55pm with tipoff scheduled for 5:10pm.

The St. Elizabeth Hornets knocked off Meadville 82-71 in the boys quarterfinal. The first half was a shootout with both teams combining for 17 threes. Meadville’s Ethan Newlin provided the cap at the buzzer.

Austin Ward with the call on 99.9 The Captain. St. Elizabeth used its size advantage to create easy shots in the paint in the second half. 6’7 Ross Struemph finished with a game-high 32 points on 15 made field goals. Meadville coach Drew Nier thought his team played well against a good opponent.

Seniors Dominik Gannan and Parker Burton led the Eagles with 27 and 25 respectively. Meadville ends the season 26-3. St. Elizabeth is now 24-5 and next plays Thursday at 8:30pm against the winner of Saturday’s game between Golden City and Green Ridge. Hear full postgame interviews below.

Community girls coach Bob Curtis:

Green City girls coach Cody Moore:

Meadville boys coach Drew Nier: