Mustang Scholars Make History While North Shelby’s Repeat Quest Continues

Two defending state champions continued their quest for repeat titles Tuesday night in Northeast Missouri.

Class One

North Shelby cruised to a pair of comfortable wins Tuesday night in Shelbyville, taming the Pilot Grove Tigers 310-50 and 390-60.  Jared Johnston picked up 14 tossups between the two matches, while Aden Johnston added seven and Austin Wilson claimed four.  Pilot Grove was limited to just four tossups the entire evening, preventing the Tigers from making their first trip to Memorial Union since finishing second in 2014.

The Raiders remain on track to complete their goal of winning a third state title in four years.  Joining the Raiders in the Class One semifinal round-robin May 3rd are the Linn County Mustangs.  The Mustangs galloped past the Grand River West champions King City to secure their first-ever trip to state.  It also marks the first time in nine years that the Tri-County North will have a team claim a trophy finish.

In addition to facing each other in round-robin play May 3rd, North Shelby and Linn County will face School of the Ozarks and Mound City.

Class Two

In Class Two, Sturgeon had their hands full against defending champions Weaubleau.  A back-and-forth first matchup between two balanced teams broke the way of the visiting Tigers, 300-260.  The Tigers would build on that momentum to sweep the quarterfinal by winning the second match 330-200.

Meanwhile, Schuyler County fell to Polo on the last question, as the Panthers’ Keith Farmer claimed the last tossup.  Polo was unable to convert any bonus parts, but Schuyler could only pick up ten points when they needed 20 to force overtime.  That results in Polo winning 210-200, punching their ticket to state two games to one.  Polo needed a comeback to force the third and decisive game, claiming four of the last six tossups to roar past Schuyler 290-270.  Schuyler had won the opening match 280-190.

Calvary Lutheran of Jefferson City defeated Thomas Jefferson Independent of Joplin two games to none to advance to state, while Brentwood held off Puxico.

Class Three

South Shelby also forced a third game to keep their hopes alive in Class Three.  The Cardinals fell to Hermann in the first match 370-230, but Isaac Wilcox’s nine tossups in the second match propelled South Shelby to a 310-240 win, forcing the third game.  That winner-take-all contest saw Hermann’s 17 points per bonus bring South Shelby’s season to a close, as the Bearcats clinched their first trip to state with a 320-190 victory.

Fordland, St Mary’s South Side of St Louis, and West Platte also punched their tickets to the state semifinals.

Class Five

Mexico claimed 470 points in each of their wins over Washington.  Camden Williams answered 19 tossups in the two contests while Andrew Peuster added nine.  Mexico will face Jefferson City, Priory, and Rockhurst in the Class Five state semifinal round-robin May 4th.

Classes Four and Six

Defending champions Fair Grove overtook Park Hills Central two games to none to secure their third trip to state in four years.  Their previous two trips to Columbia netted the Eagles the state title.  Joining them are College Heights Christian of Joplin, seeking their fourth state title in program history.  Kansas City Lutheran and Winfield also clinched berths to the state semifinals.

There will be a new champion in Class Six, as Parkway West fell to Lindbergh in three matches.  After splitting the first two games 420-250 Parkway West and 490-320 Lindbergh, the two St Louis County schools waged a tighter battle in the decisive night cap.  Aiva Rudolph secured the clinching tossup for the Flyers, who added 20 on the bonus to put the game out of reach, as Lindbergh won 390-380.  St Joseph Central will make their tenth consecutive trip to state after overwhelming North Kansas City two games to none.  Rolla and Republic also collected quarterfinal sweeps to round out the field.