SCC-Risco highlights sectional play

Scott County Central's Dominique Porter will lead the Braves into sectional play tonight when they take on Risco at the Bearcat Event Center in Dexter.
(Photo by David Jenkins, Staff)

DEXTER -- Several local teams will be taking part in playoff basketball this week, beginning with sectionals in Class 1 today and Class 2 and 3 Wednesday. Here is a breakdown of the games featuring local teams.

7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Bearcat Event Center (Dexter)

Eminence (22-6) or Hurley (17-15)

Risco is making their third-straight appearance in the playoffs but have been eliminated by Scott Central the last two years by big margins, losing 100-53 in the 2010 quarterfinals and 108-41 last year in a sectional game. The Tigers average 85 points per game and have five players average double figures, led by Luke Bixler and Chris Pavy. Bixler averages 19.8 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 4 steals, and Pavy is at 18.6 points, 6 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 5 steals. Austin White averages 12.4 points and a team-high 5 rebounds while Jeremey Fowler is at 12 points and Jordon Pavy 11 points... Scott Central is a staple in the playoffs, making their 28th appearance, ninth in-a-row, with 15 state titles. Dominique Porter (5-11, sr.) averages a team-high 23.8 points with 7 rebounds and 2 steals. LaMarcus Steward (5-9, sr.) is at 13.8 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals while Larandis Banks (5-10, so.) scores at a 14.4 clip with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals a game.

7:45 p.m. Wednesday, West Plains Civic Center

Scott City (20-8) or Crystal City (23-5)

Charleston is back in the quarterfinals for the second year in-a-row, placing third in state last year. Northern Colorado signee Greg Tucker (6-2, sr.) leads the team in scoring (20.2 ppg) and has scored 31 points in two games since returning from a leg injury. Michael Hull (6-0, jr.) has come on strong as of late, scoring 22 points in the Bluejays' district championship win over Kennett. Point guard Ryan Parham (5-11, jr.) handles the ball well while scoring 9.9 ppg and dishing 5 assists per game while Aaron Cassell (5-7, jr.) averages 12.2 ppg... Liberty, coached by former Twin Rivers coach Rob Brown, defeated Ava 63-54 in the district championship game after being seeded fourth in the tournament and is making their first playoff appearance since 2009. Jaelon Acklin (5-10, so.) leads the Eagles, averaging 17.2 points and 3.2 assists. Jordan Pruett (6-1, sr.) grabs six rebounds a contest while scoring 10.4 points a game.

7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jefferson College (Hillsboro)

Charleston (27-2) or Liberty-Mountain View (17-12)

Scott City came on strong at the end of the season, extending their winning streak to six with a 48-35 win over Saxony Lutheran in the district championship. The regular season Scott-Miss Conference champs will make their first appearance in the state playoffs since 2000. The Rams are led by Zach Cotner (6-0, sr.) averaging a team-high 20 points. Point guard Jesse Sanders (5-11, jr.) and Landon Robert (6-0, sr.) both average just over 10 points per game. Ryan Brock (6-4, jr.) leads the team in rebounding... Crystal City is making their 18th playoff appearance in school history but first since 2008. Eli Sample (6-3, sr.) averages a team-high 19.4 points while Bryan DeGeare (6-7, jr.) scores 10.9 points and grabs 6.9 rebounds. Point guard Stacey Thornton (5-8, sr.) averages 6 assists per game while Dane Russell (5-11, sr.) has hit a team-high 43 3-pointers.

7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Poplar Bluff High School

Oran (18-10) or Crossroads College Prep (16-11)

After starting out 4-6, Hayti finished the season winning 15 of their last 18, including two thrillers in the district tournament. The Indians defeated Bernie on a 3-pointer at the buzzer and then outlasted Holcomb in the overtime championship. The Indians are balanced with no player averaging double figures. Demetrius Luster (6-1, so.) and Hunter Turner (6-1, sr.) both average 9 points as Luster has a team-high 7 rebounds and Turner 45 3-pointers. Jerome Thomas (6-2, sr.) also is at 9 points and 5 rebounds while Maurion Newbill (5-8, jr.) scored 8.5 points per game... Thayer has won 11 of their last 12 games and is making their second-straight playoff appearance and 16th overall. Austin Henry (6-1, sr.) and Ricky Smith (6-3, sr.) each average 14 points for the Bobcats. Henry has hit a team-high 58 3-pointers while Smith is second on the team with 7 rebounds. Levi Hargrove (6-1, so.) is at 11.3 points and 6 rebounds while Dylan Dennis (6-2, sr.) averages a team-high 8 rebounds while scoring 9 points per game.

7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Park Hills Central High School

Hayti (19-9) or Thayer (23-6)

Oran is making their second-straight appearance in the state playoffs after defeating Advance 58-54 in the district championship game. Kody Moore (5-10, jr.) is the top scorer for the Eagles at 18 points per game while Seth Ressel (5-9, so.) scores 16 per game. Alex Heuring (6-2, jr.) is the team's top rebounder and averages 13 points per game. Crossroads was seeded fourth in their district and took out top seeded New Haven (47-44) and second seeded Bismarck (73-54) to win their first-ever district title. The Current are led by Milton Spaulding (5-10, jr.) and Trevor Clay (6-1, so.). Spaulding averages 17.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals, and Clay is at 16.7 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Andrew Witherspoon (6-1, so.) also grabs 5 rebounds per game.