A thrilling week of high school basketball is nearing its completion this week at Paris High School in the 3A-4 district basketball tournament. Semifinal games were played tonight with the winners advancing to tomorrow night’s championship finals.
It has been a tournament that has been hard on the higher seeded teams. And in Thursday night’s semifinal games, the competition for a district tournament championship and an improved seeding in next week’s regional tournament hit a fever pitch.
The Hackett Lady Hornets, one of the most improved girls teams in the conference this year, gave the top-seeded Cossatot River Lady Eagles all they could handle. Hackett led for much of the way, eventually losing their lead and the game to the favored Eagles. The game was decided on a last second fast break that led to an Eagles layup to win the game by the score of 48-47. With the win, Cossatot River advances to the tournament finals on Friday night. Hackett, having had a successful district tournament, will enter next week’s regional tournament as a four seed.
In the second game of the session, the Charleston Tigers, the top seed in the boys bracket, fell in overtime to a much-improved Cossatot River team. Charleston seemed to be in control for much of the game, but lost the lead late in the second half. The Eagles forced the game into overtime before going on to win by the score of 74-68. Cossatot River advanced to Friday’s championship final with the win. After the upset loss, Charleston will go to the regional tournament as a three seed from the 3A-4.
The Paris Lady Eagles, who escaped from a quarterfinals near-upset to Cedarville, played their best game of the year against the Booneville Lady Bearcats. Booneville had defeated Paris twice in the regular season; once in a blow-out loss at Booneville, and by 11 points at home near the end of the regular season. But Thursday night belonged to the third-seeded Paris Lady Eagles. Paris defeated Booneville by the score of 57-46 to advance to Friday’s championship final. With the loss, Booneville will go to next week’s regional as the number three seed from the district.
The final game of the session featured the second seed Paris Eagles against the Booneville Bearcats. Paris had won both regular season games against Booneville; the first being a blow-out win at Booneville, and the second being a close, hard-fought contest at Paris Gymnasium. But Thursday night proved to be the Bearcats’ night, and the game was no contest; Booneville defeated Paris, 64-54. Booneville will play Cossatot River in the boys final on Friday night. For Paris, the loss drops Paris to a four seed in next week’s regional tournament.
As a result of Thursday’s semifinals games, the championship games are set for Friday as follows:
GIRLS BRACKET
Paris vs Cossatot River, 6 p.m.
BOYS BRACKET
Booneville vs Cossatot River, 7:30 p.m.
So, after four days of great tournament play, it comes down to an “All Cossatot” final on Friday. It should be another great night of basketball on what will be the final night of basketball this season at Paris Gymnasium.
RNN Sports will be in Paris again on Friday to bring you the conclusion of the 3A-4 district tournament. Good luck to all the teams!
