Porter Extends Championship Scoring Record, Leads Scott County To Third Straight Class 1 Title

Cook, a senior guard who broke his school's 51-year-old career scoring record this season, had 25 of those points in the first half as Crane (29-4) took a 31-25 lead, and a 13-6 run in the third quarter put Crane in full command in route to the school's first-ever state championship.

After being up by as many as four midway through the second, Bernie was never able to reclaim the lead in the game. Both teams exploded offensively in the final quarter in combining for 53 points with Crane scoring a whopping 29.

Jordan McGowan led Bernie (26-6) with 23 points and 12 rebounds. He was only six-of-20 from the field overall, five-for-17 from the 3-point line. Cameron Shipman also struggled shooting, making only two of 13 threes and two of 17 overall. Sammy Walker and Jesse Shelton chipped in 15 and 13 points, respectively. Walker also added 11 rebounds.

In stark contrast to Crane taking only 11 threes, Bernie's offense revolved around it with 34 attempts. But Burke had only had eight makes and couldn't come close to stopping Cook, resulting in Bernie's second straight state final defeat.

Both schools are 25 miles or less from the Arkansas border, Crane in southwestern Missouri, Bernie in southeastern Missouri.

Controlling from the outset, Hogan Prep of Kansas City won its first-ever state championship in basketball on Saturday, defeating Strafford 61-46 in Missouri's Class 3 final at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

Hogan Prep (23-8), a state runner-up in 2010, took a 32-20 lead into the half and was never seriously challenged in the game. Strafford (27-4)  cut the lead to eight numerous times but never got closer.

The story of the game was 3-point shooting, which led to the 15-point victory despite Hogan Prep's making only three more field goals. Hogan Prep was 7-of-13 on threes while Stafford could only manage one of 11. Hogan Prep also dominated Strafford in bench points, 14-0.

Broderick Newbill led the way for Hogan Prep with 17 points, including three treys and a perfect four of four from the free-throw line. Maurice Mason contributed 12 points and was 9-of-10 from the line.

Jared Yarberry, Anthony Peters and Connor Wilson headed the Strafford attack with 12, 12 and 10 points, respectively. Peters and Wilson both had seven boards.

Strafford, a school outside Springfield in southern Missouri,  hadn't scored over 51 points in any of its previous four playoff games. Hogan Prep was able to continue that streak but was also able to break through the tough Strafford defense unlike previous opponents.

Scott County Central (29-2) defeated Dadeville (30-2) 69-54 early Saturday afternoon at Mizzou Arena in Columbia to capture the Missouri Class 1 title.

It was Scott County's third straight championship and 25th consecutive win behind senior Otto Porter, who is ranked 42nd in ESPN's top 100 recruiting rankings

Porter, a 6-foot-9 combo forward, filled the stat sheet with 27 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and three steals. He also was seven-of-seven from the free-throw line.

Otto finishes his high school career with 191 career points in the Missouri final four, crushing the previous record.

Keeping it in the family, Otto Porter's cousin, Dominique Porter, added 18 points for Central.

Zachary Medley paced Dadeville with 19 points, which included four 3-pointers.

Central jumped to a 20-10 lead after the first quarter and was never seriously threatened en route to a 15-point victory.

Dadeville, located an hour northwest of Springfield, was red hot from 3-point range, making 8 of 16, but the team's downfall came from 17 turnovers.

The state title is the second for the city of Sikeston, as Sikeston High  won the Class 4 title a week ago.

Basketball state championship games in Missouri conclude Saturday with the Class 1, 2 and 3 finals played at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

Scott County Central (28-2) looks to secure its third straight state title behind Otto Porter, whose 34 point effort in the semifinal left him the state’s career leader in final four points.

In addition to his gaudy career point total, Porter also holds the Missouri state championship game record for rebounds with an astonishing total of 35 tallied last season. Even more impressive is the record remained in the family as his father, Otto Porter Sr., was the previous record holder.

Lethal from mid range, Porter is now the 11th-ranked small forward and 42nd-ranked player overall in the ESPNU 100. Even more impressive is he did it without ever playing AAU basketball.

Porter currently holds scholarship offers from Georgetown and Missouri with other major programs interested as well.

Scott County Central has reeled off 24 consecutive wins and has held at least a 30-point lead in each state playoff game.

A win would bring a second state title to Sikeston this season as Sikeston high school capped off an undefeated season with its own state title last weekend.

Dadeville, located about an hour northwest of Springfield, boasts a senior class with final four experience and more than 100 wins as a unit.

At 30-1, Dadeville knocked off previously undefeated La Plata in the semifinals to earn the championship birth.

The team is led by seniors Dakota Webb and Zach Medley who combine for nearly forty points per game. Both are in their third year as starters.

Missouri at a Glance - All Games CST

Saturday, March 19 @ Mizzou Arena and Hearnes Center - Columbia

Class 1 Finals

11:30 a.m. - Scott County Central vs. Dadeville

Class 3 Finals

3:10 p.m - Hogan Prep Academy Charter vs. Strafford

Class 2 Finals

6:50 p.m - Bernie vs. Crane

Missouri's state championships resume Saturday in Columbia with finals in the state's small schools classes.

In Class 3, Hogan Prep (22-8) seeks redemption after a 24-point loss in the 2010 final when the Rams play Strafford (27-3) in the final.

It will be a game between teams that have survived close calls. Hogan Prep beat Charleston 86-79 in overtime in Thursday's semifinals. Strafford won an overtime playoff game in the quarterfinals.

In Class 2, there will be a surprise champion. Crane (25-5) entered the state playoffs unranked, and No. 4 Bernie - which would be only a mild surprise - upset No. 1 Wellington-Napoleon in the semifinals. Crane, located southwest of Springfield, has won 18 straight games.

In Class 1, Scott County (28-2) plays Dadeville (30-1) in a rematch of the 2010 semifinals, which Scott County won. Scott County's Otto Parker scored 34 points in the semifinals and has set a state record for points in the post-season.

Saturday's finals may be heard on www.prepcasts.com.

McCluer North (29-4) coasted to a 63-53 victory over Troy Buchanan (21-11) in the Missouri Class 5 championship game in Columbia's Mizzou Arena.

McCluer North, located just outside of St. Louis, ran out to a 16-6 lead after the first quarter and stretched it to 31-15 by half. Troy Buchanan was never able to mount a serious challenge.

B.J. Young, an Arkansas commit and senior guard for McCluer North, played the entire game and led his team with 21 points and four assists

Akintoye Okunrinboye contributed 15 points as well in the win.

Troy Buchanan, a school about an hour northwest of St. Louis, was led by the triumvirate of Derek Deters, Neil Branham, and Benjamin Chaney, who scored 13, 13, and 12 points respectively.

McCluer North became the favorite in Class 5 after uprooting previously undefeated Chaminade led by Florida shooting guard commit Brad Beal in the quarterfinals.

McCluer North's last state title was in 2007 with this being the school's third state appearance in the past five seasons overall.

Troy Buchanan last made the state semifinals in 1999 and has never won a state championship in boys basketball.

Sikeston (30-0) jumped  to a 22-10 first quarter lead over St. Francis Borgia (21-9) and never looked back en route to a 74-55 blowout and the Class 4 championship.

St. Francis made a small run in the third quarter to close the gap to 11.

Benjamin Ruether nailed a three to open the fourth quarter and cut the margin to eight. However, St. Francis Borgia tired, and Sikeston was able to extend its lead late

Sikeston, located halfway between Memphis and St. Louis off of I-55, shot 60 percetn from the field, including 50 of its 3-point attempts.

The win marks Sikeston's first boys basketball title and also avenges quarterfinal losses to St. Francis Borgia in 2009 and 2010.

Corey Porter led Sikeston with 24 points and seven boards and made all eight of his free-throw attempts.

William Holifield contributed 14 points, and Janeil Hatchett added 13 points and nine rebounds in the win.

St. Francis was paced by Ruether, who had 16 points, including 3-for-7 from deep.

Bryce Dolan had 14 points in the loss for the school from Washington, located on the Missouri river a little over an hour west of St. Louis.

This was St. Francis Borgia's third consecutive title game appearance. The team won in 2009.