Some of the best high school boys basketball teams and players in the nation are at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield for the 39th Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.
The semifinals are set following four first round games on Thursday.
Edmond North vs. Rainier Beach:
The team from Edmond, Oklahoma took an 11 point lead after eight minutes and beat Rainier Beach from Seattle, Washington 65-45 in Thursday’s opening round.
Chiante Tramble, a 6-2 senior guard, scored 20 points to lead Edmond North, while his teammate, Dylan Warlick, added 19.
For Rainier Beach, who also played in the T of C in 2016 and 2019, Kaden Powers, a 6-5 junior, led the way with 18 points.
Edmond North will face St. John Bosco out of Bellflower, California in Friday’s semifinals.
Springfield Central vs. St. John Bosco:
The St. John Bosco Braves picked up a 68-37 win over the Central Bulldogs, using a running fourth quarter clock.
The Braves went ahead 25-14 after one quarter and carried a 40-23 lead into the locker room at the half and continued to widen the margin in the second half.
The Bulldogs, who won the Gold Division at the recent Greenwood Blue and Gold Tournament, committed 21 turnovers and shot just 32% from the field for the game.
Bosco shot 53%, led by Brandon McCoy’s 15 points and Elize Harrington’s 14 points.
Tyrique Brooks and Jordan Pittman each scored nine points to lead the Bulldogs.
Paul VI vs. Springfield Glendale:
Paul VI Catholic from Chantilly, Virginia jumped outscored the Glendale Falcons 23-0 in the opening quarter and went ahead 28-0 on the way to an 82-21 blowout win over the Falcons.
Glendale didn’t score until getting a bucket from Amare Witham with 4:55 left in the second period.
The Panthers held a 45-3 lead at the half and it was 67-14 after three quarters.
Paul VI out-rebounded Glendale 45-21 and the Falcons were held to 19% shooting from the field.
The Panthers got balanced scoring from Adlan Elamin with 12 points and Troy Tomlin with ten.
Ta’Veaion Washington had eight points for the Falcons in a losing effort.
McEachern vs. St. Louis Vashon:
The late game in the opening round went to McEachern High School from Powder Springs, Georgia, who defeated Vashon 73-62.
McEachern took a 21-8 lead into the second quarter, with a 35-18 halftime advantage, but the Wolverines pulled within nine with just over two and a half minutes remaining in the third quarter before the Indians pulled extended their lead to 18 points going into the fourth quarter.
Airious “Ace” Bailey, a 6-9 senior guard, led all scorers with 29 points on 10-20 shooting, including five three pointers.
Christian Williams’ 12 points led the way for Vashon.
Here are the scores from the opening round of the 39th Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions:
Final: Edmond North 65, Rainier Beach 45
Final: St. John Bosco 68, Springfield Central 37
Final: Paul VI 82, Springfield Glendale 21
Final: McEachern 73, St. Louis Vashon 62
Here’s the schedule for Friday’s semifinal round of the tournament at Great Southern Bank Arena:
Consolation Bracket Semifinals:
Rainier Beach vs. Springfield Central 4:30 p.m.
Springfield Glendale vs. St. Louis Vashon 6:00 p.m.
Winner’s Bracket Semifinals:
Edmond North vs. St. John Bosco 7:30 p.m.
Paul VI vs. McEachern 9:30 p.m.
The tournament concludes Saturday, beginning with the 7th place game at 2:30 p.m.
