JUNIOR BEARCATS DESTROY DANVILLE TO REACH DISTRICT FINALS

The last time the Booneville Junior High Bearcats faced Danville they survived in overtime. Thursday in the District 3A-4 tournament semifinals it was never close as the Bearcats won 49-17.

Danville scored the first points of the night but the Bearcats scored the next 15.

Dakota Mattson (shown) did the early damage with a pair of 3s and the first eight Bearcat points. Jace Watson accounted for the next six, including a shot to beat the first quarter horn and it was 14-2.

A Demari Poole free throw started the second quarter scoring and it was 15-2.

Mattson ran his point total to 13 by halftime and the Bearcats were up 26-7.

Two baskets by Washburn and another by Mattson in the first two minutes of the second half saw the lead grow to 32-7.

Mattson was done with 15 points at that juncture. Washburn was not even close to finished.

Interrupted only by an Aiden Carter basket, Washburn scored seven more for his team and the lead was 41-12 going to the final quarter.

Poole scored twice in the first minute of the fourth quarter to enact the sportsmanship rule and he was finished with seven points.

Before it ended Colt Cobb and Rhett Nietert added their names to the soring total as the Bearcats moved to 16-4 on the season.

The win moves the Bearcats into the tournament finals against Charleston, who eliminated Waldron in the nightcap Thursday.

The Bearcats, Charleston, and Waldron were all tied for the conference title after the regular season with the Bearcats earning the top seed through the tiebreaker system and Charleston taking the 2-seed.

Saturday's game with Charleston will begin at approximately 2:15, following the girls championship game between Charleston and Paris.