North County Raiders End Losing Streak; Valle Girls Win in Thriller

The North County Raiders broke a five-game losing streak with a decisive 56-44 victory over West County on January 3, 2024. The Raiders, led by Will Weible‘s game-high 17 points, established an early 19-9 advantage that they maintained throughout the match. This win brought North County’s record to 5-8 while West County fell to 5-10.

Weible sparked the Raiders’ offense with 11 points before halftime, contributing to a solid 43-29 lead entering the final quarter. Noah McMahan and Cole Mullins added 12 and eight points, respectively, in the second half. For West County, Wyatt Scherffius led with 14 points, and Parker Therrell chipped in 11.

In another matchup, the Fredericktown Blackcats secured their sixth straight win, overpowering Arcadia Valley 59-37. David Slinkard was instrumental, sinking five 3-pointers and finishing with a game-high 19 points. His performance, alongside Tucker Reutzel, who added 16 points and a double-double, propelled Fredericktown to a significant fourth-quarter advantage of 20-8.

Meanwhile, Farmington avenged a previous loss to Hillsboro with an impressive 90-78 win at home. Ryder Gollaher led the Knights with a remarkable 33 points, converting 29 of 36 free throw attempts. Farmington improved its record to 11-6, while Hillsboro dropped to 7-9.

Seckman also had a strong showing, defeating Central 78-47. Sam Guethle led the Jaguars with 21 points, contributing to a dominant first quarter that set the tone for the game. Despite a brief rally from Central, which narrowed the halftime margin to 40-28, Seckman maintained control throughout.

In girls’ basketball, the Valle Catholic girls achieved a narrow 43-42 victory over arch-rivals Ste. Genevieve. Kelby Detring scored the game-winning basket with just seconds remaining, finishing with a game-high 16 points. The match featured four lead changes in the final two minutes, highlighting the intensity of the competition.

The Doniphan girls, the reigning Class 4 state champions, cruised to a 74-42 win against Arcadia Valley, powered by Bella Monaghan, who scored 30 points. The Donettes established an early lead that they never relinquished, improving their record to 14-1.

Bourbon also found success, completing a two-game sweep over Kingston with a commanding 54-27 victory. The Lady Eagles were led by Kinzey Waldron and Kenzli Withorn, each scoring 14 points.

The action continued in wrestling as well, with Potosi dominating a five-team scramble at Central. They finished with a perfect 4-0 record, aided by standout performances from Launa Cantrell and others. The event showcased a mix of competitive matches and forfeits, highlighting the depth of talent in the participating teams.

These games illustrate the dynamic nature of local high school sports, with teams fighting for victories and showcasing the skills of their athletes as the season progresses.