Ranked 10th among STLhighschoolsports.com large schools, Webster Groves took control in the middle quarters, outscoring Ladue 16-8 in the second and 19-14 in the third and going on to a 64-54 win in opening-round play of the Class 5 District 2 tournament at St. Louis University High.
With the victory, the fourth-seeded Stateswomen improve to 19-8 and advance to take on top-seeded St. Joseph's (22-5) in the 5 p.m. semifinal Thursday. St. Joe's, ranked No. 2 among area large schools, won 60-41 in tournament action Feb. 3 at Webster.
In Monday's game, Webster was led by Jordan Thompson, who knocked down 4 of 9 from 3-point range and finished with 21 points. She also had five assists and six steals.
Leah Brand (11), Abbie Paloucek (11) and Miriam Bohlmann Kunz (10) were the other double-figure scorers for the Stateswomen. Fifth-seeded Ladue (20-6) got 17 points from Liz Greenberg, with Kate Holloway and Taylor Robinson added 14 and 12, respectively.
In the other game at SLUH, third-seeded Ursuline (19-7) blew out sixth-seeded Roosevelt 90-26. The Bears, who led 46-19 at the half, outscored the Rough Riders 25-2 in the third quarter.
Ursuline, which will play seventh-ranked Nerinx Hall (17-9) in the semifinals 7:30 p.m. Thursday, got 21 points and five assists from Hannah Weisbrod on Monday. She was one of five double-figure scorers for the Bears; Sara Thuston scored 12, while Sammy Warren, Holly Beckett and Heather Pesigan had 10 apiece.
Follow all of the playoff brackets here. In other Monday district girls basketball action. ...
OAKVILLE 52, LINDBERGH 33 • The sixth-seeded Tigers raced to a 22-5 lead and never looked back in a Class 5 District 5 upset at Fox.
Oakville (8-17) takes on second-seeded Cor Jesu (15-11) at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Third-seeded Lindbergh finished 11-15.
Alyssa Norberg paced the Tigers with 14 points; teammate Lauren Fussell added 10 points, five assists and four steals.
MEHLVILLE 63, FOX 52 • The fourth-seeded Panthers (10-15) beat the host team, getting big games, ironically enough, from Mandy Fox (21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals) and Emily Fox (16 points, 5 steals). Fox (9-17) was led by Selma Fific's 20-point, nine-rebound outing.
Mehlville will face top-seed Kirkwood at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Pioneers (22-4) are ranked sixth among area large schools.
FORT ZUMWALT SOUTH 50, FORT ZUMWALT EAST 20 • The fourth-seeded Bulldogs used a pair of scoring surges to win a Class 5 District 7 opener at Fort Zumwalt North.
Zumwalt South (10-16) led 14-6 at the end of the first quarter and outscored Zumwalt East 28-6 in the second half to earn the victory.
Claire Johnson led three Bulldogs in double figures with 15 points. Madison German scored 12 and Abby Modaff added 11.
Nikki Taylor and Bridget Wigglesworth had seven points apiece for the fifth-seeded Lions (2-24).
Zumwalt South will face top-seeded Francis Howell Central at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
PARKWAY CENTRAL 51, HAZELWOOD WEST 46 • In a mild upset, the host Colts (13-13) rallied in the fourth quarter to knock off the fourth-seeded Wildcats in Class 5 District 4 play. Central, which outscored West 20-11 in the final period, will take on defending state champion Incarnate Word (21-6) in the 5:30 p.m. game Thursday. The top-seeded Red Knights are the area's top-ranked large-school team.
Balance was the key for Central on Monday; Ashley Holmes led the way with 12 points, but the Colts also received solid games from Chelsy Gibson (10 points, 13 rebounds, 6 steals), Samantha Lewis (10 points), Christine Bergesh (9 points) and Alex Partee (9 points)
Alexis Robinson scored a game-high 13 for the Wildcats (16-9).
PARKWAY NORTH 52, RITENOUR 39 • The third-seeded Vikings (18-8) used a 16-6 first quarter to set the tone in the other game at Parkway Central.
Naomi Bryant scored 16 and and Alexis Templeton added 11 for the Vikings, who'll take on eighth-ranked Pattonville (21-3) in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Sixth-seeded Ritenour finished 9-16.
HAZELWOOD EAST 72, NORMANDY 33 • Tiara Bramlett scored 28 points and pulled down 11 boards as the fourth-seeded Spartans (11-15) blew out the fifth-seeded Vikings in Class 5 District 8 play at McCluer.
East will face top-seeded Hazelwood Central (14-9) at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The 6 p.m. game will feature second-seeded McCluer (10-14) and No. 3 McCluer North (7-17).
Miracle Martin added 16 points for East. Leah Hamilton scored 13 for Normandy (4-17).
MCCLUER NORTH 42, RIVERVIEW 28 • MarKeyah Neil scored 20 points and Vanessa Alexander chipped in with 17 as the Stars used a 14-4 start to blow by the sixth-seeded Rams (5-18).
SECKMAN 59, NORTHWEST 51 • The fifth-seeded Jaguars scored 20 of the game's first 29 points and outscored the fourth-seeded Lions 21-14 from the free-throw line, winning in first-round action in the Class 5 District 1 tournament in Jackson.
Seckman (9-17) will faced top-seeded Jackson in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Abby Hayden (16 points, five assists) and Kari Farmer (14) paced the Jags. Northwest (9-17) received double-figure games from Alyshiah Whitaker (14), Alysia Spurgeon (13) and Brittany Fortner (12).
EUREKA 62, SUMMIT 30 • Missouri State recruit Alex Hilyer had 20 points, eight assists and eight blocks, while teammate Lindsey McCoy added 12 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals as the fourth-seeded Wildcats (15-11) used big starts in each half to dispatch the fifth-seeded Falcons (12-14).
Eureka outscored Summit 20-6 in the opening quarter and 20-4 in the third. The Wildcats will face second-seeded Parkway South (13-13) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Wednesday. In the 8 p.m. game Wednesday, top-seeded Lafayette (21-4) plays No. 3 Marquette (16-10).
MARQUETTE 67, PARKWAY WEST 29 • The Mustangs, who led 30-10 after a quarter, received a 27-point, six-steal game from Taylor Campbell in the rout. Ashley Ploudre added 15 points.
Sixth-seeded West finished 4-22.
DUCHESNE 57, ST. CHARLES WEST 47 • The fourth-seeded Pioneers (16-10) knocked off the host school in Class 4 District 7, earning a shot at top-seeded St. Charles (18-7) at 7;30 p.m. Tuesday. In the 6 p.m. semifinal Tuesday, third-seeded Visitation (12-14) will take on defending state champion St. Dominic (18-5).
Visitation eliminated Warrenton 56-42 in Monday's other game.
Abby Schroeder scored 15 points to lead Duchesne, which also received solid games from Brigitte Reilly (12 points, 7 assists) and Melissa Eisenbath (10 points). In a losing cause, West (10-16) got 16 points from Abbey Lauer and 15 from Kacy Eschweiler.
Staff writer Jim Faasen contributed information to this story.
