Paul Stephens scored 17 points and the backcourt duo of Luke Boyster and Andrew Robben combined for 23 points to lead Seckman over Festus 62-59 on Friday night (Jan. 3) in the semifinals of the 58th annual Gene Steighorst Tournament at Hillsboro High School. Festus led 30-27 at halftime and extended the lead to 35-27 early in the third quarter on consecutive baskets by Kamau Kinder, but the Jaguars battled back to tie the game at 42 going into the fourth quarter. Seckman converted several buckets in transition to build a 58-50 lead, only to have the Tigers claw their way back with three 3-point field goals in the final two minutes. Kinder’s 3-point attempt just before the buzzer rimmed out. He led all scorers with 19 points and Travis Spraul chipped in 13 for the Tigers, who were the No. 1 seed.
Seckman, the No. 4 seed, will play No. 3 Francis Howell Central for the championship at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Howell Central jumped to an early lead and were never challenged in a 55-41 victory over Hillsboro in Friday’s second semifinal. Mitch Gartner and Mitch Scott each posted 12 points for the Hawks, who will play Festus in the third-place game at 3 p.m. Saturday. De Soto will take on Lindbergh in the fifth-place contest at 1:30 and Windsor and Northwest will square off for seventh place at noon.