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By Jacob Cersosimo & Chris Parker
Thayer and Hartville’s boys basketball teams have been two of the most consistent basketball programs in the state over the past decade. Thayer entered Saturday’s Class 3 District 10 championship game with eight consecutive district championships and a 217-52 overall record since 2012-13. Hartville came in with a streak of nine straight district titles and two straight state championships with a 242-46 record since 2012-13.
It is Thayer that kept its district championship streak alive with a 54-34 win over Hartville.
“That is our ninth district championship in a row. They had won nine in a row coming in, so something had to give,” Thayer head coach Matt Pitts said.
Hartville jumped out front early with a 9-4 advantage after the first quarter.
Then Jordan Andrews caught fire for Thayer.
Andrews, who scored all four first-quarter points for Thayer, exploded for 15 second-quarter points to give Thayer a 23-13 lead at the half.
“Jordan just took over and started making plays. I knew once he got the confidence going that he was going to roll,” Pitts said.
The Bobcats kept the pressure on in the third quarter with a 16-8 advantage for a 39-21 lead after three quarters before posting a 17-13 advantage in the fourth quarter to cap off the 54-34 win.
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“They (Hartville) are a great club. We knew coming in it would be a battle and our guys rose to the occasion and got it done,” Pitts said.
Andrews finished with a game-high 31 points. Aidan Burns also scored in double figures for Thayer with 11 points. Grant Culver led Hartville with 10 points.
Thayer advances to the sectional round for the ninth straight season. The Bobcats will be looking for their first final four trip since 2014.
“That is what we want to do every year; conference and district championships and give ourselves a chance in the playoffs and see what happens,” Pitts said.
Thayer will play the winner of the Class 3 District 9 tournament at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 2 in Rolla. That district championship will be played on Monday.
