Seeds held in the Class 1 District 5 championship game with No. 1 seed, and host, Walnut Grove and No. 2 seed Billings both advancing on Thursday.
Walnut Grove rode Chase Brown’s 34-point effort to a 60-34 win over School of the Ozarks. Brown got it done from all levels with eight two-point field goals, four three-point field goals and six free throws.
Billings used a big third-quarter to turn back upset-minded McAuley Catholic. The Wildcats led 11-9 after one quarter. McAuley Catholic came back in the second quarter to carry a 22-21 lead into the break. Out of the half, Billings outscored McAuley Catholic 13-4 to pull away for good.
Grant Heimer led all scorers with 19 points for Billings. Chance Shaffer was just behind him with a 14-point effort.
Walnut Grove and Billings will play for the Class 1 District 5 championship at 6:30 pm on Saturday in Walnut Grove. The two programs are not very familiar with each other with only one game against each other within at least the past decade. Billings won that singular matchup on Dec. 26, 2018 in the Walnut Grove Holiday Classic.
Walnut Grove will be looking for its first district title since 2018 while Billings has not won a district title since 2012.
Walnut Grove 60, School of the Ozarks 36 – FINAL – PHOTOS
School of the Ozarks – 14-3-8-11 — 36
Walnut Grove – 15-8-19-18 — 60
S: Caleb Widner 12, Graham Wilhoit 9, Timothy Saffle 6, Shadrach Thompson 3, Scott Carswell 2, Fisher Thompson 2, Josiah Martin 2
W: Chase Brown 34, Sam Voris 6, Rhett McMillen 6, Landon McMillen 4, Tanner McMillen 4, Diesl Phillips 4, Ethan Kelley 2
Billings 47, McAuley Catholic 41 – FINAL – PHOTOS
McAuley Catholic – 9-13-4-15 — 41
Billings – 11-10-13-13 — 47
M: Michael Parrigon 11, Bradley Wagner 9, Connor Taffner 8, Rocco Bazzano-Joseph 6, Alex Bohachick 4, Max Anreder 3
B: Grant Heimer 19, Chance Shaffer 14, Justin Bos 8, Brock Harter 3, Dylan Edwards 2, Kameron Clark 1
