Puxico's John Smith looks for a teammate as a Meadow Heights defender shadows him in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 3 Tournament Tuesday night at Chaffee. (Alex Abate/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

By ALEX ABATE ~ Sports Writer

CHAFFEE -- The Puxico Indians will have another shot at a district title.

Puxico had a solid second half to move past Meadow Heights 68-40 in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 3 semifinal Tuesday night while SCAA conference foe Bloomfield ended its season with a loss to top-seeded Saxony Lutheran, 59-55.

Puxico will now face Saxony Lutheran in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Chaffee.

In the second game Tuesday night, Puxico (16-9) lead Meadow Heights 30-18 at half and J Hon made a 3-pointer with 3:35 from the right corner that started a 10-5 Indians run as they led 47-30 at the end of the third quarter and took control of the contest.

"J has a track record in this gym," Puxico coach Josh Dowdy said. "He had four crucial 3s last year in a district tournament final and he is right on pace again this year."

The year Indians outscored the Panthers 21-20 in the final frame and ended the game on a 12-3 spurt.

"That is what coach has been putting in our heads all year is that we had to close out," Hon said. "We are not really good at closing out sometimes."

Both teams started the game going back and forth and Puxico had a 15-9 edge after the initial quarter. However, five quick points early in the second quarter cut the Indians' lead to just three at 17-14.

"We like to be a little more disciplined than that but I told the guys that the game plan was to come out and run up and down and we haven't done that a whole lot all year long," Dowdy said. "I thought we could come out and take advantage of their size and beat them up the floor. It worked a little bit but looked a little sloppy."

Hon and Matt Allison led the Indians with 16 points each. David Crain added 14, John Smith had 12 and Kerry McClure rounded out the scoring with 10.

"Five guys in double figures, it is tough to come out and find a matchup on one of those guys," Dowdy said.

The Indians know they are up against a tough opponent when they hit the floor Thursday night.

"They like to take care of the ball and make you play their game," Dowdy said. "Hopefully, we come out there and match their intensity and pull out another victory."

Bloomfield's Kyle Williamson slashes to the basket against Saxony Lutheran in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 3 semifinals Tuesday night at Chaffee High School. (Alex Abate/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

In the first game of the night, Saxony Lutheran needed all 32 minutes to move past the Wildcats.

With the tied at 55-55 with 1:06 left game Crusader Austin Kwikkel made his second of two baskets on the night to give Saxony Lutheran a lead.

Bloomfield (11-14) turned the ball over on the next possession and was forced to foul down the stretch.

"We made the turnover and then we couldn't get the stop that we needed " Bloomfield coach Dustin Hicks said.

The Crusaders started the fourth quarter with five straight points and took a 45-43 lead with 6:30 remaining. The score was at various points in the final frame but the Wildcats would never regain the advantage.

"Throughout the quarter I think we lost our legs," Hicks said. "I didn't go as deep in the bench as I normally do. I just kind of let those guys play it out and I think they just lost their wind there at the end."

Hicks was proud that his team fought until the final horn, he said.

The Wildcats had a 31-24 lead at half thanks to a quick 5-0 spurt to close the frame. Matt King made a 3-pointer from the left corner and Kyle Williamson made two free throws with 2.6 seconds left in the quarter to close the scoring.

"They were a team that we didn't feel was going to play well from behind," Hicks said. "We were happy where we were at coming into the half but they came out and got two quick baskets right away and it just seemed like we were trying not to lose rather than trying to win."

Leighton Hensley was the high scorer for Bloomfield in the loss with 18 points. Senior Kyle Williamson finished with 16 points in his final game as a Wildcat. Hick appreciated the efforts of his seniors, Williamson, King and Kyle Rogers.

"They all found a way to contribute down the stretch and help make us a deeper team," Hicks said. "Really, I hope we laid the groundwork here."