High School SportsMarch 3, 2022

JACKSON — Bernie junior Hunter Corzine gave his team a big lift in the fourth quarter. The senior made three key 3-pointers, as the Mules rallied from an eight-point deficit early in the fourth to beat Valle Catholic 71-67 in a MSHSAA Class 2 sectional boys basketball game Wednesday night at Jackson High School...

Bernie's John Nimmo (right) attempts a shot against Valle Catholic's Michael Okenfuss during the first quarter of the MSHSAA Class 2 sectional game Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Jackson High School. (DEXTER STATESMAN/Kyle Smith)
Bernie's John Nimmo (right) attempts a shot against Valle Catholic's Michael Okenfuss during the first quarter of the MSHSAA Class 2 sectional game Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Jackson High School. (DEXTER STATESMAN/Kyle Smith)

JACKSON — Bernie junior Hunter Corzine gave his team a big lift in the fourth quarter.

The senior made three key 3-pointers, as the Mules rallied from an eight-point deficit early in the fourth to beat Valle Catholic 71-67 in a MSHSAA Class 2 sectional boys basketball game Wednesday night at Jackson High School.

Bernie (27-1) will face Alton (24-5) in the quarterfinals at 2:45 p.m. Saturday at the Sikeston Field House. Bernie reached the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2011 when it finished second in the state.

Bernie's Hunter Corzine attempts a shot during the first quarter of the MSHSAA Class 2 sectional game against Valle Catholic on Wednesday, March 2 2022, at Jackson High School. (DEXTER STATESMAN/Kyle Smith)
Bernie's Hunter Corzine attempts a shot during the first quarter of the MSHSAA Class 2 sectional game against Valle Catholic on Wednesday, March 2 2022, at Jackson High School. (DEXTER STATESMAN/Kyle Smith)

Alton beat South Pemiscot 83-64 in the sectional round.

Valle finished the season 16-11.

The senior’s first 3 cut the lead to 56-51, his second cut it to 58-54 and his third cut it into 60-57 with 5:30 remaining.

Bernie's Tristan Johnson (2) and Noah Foster (right) guard Valle Catholic's Chase Fallert during the first quarter of the MSHSAA Class 2 sectional game Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Jackson High School. (DEXTER STATESMAN/Kyle Smith)
Bernie's Tristan Johnson (2) and Noah Foster (right) guard Valle Catholic's Chase Fallert during the first quarter of the MSHSAA Class 2 sectional game Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Jackson High School. (DEXTER STATESMAN/Kyle Smith)

“What was big was Hunter Corzine stepping up and saying I’m going to knock these shots down,” Bernie coach Jason Long said. “They were leaving him open. They were doubling down on John (Nimmo). We told the kids, if you’re open, be ready and shoot it with confidence. He did it.”

Michia Schooley drilled a long 3-pointer to tie the score at 60 with 5 minutes left, and Tristan Johnson sank a 3 with 4:30 remaining for a 63-62 advantage, Bernie’s first lead since late in the third quarter.

Chase Fallert responded with a 3 to give the Warriors a 65-63 lead with 3:55 left, but Kamden Powell sank the go-ahead 3 with 3:35 to play, giving the Mules a 66-65 lead.

Bernie sank six of its 12 3-pointers in the final quarter.

The Mules ran more than a minute off the clock, despite four fouls by Valle Catholic before they reached the bonus. Johnson sank both free throws for a three-point lead with 33 seconds to play.

The Warriors missed a shot inside, and Nimmo was fouled on the rebound attempt. Nimmo made the first free throw, and Bernie held on for the win.

“We expect to be successful. We expect to shoot it. We spend a lot of time on it,” Long said. “Michia made one from the volleyball line. Tristan made a couple of shots. Kamden made the 3. Really big at the end was Tristan making those two free throws because John only had to make one to make it a four-point game.”

Schooley led a balanced Bernie attack with 15 points, Nimmo had 14, and Corzine and Johnson finished with 12 each.

Fallert scored a game-high 23 points, Aiden Heberlie had 17 and Harry Oliver had 11.

The Mules scored the game’s first seven points behind a 3-pointer by Powell and a putback and two free throws by Nimmo. They stretched the lead to 11-2 on a steal and layup by Johnson, but Valle fought back behind strong play inside.

Heberlie’s 3-point play and putback sparked an 11-0 run to give Valle a 13-11 lead.

“Valle is so battle-tested,” Long said. “Their confidence, they play so many Class 4, 5 and 6 schools in their conference. Their kids were so impressive. After that third quarter, to be quite honest with you, for us to win, we needed what happened in the fourth quarter to happen.”

The Mules recaptured the lead (16-13) on the first of five 3-pointers by Schooley. Schooley added another 3, and they took a 19-18 lead into the second quarter.

The lead changed hands five times in the second. The Warriors held leads of 22-20 and 24-23, and Bernie led 23-22 and 25-24.

The Mules increased their lead to as many as five points (32-27) on a putback by Nimmo.

Valle rallied to take a 37-36 halftime lead on a 3-pointer by Clayton Drury.

Johnson’s putback gave the Mules a 41-39 lead early in the third quarter before Valle took a 50-48 advantage on two free throws by Fallert with 2:11 to play.

Fallert’s free throws were part of a 7-0 run that gave the Warriors a 53-48 lead going into the final quarter. Oliver’s putback and Heberlie’s free throw extended the run to 10-0 early in the fourth before Corzine made the first of 3-pointers to stop the rally.

“If you want to be a great team, you’ve got to be tough,” Long said. “You can’t quit. I’m proud of them because we didn’t quit. We showed some toughness in the fourth quarter.”

Bernie 19 17 12 23 — 71

Valle Catholic 18 19 16 14 — 67

BERNIE — Michia Schooley 15, John Nimmo 14, Hunter Corzine 12, Tristan Johnson 12, Noah Foster 9, Kamden Powell 8, Laterrence Robinson 1. FG 25 FT 9-12 F 18. (3-pointers: Schooley 5, Corzine 4, Powell 2, Johnson. Fouled out: none.)

VALLE CATHOLIC — Chase Fallert 23, Aiden Heberlie 17, Harry Oliver 11, Clayton Drury 6, Samuel Drury 6, Andrew Basler 2, Michael Okenfuss 2. FG 25 FT 11-18 F 15. (3-pointers: Fallert 4, C. Drury 2. Fouled out: none.)

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