C3D1: East Prairie earns spot in program's first district final with win against Twin Rivers

BENTON, Mo. — For the first time in program history, East Prairie is headed to the district championship after an 82-46 victory over Twin Rivers in the semifinal round of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

The second-seeded Eagles (21-5, 6-1 Scott-Mississippi) ended the first quarter with a 15-0 run, quickly pushed the lead to more than 20 points early in the second quarter and forced a mercy rule running clock for the entirety of the fourth quarter.

“It’s crazy to think that we have never been to one before,” said East Prairie senior Connor Marcum. “But to make that impact on the school is a pretty big deal. We played solid defense from the second quarter on. We were knocking down shots, forcing turnovers and getting layups. That’s our game and we can run with anybody.”

The early moments of the game suggested a more competitive matchup as the Royals (17-11, 5-2 Ozark Foothills) briefly held the lead, thanks to free throws from Luke Hester and a 3-pointer from Eli Hequembourg.

However, East Prairie quickly regained control midway through the quarter, fueled by a burst from Tavion Ware, who provided an instant impact off the bench. After scoring on a reverse layup, Ware also contributed a steal and a block to energize the Eagles.

“I’m proud of him,” said East Prairie coach Gary Scott. “He was excited for this game to get an opportunity, didn’t know it was going to be quite that early, but he was physical and good with the ball on the baseline. He did a great job and we needed him.”

Twin Rivers briefly regained the lead with a layup from Keaton Hick, but that would be the last time the Royals would hold an advantage.

East Prairie closed the quarter on a 15-0 run, highlighted by several big plays from Marcum. The senior grabbed an offensive rebound and finished with a putback, made a couple of steals that led to easy fast-break layups, and knocked down a 3-pointer after a series of crisp passes set him up with a wide-open look.

By the end of the first quarter, East Prairie held a commanding 21-7 lead.

“We forced a few turnovers and got some runouts,” Scott said. “That was the turning point in the game.”

East Prairie picked up right where it left off in the second quarter with Ty Wallace’s 3-pointer, and a few minutes later Tripp Shoemaker buried another shot from outside to extend the lead to 33-13 with 4:51 until halftime.

“We just hustled as hard as we could and came out with a great win.” said senior Noah Johnson.

The lead ballooned to as high as 24, but as the quarter wore on, the Royals made a subtle but crucial adjustment, beginning to read and react to the handoff sets better, anticipating the ball movement and pressuring the passer more effectively.

Over the final few minutes of the quarter, Twin Rivers managed to chip away at the deficit, narrowing the score to 40-25 by halftime with Will Parker’s tip-in at the buzzer.

Despite the momentum built at the end of the first half, the Eagles weren’t about to let the Royals turn their rally into a comeback.

“We just had to shift to something different,” Scott said. “We spread them out more and took advantage of the openings.”

By the 3:01 mark of the third quarter, a Jay White 3-pointer pushed the East Prairie lead to 30 points, effectively sealing the game. From there, it was all about controlling the clock, and with the mercy rule in effect, the game became a chance for East Prairie’s stars to rest.

“Everyone did a great job,” Scott said. “We played 10 guys and it was cool to get everyone in the game. We’re just thankful for the opportunity. The guys took care of business tonight. This is something they really want and they’ve worked hard to get to this point.”

The Eagles may have made history, but they’re hardly content with just a semifinal win.

East Prairie is now focused on the ultimate goal: taking down the top-seeded Caruthersville (14-9, 4-1 Bootheel) for the district crown. The title game is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, March 1.

“We have to handle their pressure,” Scott said. “It could also come down to who can outlast who, so we can’t get tired and turn the ball over. We have to make smart decisions and keep them off the offensive boards. It’s that simple.”

The Eagles and Tigers have split their past two meetings — with Caruthersville taking a 78-60 win in Jan. 2024, and East Prairie coming out on top 75-59 in Nov. 2023.

“I hope it’s wild,” Scott said. “I hope it’s packed and I hope everyone makes it. It’s already history in the making, and it would be awesome to see a full house.”

EAST PRAIRIE 82, TWIN RIVERS

T. Rivers 7 18 9 12 — 46

E. Prairie 21 19 26 16 — 82

Twin Rivers (46) — Luke Hester 13, Will Parker 9, Jake Hester 8, Eli Hequembourg 6, Ruger Fisher 4, Max Johnson 2, Chadyn Bell 2, Keaton Hicks 2. FG: 16. FT: 11-19. F: 22. (3-pointers: L. Hester 2, Hequembourg 1.

East Prairie (82) — Connor Marcum 24, Noah Johnson 20, Tavion Ware 10, Ty Wallace 8, Jay White 7, Tripp Shoemaker 6, Pyper Rendon 3, Chase Childers 3, August Kenedy 1. FG: 27. FT: 20-34. F: 19. (3-pointers: Marcum 3, Wallace 2, Shoemaker 1, White 1. Fouled out: None).