SCAA: Puxico races past Advance in tourney opener

Advance High School junior guard Jett Hancock (34) speeds past the Advance defense of Hunter Rodgers (23) in the opening round of the Stoddard County Athletic Association Boy's Basketball Tournament on Monday at the Bearcat Event Center in Dexter.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

DEXTER – Top-seed Puxico did what it was supposed to do – eventually – in its opening game of the Stoddard County Athletic Association Boys Basketball Tournament on Monday at the Bearcat Event Center.

The Class 2 No. 3-ranked Indians (15-1) dismantled No. 8-seed Advance 74-39 to advance to Thursday’s semifinal round against the winner of No. 5-seed Dexter (7-9) and No. 4-seed Richland (Essex) (9-5), who played later on Monday.

“We haven’t been pushing the ball really well lately,” fourth-year Puxico coach Bryant Fernetti said following the win. “I thought in the first half, we didn’t really guard very hard.”

The Hornets (4-12) competed with the daunting foe into the second quarter, as they trailed just 16-10 early in that period. However, the defensive pressure of Puxico began to wear on Advance and the Indians tore off on a 24-15 second-quarter advantage and led 40-25 at the break.

“In spurts,” second-year Advance coach Dalton Wilson said following the game, “we guarded really well and contested shots. We pushed the tempo really well.

“I thought we ran our offensive sets really well, but the turnovers got to us.”

Puxico created a number of miscues on the Hornets’ part, which led to transition offense.

After scoring five points in the opening period, Indian junior guard Landan Burchard hit a trio of 3-pointers in the second quarter and tallied 13 points in that quarter, alone.

Puxico hadn’t played in six days since beating Dexter on the same floor it topped Advance. Its game against Bernie on Friday was postponed due to spreading illness within Bernie Schools, and Fernetti thought that unexpected lay-off may have negatively impacted his team early on Monday.

“Our second half was a lot better,” Fernetti said. “I don’t know if that was because of the week off without having a game or what.

“Hopefully, we can take that (second-half momentum) into Thursday.”

Puxico has beaten both the Rebels (61-49) and the Bearcats (64-60 in overtime and 53-43), and in both victories, had junior guard Karsen Long available, who wasn’t on Monday due to illness.

“Karsen brings energy,” Fernetti said, “and he can hit the open shot. He plays pretty hard on defense, too.”

The Indians were paced by Burchard on Monday with 24 points, including four 3-pointers.

Puxico got 18 points and a couple of 3-pointers from junior guard Jett Hancock while senior guard Mason Parsley chipped in 12 points.

Advance was led by junior guard Hunter Rodgers, who knocked in 13 points.

“This year,” Wilson said of Rodgers, “he has been looking to be aggressive and take open looks and not hesitate.”

Hornet senior Remington Pixley added seven points, as did sophomore Brodie Rodgers. Advance also got six points from senior Brison Winchester.

The Hornets will now face the loser of the Rebel vs. Bearcat battle on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Richland (Essex) has beaten Advance twice this season (72-36 and 70-41) while Dexter and Advance have not played.