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Stanberry pulls away in OT to beat Wellsville-Middletown in Class 1 semifinals; South Iron set to defend crown

South Iron beat St. Elizabeth by 34 points.
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Schwebch twins took over in overtime and helped No. 3-ranked Stanberry pick up a 45-40 win over Wellsville-Middletown during a Class 1 semifinal game on Friday at Hammons Student Center.

“These games down here are never easy, and we had to battle for every second of that game,” Stanberry coach Nick Groomer said. “I’m proud we got a win and are playing for the championship tomorrow.” 

Tied at 34 after regulation, Austin Schwebach broke the tie with a jumper in the first possession of extra sessions for the Bulldogs (25-3). He then hit one of two free throws with less than three minutes to boost the lead to three.

The Tigers (20-7) cut the deficit to one on a jumper by Carson Huff with less than two minutes left but the Schwebachs scored six of the next eight points to pull away.

Tyler Schwebach scored on a jumper with 1:15 left and then he hit two free throws with 31 seconds left. A layup by Wellsville-Middletown’s Isaac Seabaugh cut the deficit down to 41-38 with 15 seconds left.

Forced to foul, the Tigers sent Tyler Schwebach to the line and he hit two more free throws, making it 43-38 with 12 seconds left. The outcome was still in the balance after Seabaugh drew a foul with 3 seconds left and hit both free throws.

Those shots made it 43-40, still conviceably giving the Tigers a chance, but they fouled Colby McQueen. He hit both with 1 seconds left to seal the win.

The loss snapped an 8-game winning streak for Wellsville-Middletown.

The Schwebachs combined for 33 of the Bulldogs’ 45. Austin Schwebach had a double-double with 18 points and 19 rebounds, breaking the school record double-doubles in a

career with that showing. The 6-foot-6 forward also added five blocks.

“I knew they were going to be physical,” Austin Schwebach said. “Our last game was physical and I was ready for that. Getting the double-double, rebounding is just something I pride myself in.”

Tyler Schwebach had 15 points and added six rebounds.

Seabaugh had 15, while Huff had 11 for Wellsville-Middletown.

Stanberry will play in the school's fourth state championship and the first since winning the state championship in 2016. The Bulldogs are 2-1 in title games, winning in 1971 and taking second in 2013.

South Iron 85, St. Elizabeth 51

The defending state champions scored 20 or more points in each quarter and rolled to a victory in another semifinal game at Hammons Student Center.

The Panthers (27-4) had a balanced attack in the win with four starters scoring in double figures. Drenin Dinkins scored 23 points, while Champ McMurry added 21 points.

Martez Burse scored 16 and D.J. Prater added 11 for the top-ranked team in Class 1.

South Iron trailed for all of three seconds, early in the first quarter. After St. Elizabeth tied the game at 15 on a layup by Nick Heckemeyer, South Iron closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run with McMurry scoring four of those, making it 22-15.

The run, spanning into the second quarter, expanded to 13-0. That led to a 42-23 lead at halftime for South Iron.

St. Elizabeth (18-11) never cut the deficit below 10 the rest of the way.

Missouri baseball signee Brock Lucas had 27 points, hitting seven 3-pointers, and grabbing nine rebounds. Jace Kesel had 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Hornets.

This will be the sixth appearance in the finals out of seven trips to state for South Iron. The school located in Annapolis has won a pair of titles, last year and in 1965 – winning the Class ‘S’ crown.