Smith’s field goals to start fourth quarter make certain Panthers hold Pirates at bay

By Steve Eighinger | February 19, 2025
Palmyra senior guard Mason Smith drives to the basket during Tuesday's game against Hannibal in Palmyra, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

PALMYRA, Mo. —The Palmyra boys basketball team scored the first 21 points Tuesday night against Hannibal. Game, set, match. Right? Well, not quite. Palmyra was not able to deliver what amounted to be the ultimate knockout punch until the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. That’s when the Panthers’ 6-foot-3 Mason Smith connected on a…

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Smith’s putback dunk adds exclamation point to Palmyra’s overtime victory over Routt

By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor | February 9, 2025
Palmyra's Ryan McKinney looks for space to dribble inside the Jacksonville Routt defense during Saturday's game in the KHQA/American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Hudson Bock’s surprise turned to delight in a blink. With the Palmyra boys basketball team leading Jacksonville Routt 58-57 in overtime, Bock turned a steal into a fastbreak which he figured he’d finish with a left-handed layup. The ball had other ideas, rolling off the right side of the rim. “I saw it…

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Smith, Bock provide punch as Palmyra takes momentum into own tourney after CCC victory

By Don Crim, Senior Columnist | January 18, 2025
Palmyra's Pierce White drives to the basket during Friday night's Clarence Cannon Conference game against Centralia in Palmyra, Mo. | Photo courtesy Alicia Deming

PALMYRA. Mo. — Mason Smith and Hudson Bock are becoming a formidable one-two scoring punch. The guards combined to score 31 points in the first half and 53 overall Friday night to help carry the Palmyra boys basketball team to a 72-58 victory over Centralia in the Clarence Cannon Conference opener for both teams. Smith’s…

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Tale of two halves defensively ends with Palmyra suffocating Unity over final 16 minutes

By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer | December 21, 2024
Palmyra senior guard Mason Smith drives through the lane during Friday's game against Mendon Unity in Palmyra, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

PALMYRA, Mo. — Hudson Bock could not have imagined two more polar opposite defensive performances from the Palmyra boys basketball team against Mendon Unity on Friday. “Our defense was really good in the second half, but it was absolutely awful in the first half,” Bock said. After taking a 39-35 lead into halftime, the Panthers…

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Boost from Smith’s 3-pointer ignites Panthers’ closing kick in victory over Raiders

By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer | December 18, 2024
Palmyra senior guard Mason Smith celebrates his go-ahead 3-pointer in the fourth quarter of the Panthers' 66-58 win over Quincy Notre Dame on Tuesday night in Palmyra, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

PALMYRA, Mo. — It was as if Mason Smith had flipped a switch. As soon as the Palmyra senior guard’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:50 left in the fourth quarter of the Panthers’ clash with Quincy Notre Dame on Tuesday swished through the net and the home crowd erupted, Smith could feel the electricity pulsing through…

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