Bock, Panthers put themselves in position to win third straight Monroe City Tournament title

Palmyra's Ryan McKinney scored nine points in the Panthers' 43-35 victory over South Shelby in Thursday's semifinals of the Monroe City Tournament in Monroe City, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Palmyra boys basketball team is one victory away from winning a third straight Monroe City Tournament for the first time in more than 20 years. Palmyra, which has won more Monroe City titles than any other school in the 100-year history of the event, moved into the finals via its…

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Defensive dominance earns Panthers right to play for title in centennial celebration of own tourney

Monroe City's Toby Sapp, left, and Trey Smyser apply pressure to Marion County's Joey Lagemann during Wednesday night's Monroe City Tournament semifinal game in Monroe City, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

MONROE CITY Mo. — Two down, one to go. The Monroe City boys basketball team’s quest is not yet complete, but the second-seeded Panthers earned the right to play for the championship in the 100th Monroe City Basketball Tournament by dispatching Marion County 77-25 in Wednesday’s semifinal. The significance of the Panthers playing for the…

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Panthers survive Cougars’ fourth-quarter rally, will play for Monroe City Tournament championship

Palmyra senior point guard Clare Williams celebrates with her team after the Panthers' 48-43 victory over Highland in the 100th Monroe City Tournament semifinals on Wednesday night in Monroe City, Mo. | Shane Hulsey photo

MONROE CITY, Mo. — Why? That is all Palmyra girls basketball coach Kelsey Stuart could think as she watched Highland eat away at the Panthers’ 19-point lead over the final 4 minutes, 45 seconds of Wednesday night’s semifinal in the 100th Monroe City Tournament. “Why did we decide to feel comfortable even though I warned…

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Photo gallery: Monroe City boys, Palmyra girls advance to tourney title games

Monroe City senior guard Trey Smyser shoots a jumper over Marion County senior guard Joey Lagemann during Wednesday's Monroe City Tournament semifinal game at Monroe City High School. | Shane Hulsey photo

MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Monroe City boys basketball team and the Palmyra girls will play for championships Saturday night, having navigated Wednesday’s semifinals of the 100th Monroe City Tournament. Monroe City beat Marion County 77-25, while Palmyra held off Highland 48-43. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was in Monroe City and put together…

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Century of memories: Monroe City celebrates 100-year milestone for basketball invitational

Monroe City boys basketball coach Brock Edris will lead the Panthers in pursuit of their 26th championship in the 100-year history of the Monroe City Tournament beginning Monday in Monroe City, Mo. | Matt Schuckman photo

MONROE CITY, Mo. — The semi-weekly Monroe City News reported in its Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1925, edition that a four-county basketball tournament would be played the following Friday and Saturday at Monroe City High School. Featuring teams from Monroe, Marion, Ralls and Shelby counties, it was billed as “the largest and most interest event in…

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Nothing but net: Williams’ buzzer-beating 3-pointer lifts Palmyra girls to tourney championship

The Palmyra girls basketball team won the championship of the 99th Monroe City Tournament by beating South Shelby 64-61 Saturday night in Monroe City, Mo. | Submitted photo

MONROE CITY, Mo. — By design, Clare Williams’ first option was to pass the ball. Fortunately, that did not work out. Williams wound up unleashing a 22-foot bomb that found nothing but net as time expired Saturday night, sending the Palmyra girls basketball team to a 64-61 victory over South Shelby in the finals of…

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Palmyra boys get engaged offensively to power past Monroe City for tournament championship

The Palmyra boys basketball team won the championship of the 99th Monroe City Tournament with a 43-23 victory over Monroe City on Saturday night in Monroe City, Mo. | Submitted photo

MONROE CITY, Mo. — Not bad for a club that took seven minutes to score its first points of the game. The Palmyra boys basketball team remained unbeaten Saturday night, but the way the it went about it may have been a bit awkward. At least in the first quarter. “We were just running rampant…

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Eight-run first inning propels Monroe City to victory in third-place game against Canton

Monroe City’s Abigail Smith rounds third base during the Panthers’ game against Hannibal on Saturday morning in the 26th annual Monroe City Tournament in Monroe City, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — An eight-run outburst in the bottom of the first inning enabled the Monroe City softball team to put Canton on its heels and secure a 15-5, five-inning victory in the third-place game of Saturday’s 26th annual Monroe City Tournament. Monroe City went 2-1 overall, beating Hannibal 17-2 in the opener and…

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Palmyra boys control championship game from start to finish, win Monroe City tourney title

The Palmyra boys basketball team poses with the Palmyra girls team after they both won championships in the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament on Saturday night in Monroe City, Mo. | Photo courtesy Palmyra School District

MONROE CITY, Mo. — As far as Palmyra’s Bear Bock was concerned, the championship trophy for the Monroe City boys basketball tournament is back where it belongs. “It’s been a long time since we won this tournament,” he said. “We’re bringing that trophy back home.” Bock’s 14 points, including 12 in the first half when…

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Palmyra girls make statement by upending South Shelby for tourney championship

The Palmyra girls basketball team poses with the championship plaque after winning the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament with a 56-54 victory over South Shelby on Saturday night in Monroe City, Mo. | Photo courtesy Palmyra School District

MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Palmyra girls basketball team was better-equipped for such a challenge. South Shelby is still a work in progress. Palmyra, which emerged with a 56-54 victory in Saturday night’s championship round of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament, was able to maneuver through crunch time with just enough moxie to preserve…

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Compton powers Palmyra girls into title game at Monroe City Tournament

Palmyra's Clare Williams drives to the basket during Thursday's victory over Highland in the semifinals of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament in Monroe City, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Palmyra girls basketball team gets its first shot at the champs. The second-seeded Panthers marched their way into the championship game of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament by beating third-seeded Highland 71-46 in Thursday night’s semifinals. By doing so, the Panthers (5-0) will face top-seeded and reigning Clarence Cannon…

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Top-seeded Panthers find no easy path to semifinals, survive push from Mustangs

Monroe City’s Jaylyn Countryman shoots over Marion County’s Caden Stotts during Tuesday night’s opening-round game of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament in Monroe City, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — Despite being limited to just four points in the third quarter Tuesday night, the Monroe City boys basketball team was able to fend off Marion County’s upset bid and advance to the semifinals of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament. The top-seeded Panthers secured a 51-45 victory over eighth-seeded Marion County…

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Monroe City Tournament opens with trio of lopsided victories

Monroe City's Mari Gares pushes the ball up the court during the 42-8 victory over Mark Twain on Monday night in the opening game of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — The opening night of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament featured a pair of lopsided victories in the girls bracket and only of the four games played being decided in the fourth quarter. The third-seeded Louisiana boys outlasted sixth-seeded Mark Twain 60-54 behind 15 points from Jack Logan. Josh Brothers led…

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