Lady Birds show depth, tenacity in second half to knock out Indians and reach state quarterfinals

South Shelby's Callie McWilliams, right, looks to attack Elsberry's defense during Monday night's Class 3 sectional game in Shelbina, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mark Requet, Shelby County Herald

SHELBINA, Mo. — Belle Roush didn’t come out of the locker room at the start of the second half Monday night. Her teammates didn’t let it faze them. The South Shelby girls basketball team’s all-conference junior forward scored 12 points in the first half to stake the Lady Birds to a 27-21 lead over Elsberry…

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Tune doesn’t change for Panthers as defense leads to success, this time in district title game

The Palmyra boys basketball team improved to 26-1 by beating South Shelby for the Class 3 District 6 championship Saturday in Palmyra, Mo. | Submitted photo

PALMYRA, Mo. — Different day, same approach. And more importantly, the same result. Just ask Jeremiah Edwards. “Defense is always our top priority,” Edwards said. “We know our offense will always pick up.” Edwards, a 6-foot-1 block-of-granite power forward for the Palmyra boys basketball team, was one of several Panthers extolling the virtues of their…

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Lady Birds continue postseason mastery of Panthers by winning another district crown

Palmyra's Bella McBride, right, pressures South Shelby's Callie McWilliams during Friday night's Class 3 District 6 championship game in Palmyra, Mo. | Photo courtesy Alicia Deming

PALMYRA, Mo. — While the regular season matchups belonged to Palmyra, the South Shelby girls basketball team still owns the postseason. The second-seeded Lady Birds outscored the top-seeded Panthers 21-2 during a 6 1/2-minute stretch beginning late in the third quarter Friday night to erase a six-point deficit and pull away for a 63-50 victory…

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Panthers, Lady Birds to collide in district championship game

PALMYRA, Mo. — Sydney Compton and Clare Williams each scored five first-quarter points as the Palmyra girls basketball team built a 10-point advantage and rolled to a 49-38 victory over Macon in Wednesday night’s Class 3 District 6 semifinals. The Tigerettes scored 15 second-quarter points to trim the deficit to six at halftime, but the…

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‘We just do what we do’: Palmyra boys hold 14th opponent below 40 points, improve to 19-1

Palmyra's Bear Bock uses a screen from Jonathan Edwards and drives to the basket during Friday night's boys basketball game against South Shelby in Palmyra, Mo. | Photo courtesy of Alicia Deming

PALMYRA, Mo. — Brian Rea offered a hint late Friday night as to why the Palmyra boys basketball team enjoys playing defense so much. “It’s a mindset, and it’s a testament to our guys who have totally bought into it,” said Rea, the second-year coach whose club is now 19-1 following a 47-25 Clarence Cannon…

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Fast finish in fourth fuels furious Palmyra girls’ comeback in victory over South Shelby 

Palmyra's Clare Williams, who scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds goes up for a shot during Friday night's girls basketball game against South Shelby in Palmyra, Mo. | Photo courtesy of Alicia Deming

PALMYRA, Mo. — When asked if she had been worried at any point, Palmyra junior point guard Clare Williams responded matter-of-factly, “I knew we’d eventually have a run.” Palmyra did just that Friday night, rattling off 12 straight points in the fourth quarter on the way to a 50-44 Clarence Cannon Conference girls basketball victory…

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Pieper helps QND girls pull away in second half to defeat South Shelby

Tristan Pieper, shown in a game earlier this season against Highland (Ill.), scored 16 points on Thursday night against South Shelby. | MRN File photo

SHELBINA, Mo. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team held South Shelby to just 16 points in the second half in posting a 53-40 victory on Thursday night. The Raiders led 27-24 at halftime, and they made a concerted effort to get the ball inside to Tristan Pieper. She scored eight of her game-high…

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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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Bryant, Bowling Green outrun South Shelby in epic district championship shootout

Bowling Green's Bleyne Bryant, left, looks for running room against South Shelby during Friday night's Class 2 District 7 championship game at Charles Rash Memorial Field in Shelbina, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mark Requet, Shelby County Herald

SHELBINA, Mo. — It was an offensive shootout for the ages. Bowling Green and South Shelby, two of the highest-scoring high school football teams in Missouri, combined for 16 touchdowns, 116 points and 1,035 yards of offense Friday night in the Class 2 District 7 championship game at Charles Rash Memorial Field. In the end,…

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Crim: Electric offenses, stout defenses and unblemished records collide in district title game

South Shelby senior running back Kendal Hammond and the Cardinals will face Bowling Green for the Class 2 District 7 championship Friday night in Shelbina, Mo. | Photo courtesy Danielle VanDyke

SHELBINA, Mo. — It’s the game high school football fans in Northeast Missouri have been waiting for. Undefeated Bowling Green versus undefeated South Shelby. Two of the state’s most prolific scoring teams will collide Friday night at Charles Rash Memorial Field in the District 7 championship game for the right to advance in the Class…

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District football primer: Prepping for Friday night’s semifinal showdowns

Hannibal all-purpose back Aneyas Williams and the Pirates will face Wentzville Holt in Friday's Class 4 District 2 semifinals in Wentzville, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

QUINCY — Spots in district football championship games will be claimed Friday night in Missouri, potentially stepping up a showdown between state-ranked teams in Class 2. First, though, South Shelby and Bowling Green have to navigate district semifinal matchups with talented foes. Here’s a look at what to watch for Friday night: Hannibal (9-1) at…

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Crim: High school football postseason games offering intriguing storylines

Quincy Notre Dame coach Jack Cornell gives a fiery speech to his players following their 21-14 victory over Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs last Saturday. | Photo courtesy Steve Hoffman

QUINCY — High school playoff potpourri: • Quincy Notre Dame is nothing if not resilient. The Raiders easily could have played out the string after losing back-to-back winnable games against Southern Boone and Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton to fall to 1-5, seemingly extinguishing their postseason chances. Instead, they won their final three games in convincing…

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Missouri state football rankings: Monroe City back in top 10 in Class 2, others maintain spots

The Monroe City football team is ranked 10th in Class 2 heading into the district tournament. | Photo courtesy Paul R. Evans

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parentheses. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B. Connoley,…

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Missouri prep football rankings: Pirates move up one spot to No. 5, Cardinals remain No. 7

Hannibal all-purpose back Aneyas Williams and the Pirates are No. 5 in the Class 4 state poll heading into the regular-season finale at Columbia (Mo.) Battle. | Mathew Kirby photo

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B. Connoley,…

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Crim: Cardinals maintain focus on big picture with chance to make history in front of them

South Shelby's Cameron Wiseman picks up yardage during the first half of Friday night's Clarence Cannon Conference victory over Centralia in Shelbina, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mark Requet, Shelby County Herald

SHELBINA, Mo. — If one play could summarize the South Shelby football team’s season, it might be Kendal Hammond’s 10-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter of Friday night’s 48-14 dismantling of previously undefeated Centralia. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior took the handoff, veered off right tackle and cut toward the end zone with a…

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Cardinals deliver early knockout blows, pummel Panthers to move closer to CCC championship

South Shelby's Kendal Hammond looks for running room during Friday night's Clarence Cannon Conference game against Centralia in Shelbina, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mark Requet, Shelby County Herald

SHELBINA, Mo. — It was billed as a heavyweight bout between two undefeated, state-ranked football teams for sole possession of first place in the Clarence Cannon Conference. South Shelby wasted little time in landing the knockout blows. The Cardinals scored three touchdowns during a five-minute stretch in the first quarter and Kendal Hammond continued his…

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Missouri state football rankings: Area teams hold steady heading into Week 8

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B. Connoley,…

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Missouri prep football rankings: Pirates, Cardinals maintain positions in respective classes

Hannibal’s Aaron Daughtery, left, and Mike Ferreira celebrate a touchdown during last Friday’s North Central Missouri Conference victory over Kirksville at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B. Connoley,…

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Missouri prep football rankings: Hannibal, South Shelby hold strong, Monroe City drops out of poll

The Hannibal football team takes the field before its game against Fulton on Sept. 16 at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. | Mathew Kirby photo

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B. Connoley,…

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Missouri state football rankings: South Shelby moves to No. 7 in Class 2, Hannibal holds steady

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B. Connoley,…

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Missouri state football rankings: Monroe City, South Shelby in Class 2 poll ahead of showdown

The Monroe City football team is 3-0 and ranked fourth in Class 2 ahead of Friday's showdown in Shelbina, Mo., with 10th-ranked South Shelby. | Photo courtesy Paul R. Evans

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Here are the Missouri statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ…

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Friday Night Lights rewind: Mustangs make defensive stand, Cardinals keep rolling, Blue Devils crumble rival

The Unity-Payson football team made a defensive stand inside the 10-yard line to cement a 22-21 victory over Brown County last week. | Photo courtesy Sarah Donley photography

QUINCY — A defensive stand could be the difference between making the playoffs and putting the gear away early. That depends on how the Unity-Payson football team seizes the momentum of last week’s victory. Brown County drove to the Mustangs’ 6-yard line and faced third and four with two minutes remaining in regulation. A fumbled…

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Missouri prep football rankings: Monroe City, South Shelby and Hannibal stay in state polls

Hannibal's Waylon Anders kicks an extra point during last Friday's 42-21 victory over Jefferson City at Porter Stadium in Hannibal, Mo. The Pirates moved up one spot to No. 6 in this week's Class 4 state poll. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B.…

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Missouri prep football rankings: Hannibal, Monroe City, South Shelby find way into respective top 10

Monroe City coach David Kirby and the Panthers are ranked No. 2 in Class 2 in the first Missouri prep football rankings. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a nine-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parentheses. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ St. Joseph; J.B.…

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Hannibal’s Wilson, JWCC signee Schmidt receive honorable mention all-state plaudits

Hannibal junior shortstop Kane Wilson received Class 5 honorable mention all-state honors from the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association. | Matt Schuckman photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Kane Wilson’s record-setting season didn’t go unnoticed by prep baseball coaches around the state. The Hannibal junior shortstop was named as an honorable mention infielder on the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association Class 5 all-state team.  Wilson established new single-season program records for hits with 45 and and RBIs with 44 while also…

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Muddy River Showcase Spotlight: South Shelby’s Milli Mozee-Williams

South Shelby's Milli Mozee-Williams is adept at getting herself into position to rebound no matter who she is up against, a skill she will display in the Muddy River Showcase on June 17 at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

The Muddy River Showcase featuring 40 of the area’s top senior basketball players from Illinois and Missouri takes place June 17 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game begins at 4 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door. SHELBINA, Mo. — Culver-Stockton…

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Muddy River Showcase Spotlight: South Shelby’s Miranda Patterson

South Shelby's Miranda Patterson will represent the Missouri squad in the Muddy River Showcase being played June 17 at John Wood Community College's Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

The Muddy River Showcase featuring 40 of the area’s top senior basketball players from Illinois and Missouri takes place June 17 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game begins at 4 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door. SHELBINA, Mo. — Miranda…

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Cardinals clamp down defensively to knock off top-seeded Panthers in district championship

The South Shelby boys basketball team upset top-seeded Palmyra to win the Class 3 District 6 championship Friday night in Monroe City, Mo. | Ron Kinscherf

MONROE CITY, Mo. — South Shelby’s Trey Countryman wasn’t giving anyone the game ball. Thirty minutes after the final buzzer, the senior guard was still cradling this piece of history. Countryman and the rest of the Cardinals upset top-seeded Palmyra 39-22 in the Class 3 District 6 championship to capture their first district title in…

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Top-seeded Palmyra ends Monroe City’s district reign, will face South Shelby for title

MONROE CITY, Mo. — The district reign is over, ended by a champion’s biggest rival. The Monroe City boys basketball team’s run of six consecutive Class 3 district championships came to a halt Wednesday night when top-seeded Palmyra eliminated Monroe City 52-30 in the Class 3 District 6 semifinals. Palmyra (21-7) outscored Monroe City 14-4…

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Hammer time: QND girls use 3-point barrage in first three minutes to put South Shelby on its heels

Quincy Notre Dame's Amber Durst, left, battles South Shelby's Hannah Wegman for rebounding position during Saturday night's game in the KHQA-American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball Eric Orne left Abbey Schreacke with something to think about. “He told me before the game to just drop the hammer,” Schreacke said. When the Raiders won the opening tip against South Shelby in Saturday’s marquee matchup of the KHQA-American Family Insurance Superfan Shootout at The Pit, the…

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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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Palmyra boys, South Shelby girls earns spots in Monroe City Tournament title games

Palmyra's Bear Bock shoots over a Louisiana defender during Wednesday's semifinal matchup in the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament in Monroe City, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Palmyra boys basketball team used a 12-point burst at the start Wednesday night to slingshot its way into the championship game of the 98th annual Monroe City Tournament. The South Shelby girls used stellar defense to do the same. The second-seeded Panthers rode their strong start to a 57-50 victory…

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Neither temperatures nor Cardinals can derail Panthers’ pursuit of district championship

The Monroe City football team poses with the Class 1 District 6 championship plaque after Friday night's 52-18 victory over South Shelby at Lankford Field in Monroe City, Mo. | Don O'Brien photo

MONROE CITY, Mo. — Monroe City senior Ceaton Pennewell channeled his inner Luke Kuechly on Friday night.  With temperatures in the high 20s and a wind chill in the teens, Pennewell wasn’t about to let South Shelby think he was cold. While some of his teammates were a little more dressed for the conditions, Pennewell,…

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Monroe City pounds ground to beat weather and Westran in Class 1 district semifinals

Monroe City football coach David Kirby and the Panthers will play for a district championship next Friday against South Shelby at Lankford Field in Monroe City, Mo. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Monroe City football team can outrun almost anything or anyone. That includes the weather. With the start of the Class 1 District 6 semifinal against fourth-seeded Westran moved up 90 minutes in order to avoid impending storms, the top-seeded Panthers ran roughshod before the first raindrops fell, churning out 434…

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South Shelby freshman buries go-ahead 3-pointer, ruins Palmyra’s chance for district upset

South Shelby’s Belle Roush, left, drives on Palmyra’s Sydney Compton during the Class 3 District championship Saturday afternoon in Monroe City, Mo. The Lady Birds won 59-55 after Roush his the go-ahead 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining in regulation. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — A freshman who came off the bench made the go-ahead 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the Class 3 District 6 championship game. It just didn’t happen to be one of the Palmyra girls basketball team’s talented underclassmen. South Shelby’s Belle Roush drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key…

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Palmyra girls need overtime to dispatch Highland, will face South Shelby for district championship

Palmyra's Candra King shoots over a Highland defender during Wednesday night's Class 3 District 6 semifinal in Monroe City, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — A 13-point halftime lead evaporated, forcing the second-seeded Palmyra girls basketball team to show some serious resolve in order to keep its season on the rails. The youthful Panthers played with poise when it mattered. Highland’s Ansley Bringer hit a 3-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation to force overtime, but…

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