The #1 ranked Stanberry boys received a strong challenge to their unbeaten season on Tuesday night, leading the North Andrew Cardinals by a tight score of 25-24 at the half of the Class 1 sectionals at the St. Joseph Civic Arena.  However, by the end of the night, the Bulldogs were 27-0, putting two strong quarters together in the second half to close out a 60-47 win.

Forward Alex McQuinn led the Grand River Conference champion Bulldogs with 19 points, while Daniel Hailey tossed in 18.  For North Andrew, Mitchell Officer had 18 points, with Ryan Hughes scoring 12.  The win sends Stanberry into a highly-anticipated Class 1 quarterfinal against fellow unbeaten, and #2 ranked Winston, Saturday afternoon at 2:45 at Grace Gymnasium on the campus of Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph.  The Bulldogs will be aiming to avenge a quarterfinal loss on that floor to Winston a season ago, when the Redbirds went to the “Show-Me Showdown” in Columbia, finishing runner-up to the Meadville Eagles.

Winston, the HDC regular season and tournament champion, earned their spot opposite Stanberry with a 54-39 victory over the Hardin-Central Bulldogs in Tuesday night sectional action at Liberty North High School.  For the Redbirds, Jordan Leonard had 15 points, Craig Lewis 13, and Ty Uthe 12, while the swarming WHS defense was superb in holding down Hardin-Central’s usually potent offense.  The Bulldogs were paced by 13 points each from Clif Kugler and Rhyler Estenbaum.

Other Class 1 boys sectional scores from Tuesday night were:

Gideon 90, Advance 71

School of Ozarks 72, Eminence 52

(Gideon plays School of Ozarks – Saturday at 2:45 at Van Buren High School)

Walnut Grove 76, Weaubleau 69

Drexel 56, Otterville 40

(Walnut Grove plays Drexel – Saturday at 2:45 at Clinton High School)