Log-Rog takes down Wheeler, Paul VI advances to T of C title game

SPRINGFIELD, Mo–It’s semifinal Friday at the 41st Annual Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions.

Some of the best high school basketball teams in the country are on display at the T of C.

Ozarks First’S Chris Pinson is standing by live at Great Southern Bank Arena.

And Chris a couple of local teams were looking for redemption tonight.

Hey Dan, there’s no question Logan-Rogersville gave us the game of the night in their narrow loss to Paul VI Thursday.

But tonight, the real question was whether they could match that same effort and energy in their consolation contest.

Chase Branham and Sutton Shook didn’t make us wait long to find out the answer against the Wheeler Wildcats out of Georgia.

The duo combined to score 38 points Thursday night and picked up right where they left off.

Branham and Shook knocked down five three pointers in the first half as the hometown Wildcats shot a staggering 63 percent from the field to lead 36-24 at the break.

And their hot hand carried over into the second half.

They used a 6-0 run at the start of the third quarter to go up by 16.

Branham outdid his game-high 21 Thursday night, with a game-high 32.

As he lead Rogersville to a 66-64 victory and a trip to the consolation championship Saturday at 4pm.

“We learned a lot from yesterday and kinda poured into today. Main thing, taking care of the ball towards the end. Wasn’t the cleanest, but we got the job done so it does feel great,” said Branham.

As for Paul VI, the team with the biggest target on backs, they squared off with Bartlett out of Tennessee in the first semifinal of the evening.

And the Panthers of Chantilly, Virginia went off from downtown.

Paul VI buried six three pointers in the first quarter as Brian Mitchell Jr.

And Lawrence Brown each made a pair to lead 23-17.

Now give credit to Bartlett, they didn’t back down, especially Dylan Jones who threw down a nasty posterizing one-handed jam.

But as expected, Paul VI kept knocking down threes and held the lead at halftime, 38-30.

And Paul VI advances to Saturday’s championship game winning 74-51.

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