The Jefferson City Jays could have spiraled. The Helias Crusaders jumped out to a 20-3 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Jefferson City fought all the way back and tied the cross-town matchup at 49 in the fourth quarter. Helias then outscored the Jays by seven in the final four minutes to build a 67-60 win Wednesday in the third-place game of the Joe Machens Great 8 Classic at Fleming Fieldhouse.
The Capital City Cavaliers had plenty of quickness Monday night, but the Tulsa Union (Okla.) Redhawks had plenty of height.
“I thought our guys played as hard as they could,” Capital City coach Darrin Young said after the Cavaliers’ 67-31 first-round loss to the Redhawks in the Joe Machens Great 8 Classic at Fleming Fieldhouse.
There’s an advantage to hosting big tournaments.
Covington (Tenn.) had to travel more than 350 miles to get to Day 1 of the Joe Machens Great 8 Classic at Jefferson City High School, while the Jefferson City Jays just had their normal commute to school.
It may not have been the best game played in the rivalry, but Monday’s first-round contest between the Blair Oaks Falcons and the Father Tolton Trailblazers still lived up to the hype. Tolton held the lead for more than three quarters, but Blair Oaks led when it mattered most, using a big fourth-quarter performance to beat the Trailblazers 59-55 in the Joe Machens Great 8 Classic at Fleming Fieldhouse.
Take a look at the Helias Crusaders’ schedule so far, and it would be difficult to assume they’re a team from Mid-Missouri.
The Crusaders have played seven games this season, and four of their opponents are from other states: Rogers Heritage and Fayetteville from Arkansas, Bishop Miege from Kansas and Bellevue West from Nebraska.