Sports

ORRICK – The Bearcats focused on doing “little things” well during their 82-4 loss to Wellington-Napoleon on Dec. 4 to open the I-70 Conference Tournament, hosted by Orrick, varsity girls basketball coach Zach McGill said.

RICHMOND – Coach Kevin Jermain has found himself shorthanded during Richmond’s leadup to the varsity boys basketball season. Upperclassmen such as seniors Keyshaun Elliott and Layne Cavanah, and junior Jack Gogue – who helped the Spartans reach the Class 4 state quarterfinals last season – were preoccupied with football during November.

Snyder is on Richmond’s varsity football coaching staff. He also is in his fourth season as the head varsity girls basketball coach. Thus, he found himself shuttling between the football practice field, where he helped the Spartans reach the Class 2 state semifinals, and the high school gym as he helped the Richmond girls prep for the season, which began Nov. 23 with a 44-12 road win over Orrick.

HARDIN – First-year varsity girls basketball coach Annie Finley has known her Bulldogs for years. One Bulldog has known Finley for a lifetime: senior post player and daughter Morgan Finley.

HARDIN – As he prepared Hardin-Central to start the 2021-2022 varsity boys basketball season, coach Brent Behler had an advantage over last season. COVID wiped out the Bulldogs’ hopes of getting summer workouts in 2020, Behler recalled after practice Nov.

ORRICK – The Bearcats’ attempt to return to the Class 1 state quarterfinals in boys basketball has begun. Led by 18 points from sophomore Jaxon Miller and 12 from junior Zander Stevinson, the Bearcats cruised past Missouri Highway 10 rival Norborne 42-23 Nov.

ORRICK – Zach McGill sees improvement in his second season as Orrick’s varsity girls basketball coach. As of Nov.

RICHMOND – The annoying “what-if game” is cruel to play and starts like this: What if… • A line judge had not ruled Jordan Alexander’s brilliant sideline catch, both hands on the ball, “bobbled” and incomplete? • A better block had been thrown to thwart a blitz and allow an extra second for the perfect pass or run? • A referee had not called a penalty that negated Alexander’s TD catch? • Richmond had recovered when Lamar fumbled? This could go on to include edge protection early on, a stronger rush, just 30 seconds more on the final drive… The what-if game is garbage. Reality is this: Richmond finished 11-2, reached the Class 2 state semifinals and played brilliantly all season.

MARYVILLE – At least 250 members of the Spartan Army – most wearing red and many coming out of their seats to scream – rocked the house during Richmond’s 49-23 quarterfinal win Nov. 20 at Maryville.