Celtics Lose District BB Game 53-61

Twice the O'Hara Celtic boys basketball team had defeated the Center Yellowjackets in the West Central Conference games wherein O'Hara won the Conference undefeated, but in the semifinal District 13 Class 4 game on February 23rd, Center emerged on top 61-53. _____ During the regular season O'Hara had won games of 73-66 and 60-58 in their contests. _____ Just three days earlier, the Missouri State High School regular-season basketball rankings compiled by the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association listed the O'Hara team #4 with their 21-4 record. ___ The only teams ranked above the Celtics were undefeated Saint Francis Borgia 25-0, Kearney 22-3, and Sikeston 18-3. Harrisonville was the only other area team in the top ten and they were #6 with their 20-5 record. _____ In the District game however, a 17-4 second quarter by the Yellowjackets made the big difference. _____ Twelve of Center's second quarter points were by Mark Braden who played for O'Hara over the past three years and is finishing his senior year at Center. _____ O'Hara took a six point lead at the end of the first quarter with D. J. Jackson hitting a trey before the buzzer. _____ But after the half, the two talented squads matched point for point, and after falling behind by as much as sixteen when the score read 38-22, the Celtics were only able to get within five when the score read 57-52. _____ Mark Braden led all scorers with 25 points and was assisted in the win by Anthony Rule with 11, Oren Lee with 10, and Marcus wright with 10. _____ For O'Hara, the top scorers were Josh Rupprecht & Dominique Fields with 12 apiece and JeVon Lyle & D. J. Jackson with 9 each. _____ In the first round, Center got past Hickman Mills 70-68 in overtime to reach the semifinal game. _____ In a way, it is a shame that three excellent basketball teams were all placed in the same bracket when only one of those teams go on the represent the District in the rest of the playoffs for the State Crown. _____ O'Hara is graduating seven seniors who began the season, but will have juniors Josh Rupprecht, JeVon Lyle, D. J. Jackson, Andre Jordan, and Cullen Rowland, along with sophomore Daniel Hurtt as a nulceus of the 2010-2011 team.