WILLARD, Mo. — For the third straight season, the Thomas Jefferson Cavaliers are heading to the ‘Elite Eight.’
Thomas Jefferson defeated Rich Hill 68-58 on Monday night in a sectional contest of the MSHSAA Class 1 state boys basketball tournament at Willard High School.
With the victory, Thomas Jefferson (21-6) advances to Friday’s quarterfinals in Warrensburg.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the boys, it was a great team win,” Thomas Jefferson coach Chris Myers said.
Monday’s clash was a rematch of last year’s sectional matchup that saw the Cavaliers knock off the Tigers 55-35.
This year’s meeting was much closer.
The Tigers held a 10-5 advantage before the Cavaliers ended the first quarter on a 9-3 run to take a 14-13 lead.
Senior guard Tyler Brouhard scored eight points in the opening frame for the Cavaliers on a pair of 3-pointers and a runner in the lane, while 6-foot-7 senior center Jay Ball had six points on three hoops inside.
Rich Hill held a 23-19 lead in the second quarter, but Thomas Jefferson finished the first half on a 13-3 surge.
During the spurt, Brouhard hit back-to-back 3-pointers, Ball scored inside, Brouhard made a short jumper near the foul line and senior guard Levi Triplett buried a corner trey just before the buzzer to give the Cavaliers a 32-26 halftime lead.
Rich Hill started the second half on a 10-0 run to go up 36-32. But the Cavaliers responded by finishing the third period on a 14-7 burst to take a 46-43 lead into the fourth quarter.
During the third quarter spurt, Triplett hit a pair of key 3-pointers and Kohl Thurman contributed a basket in the lane.
Ball scored five straight points early in the fourth quarter to stretch out TJ’s lead to 51-45.
However, Ball and Brouhard both picked up their fourth fouls early in the final frame, and both had to spend time on the bench.
But the Cavaliers never relinquished their lead. Rich Hill pulled within two with just over three minutes to play before Ball scored in transition to make it a two-possession lead at 55-51.
Thomas Jefferson sealed the win by making 13-of-16 free throws down the stretch. Brouhard went 10-for-12 at the charity stripe, while Tony Touma and Ball also connected on late free throws.
The Cavaliers closed the game on a 15-7 run.
Thomas Jefferson’s 1-2 punch of Brouhard and Ball combined to score 52 points.
Brouhard led the way with 27 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots. Brouhard made four 3-pointers.
Ball scored 25 points to go with 17 rebounds and six blocked shots.
Triplett added 10 points with a trio of treys, while Thurman scored four and Touma had two.
“Tyler and Jay had big games, but Levi Triplett stepped up and hit some big shots and Kohl Thurman played some big minutes for us tonight,” Coach Myers said.
Rich Hill finishes the season with a record of 21-8.
The Tigers received 16 points apiece from Zane Becker and Magal Chol-Case. Lane Hardin added 10 points for Rich Hill.
QUARTERFINALS
For the Cavaliers, a familiar postseason foe awaits—St. Elizabeth. Thomas Jefferson has suffered season-ending losses to St. Elizabeth in the quarterfinal round the past two years.
Friday’s quarterfinal clash between Thomas Jefferson and St. Elizabeth (19-10) is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at UCM.
