Initially scheduled to open play in the Fourth Annual Belle Boys Basketball Tournament Monday night, the host Tigers had to wait nearly a week before getting a chance to play first-round action.

Originally scheduled to face Richland’s Bears last Monday night, Tim Evans’ Belle Tigers had to wait five more days before getting to take the court Saturday.

Losing three nights of the tournament to winter weather, four games were finally able to be played Saturday at Belle High School.

Opening the game on an 8-2 run, Belle could not sustain the momentum against a solid Richland squad before falling 84-66 to the top-seeded Bears in the first of four games Saturday morning.

“We got off to a good start, we just got outplayed by a very good Richland team that showed why they were voted the top seed in our tournament,” Evans said.

Three-point shots by Colten Robinson and Lane Feeler along with an Eddy Paz basket helped the Tigers to their aforementioned early 8-2 lead.

Seeing the Bears knot the score at 8-8, Gentry Dunn splashed home another 3-pointer putting Belle back in front 11-8 with 4:04 for the first quarter.

As it turned out, that was the last lead of the game for the Tigers when Richland closed the opening quarter on a 16-5 run.

Behind five points from Carter Dunn in the second quarter, Belle was able to stay within striking distance of the Bears trailing 40-29 at halftime.

In addition to Carter Dunn’s five first-half points, Tigers also putting in five first-half markers included Jat Ridenhour and Robinson.

Down as much as 17 points on four occasions in the third quarter, Belle put 21 points on the board to open the second half to go into the fourth quarter trailing the top-seeded Bears, 65-50.

Seeing Richland open the final eight minutes on a 14-4 run, Belle did not have enough offense to answer Richland.

Robinson led three Belle Tigers in double figures with 14 points.

Paz added 10 points in addition to a double double of 10 points and 11 rebounds from Ridenhour.

Gentry Dunn and Feeler chipped in seven points to go along with five markers each from Brett Stewart and Carter Dunn.

Thomas Lingo and Jace Gieck rounded out the scoring for Belle with four points apiece.

Richland also had three Bears in double figures led by Kaden Kardosz’s game-high 23 points.

Ethan Fagre added a triple double of 22 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

Veston Fearson scored 12 of his 20 points in the second half for the Bears who will play Chamois tonight (Wednesday) at 5:30 p.m., in the championship semifinals with the winner to take on Owensville in the championship game on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2:30 p.m.

Game two Saturday saw Missouri Military Academy (MMA) face Newburg in the consolation semifinals.

Outscoring the Wolves 37-21 in the second half, MMA defeated Newburg 62-39 behind a game-high 22 points from Gunner Stugart. Hunter Mentola paced the Wolves with 14 points.

Concluding first-round action in game three were Chamois’ Pirates and South Callaway’s Bulldogs.

Nursing a 26-24 halftime lead, Chamois held the Bulldogs to 12 second-half points going on to a 52-36 victory behind a game-high 18 points from Nate Nolte.

Owensville defeated Cuba 69-49 in the final game of the day Saturday at Belle.