Basketball teams from Belle and Vienna looked to extend their seasons last week during their respective Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 2 District Basketball Tournaments in Laquey and New Bloomfield.

Kicking things off back on Saturday, Feb. 22 were the Vienna Lady Eagles in the Class 2, District 8 Tournament at Laquey facing the Newburg Lady Wolves.

Able to trim the lead down to six in the fourth quarter, Vienna could not get any closer before seeing their season end after a 42-32 first-round loss to the Lady Wolves.

Kadence George led Vienna with 10 points followed closely with six points each from Autumn Smith and Kamryn Hayes.

Marsie Messersmith added five points while Tera Huffman chipped three points rounded out by two points from Karissa Feeler.

George was one of 11 players selected to the Class 2, District 8 Girls All-District Basketball Team as voted on by the coaches.

Newburg went on to defeat Crocker in the semifinals before upsetting top-seeded Richland to win the district title, 48-44.

Class 2 Sectional action tonight (Wednesday) will see Newburg face Mansfield at Mountain Grove High School.

Moving to New Bloomfield and the MSHSAA Class 2, District 9 Girls Basketball Tournament, Evin Farris’ Belle Lady Tigers opened their tournament in the first round against Harrisburg.

Trailing 10-8 after one quarter, Belle edged the Lady Bulldogs 17-16 to go into halftime trailing 26-25.

Winning the third quarter 10-9, the Lady Tigers and Harrisburg went into the fourth quarter tied at 35-35.

Playing the final eight minutes to a 9-9 draw, Belle and Harrisburg found themselves going to overtime tied at 44-44.

Scoring three points each in the first overtime, both teams went into double overtime tied at 47-47.

Held to three points, Belle saw their season end in the first round of districts with a 56-50 double-overtime loss.

Halle Smith led all scorers with a game-high 25 points. Grace Busch also reached double figures in her final basketball game with 11 points.

Smith was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the district.

Harrisburg went on to reach the district title game before falling 54-39 to top-seeded Eugene.

Also Monday in Laquey, Greg Koetting’s Vienna Eagles could not overcome a 44-15 halftime deficit before falling to Plato’s Eagles 72-33.

Layne Hogshooter led Vienna with seven points followed by six from Nathan Kleffner who was also named to the Class 2, District 9 Boys All-Tournament Team.

Plato went on to lose eventual district champion Iberia.

Tim Evan’s Belle Tigers also could not overcome a 40-17 halftime hole before falling to Linn’s Wildcats 75-51.

Colten Robinson led Belle with 15 points in his final game donning a Tiger basketball uniform.

Lane Feeler also scored in double figures with 13 points.