Boyer Scores 1,000th Point; Dragons Raid North Co.

BY MICHAEL BOYD JR.

HERALD SPORTS EDITOR

BONNE TERRE, Mo.  —  Ricky Hunter shot the lights out and two teammates had double-doubles as conference rivals Ste. Genevieve and North St. Francois County engaged in a boys’ basketball battle for the third time already this season.

Having split the first two meetings with a potential fourth meeting in a few weeks, Hunter scored a game-high 30 points to power the Dragons to a 76-60 victory Friday (Jan. 13)  at NCHS in Bonne Terre during large-schools divisional action of the Mineral Area Activities Association Conference.

Hunter, a senior, countered Lane Wigger’s 25 points as the two combined for six 3-pointers in the shootout.

But it was the Dragons’ 49 total rebounds, plus an 18 for 29 performance from the foul line that doomed the Raiders (6-8, 0-2 MAAA).

Both teams combined to shoot 40 total free throws, but combined to miss 14 of those freebies.

Despite trailing 29-28 at break time, the Dragons outscored them 48-31 in the second half.

Ste. Genevieve (11-3, 2-0), which committed nine turnovers, remained atop the conference standings with a looming meeting with conference favorite and co-leader Park Hills Central later this week.

The Dragons, who shot 46% from the floor and had 19 assists, trailed 14-13 after one quarter and 29-28 at intermission. But outscored the host 25-13 for a 53-42 advantage heading into the final frame.

Hunter, who sank four treys, scored 19 of his points in the second half, including 11 in the third quarter; he shot 12 for 22 from the floor. The shooting guard also had six rebounds and four assists.

Kaden Flye posted a double-double with 17 points on 7 of 16 shooting and 12 rebounds, plus four assists, two steals and blocked a shot.

Aiden Boyer also had a double-double, adding 10 points on 3 of 10 shooting, 14 rebounds and three assists.

Tucker Reed had seven points and four rebounds. Zach Henderson had six points. Alex Basler had four assists and Jon Merklin blocked a shot.

The Raiders’ Andrew Civey had 18 points to help Wigger’s performance. They were 7 for 11 from the charity stripe.

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Dragons 77, Arcadia Valley 49

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo.  —  Senior Aiden Boyer scored his 1,000th career point and Ricky Hunter scored a game-high 23 points as Ste. Genevieve rolled over Arcadia Valley during MAAA interleague action last Tuesday (Jan. 10) at SGHS’s Peggy J. Johnson Memorial Gymnasium.

Ste. Genevieve used the middle quarters  —  outscored the Tigers 44-25  —  to pull away against the Ironton-based Tigers as they shot 44% overall, hauled in 33 total rebounds and collected 14 steals and had 18 assists.

The host Dragons (10-3) led 15-14 after one quarter, 37-23 at intermission and 59-39 heading into the final frame.

Hunter shot 8 of 22 from the hardwood and was 8 of 9 from the charity stripe. He also had six rebounds, three assists and two steals. He provided the assists on Boyer’s 1,000th point. Hunter also scored his 1,000th point back in December.

Boyer just missed a double-double with eight rebounds and also blocked a shot. He was 7 for 10 from the floor, including a 3-pointer.

Boyer is a three-sport standout with football and baseball as well, and is also the Dragons’ three-year starter at quarterback who covers the outfield with ease from centerfield.

Kaden Flye also missed a double-double with 13 points on 5 of 14 shooting, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Tucker Reed had 13 points on 6 of 7 shooting and had one block.

Alex Basler had five points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals.

The Tigers’ Jackson Dement scored 10 of his 20 points in the third quarter. Gage Douglass added 14 points with four 3-pointers. They were 4 of 7 from the foul line.

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NEXT

The Dragons host nonconference foe De Soto Dragons at 5 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 17),

They then head to Park Hills to face conference rival Central Rebels at 5 p.m. Friday (Jan. 20). Both teams sit atop of the MAAA large-school standings with no conference losses at this time.