Blue Eye Boys Punch Ticket to Class 2 State Basketball Tournament

Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 6:47 PM

By Scott McCaulley @smcckc

Another Lakes Area team has punched a ticket to State Postseason Play.

A day after the Crane Lady Pirates outlasted Blue Eye in an All-Lakes Area Class 2 Girls Title Game, the Blue Eye Boys held off area school Wheaton to claim the District 11 title in Blue Eye 44-39. After both teams started off slowly, the Bulldogs started an 11-2 run midway through the first quarter and though Wheaton kept making charges, Blue Eye made enough baskets and free throws to claim the title. Braden Johnson scored 14 while Colton Spinning added 13 to pace the Bulldogs to their second District Title in the last three years.

The Bulldogs will next play in the Class 2 Sectional on Tuesday at either Ash Grove or Thomas Jefferson/Joplin. Those two schools are playing for the District 12 title Saturday evening.