NORRIS CITY — The Meridian Bobcats used a 21-5 run over the third and fourth quarters to erase a nine-point deficit and beat Waltonville 52-45 in the first semifinal of the NCOE 1A Sectional.
The game was a defensive scrum, much different than the first meeting between the two teams, one that resulted in 164 combined points in an 86-78 Meridian win in Mounds back in mid-January.
Waltonville led 18-15 at the half. After the Bobcats scored the first basket of the third, the Spartans ripped off eight straight to take a 26-17 lead. Meridian closed the gap to 29-27 by the end of the third, then seized control in the fourth quarter behind sophomore Javionne Ranson. Ranson scored 12 of his game high 20 points as Meridian outscored Waltonville 25-16 in the fourth.
Kyle Cooper led the Spartans with 14 points, while Gage Peterson added 13. Will Thurston also reached double figures with 10 for Meridian.
The Bobcats improve to 26-8 and advance to Friday night’s sectional championship game, where they will face defending 1A state champion Waterloo Gibault. The Hawks (21-14) downed Goreville 51-44 in the other semifinal.
The Spartans finished their season 25-7. The Blackcats’ season ended at 31-4.
