2014 Bloomfield Christmas Tournament Seeding And Bracket

Bottom half of bracket will be competitive. You have Dexter,Malden,Kennett, and Bloomfield, all of which have a great shot at going far. Top half should be between Hayti and Bernie with Hayti being the favorite.

I disagree a little. Teams like east prairie and twin rivers will challenge. You can also count on south Pemiscot playing better. You also have to consider that Hayti rarely plays real well at Bloomfield and they will have to stay sharp to keep playing at the level,they are playing at. Lots of good coaches in this tournament who will make you earn it.

That being said I believe both the top and bottom of the bracket will be competitive. This could shape up to be one of the most competitive, parity driven tournaments in a while. Not one team in the field that can just walk on the floor and win.

Not a lot of surprise on the seedings other than East Prairie getting the #13 seed. I think they deserved better than that. That will be a dangerous first round game for Bernie IMO.

EP hurt themselves by losing to Portageville who was beaten by Cooter and pounded by Hayti. That being said, I agree with you regarding them being a tough first round opponent for Bernie.

I see the Bloomfield vs Puxico game being tight.

The top three should handle the bottom three pretty easily I agree with Preacher Man. Bernie is not as good as in past years But with them having one of the smarter coaches in Southeast Mo. they get a lot done with what they have so that game against East Prairie might be close. Twin Rivers has beat Holcomb once this season I also feel Portageville will handle Dexter.With an 0-4 record Dexter is the one team that is rank to high Bloomfield has had Puxico's number for the last couple of years and as usually the 8th and 9th seeds are a toss up

I could see 13 teams with a chance to get to the semifinals.

I am going to go out on a limb and pick the 5 seed to win the whole thing!

Because?

This field is similar to two years ago to me when Holcomb won the whole thing as an 6 seed. It is not a huge stretch at all to see Bloomfield winning the entire tournament out of the 7 slot.

Completely agree with No sir regarding Bloomfield.

I also think Puxico has close to the same percentage chance and Bloomfield has to play them in the first round.

If Twin Rivers can keep all their player on the floor and out of foul trouble, watch out!

trhoops

I haven't seen Twin Rivers play a game this season. Don't know much about them?

I anticipate history might happen soon enough when their 8th grade team matures, but are you calling history this year at Twin Rivers?

Well Dustin i said i was going out on a limb lol! But i like Twin rivers team if they will play hard start to finish.They got caught sleeping down at the Holcomb inv.Maybe the coach needs to make sure those type of runs don't happen without yelling a bit to wake them up!

Been looking at the bracket guys and this is a little odd when the pairings shape out.

In the top half of the bracket Round 2:

Hayti vs. S Pem - I pick Hayti

Bernie vs Twin Rivers - Bernie

Round 4 is Bernie vs Hayti - Bernie is over matched here. Hayti is the pick.

Bottom Half of Bracket:

Round 2:

Malden vs. Puxico - Malden wins

Kennett vs. Dexter - Dexter losses

Round 3 Malden vs Kennett - Malden

Championship

Malden vs Hayiti - Hayti takes this one

Nope..Not history, just a solid team that has a ton of talent. Watched Bernie beat them at holcomb. Should have never happened. Looked like they got out coached. Should beat them in second round at bct.

trhoops,

If you watched Bernie beat TR at Holcomb. What was your assessment of TR's gaurds being able to gaurd Vernon off the dribble?

One of the things I noticed consistently was that Vernon was able to dribble penetrate off all the gaurds they had gaurding him.

I also didn't see that they had any answer for Ellenburg's all over the court game.

Best Buddies

East Prairie-Bernie might be very close in the first round. But I've picked Hayti over Bernie so many times in the last five years and been wrong I look like a fool when I make predictions.

I think the field is so close this year predictions are impossible, just like in football season.

trhoops

Benson and Botsch both get the most out of their talent, in my opinion. Both have beaten each other from time to time.

Dustin,

Looking at Bernie this year, they are lacking depth. With this match up in the 3rd round being their 3rd game in 4 nights, I see the lack of depth to play role in this game.

Looking at the bracket, 4 games in 5 nights in order to make it to the championship will take a toll on teams lacking depth.

I also see a lot of evenly matched teams as well.

Best Buddies

I think the 3rd game in four nights has zero impact with Sunday of for Bernie, East Prairie or Twin Rivers.

Sunday off is an advantage to prepare for Hayti, in my opinion.

Any team that's not in good enough shape to play Friday-Saturday, then off Sunday, then Monday-Tuesday, their coach should be fired.

Bernie is well coached but they don't have enough horses this year. If they don't get out to a quick lead, they can't play that "stall" game they love to play. If East Praire or Rivers plays up tempo, Bernie will lose.

I guess I missed the stall game in Bernie the last 25 plus years. Care to elaborate Dago67.

Definitely looking forward to that game.

I think the Presberry brothers and Brandon Burden will present major issues inside for Bernie. I look for Bernie to struggle on the boards in this game. They will need an excellent outside shooting night and lots of pressure on Hayti's ball handlers in this game.

Dustin,

I'd like to see that so called stall game Dago is talking about. Bernie is normally a team that attacks, plays excellent defense, and has one of the top coaches if not best around.

If Dago is referring to the Holcomb game. Yes they slowed the game down in the second quarter especially after Ellenburg came out of the game. They also did it in the second half. I would say that is excellent coaching on Bernie's part. I'd do the same thing once I had a decent lead. Its called controlling the ball. Making sure your taking smart selective shots.

Bernie honestly has very limited depth if you have seen them this year. When you have 5 players that you need to play around 30 or more minutes it becomes necessary to slow the game down and play a well managed game.

Best Buddies

The rebounding argument seems more logical than the stall game stuff.

Dustin Ward.. If high school bb had a shot clock, Bernie wouldnt win a game! Love to watch Bernie, but, they play stall ball, and lots of it. I seen them blow 2 plus minute chunks off the clock several times this year alone. Love their intensity up to that point, then its round r round at the top of the key. Hard for me to watch.

No disrespect to twin rivers but I'm not seeing this "ton" of talent that they have. They are well coached and their kids play real hard.

I've only seen Bernie play Risco this year. I think most would agree Brad Botsch is among the best coaches in the state. Without seeing other games they played I won't dispute your thoughts. But that's not the style in recent years.

trhoops

I heard Twin Rivers lacked offense? Have I been mislead?

I think Botsch is prob the best coach in the area.

What's wrong with playing to win with no shot clock? That's what I would do anywhere at the right time for the right seed at Bloomfield?

Dustin,

I'm not concerned about Bernie's past 24 years. There history isn't of question. Presently, Bernie is two different teams. One with Elllenburg, and one without. The latter has trouble scoring. If either Twin Rivers or East Praire jumps out on them, Bernie might have some trouble

trhoops

Don't forget the work of Drew Church up north at Cape Central.

Dago67

Scoring seems to be an alarming problem for everyone but Woodland in the immediate area this season.

Guys,

Here's the game link if anyone wants to take a look at the Championship game at the Holcomb Tournament where Bernie played Twin Rivers. After reviewing the game tape. One of the slickest moves occurs at 1:20:07. Number 4 for Bernie gets the lose ball and is promptly fouled by Twin Rivers number # 24. When they come down to shout the free throws Bernie's #3 shoots the free throws instead.

http://youtu.be/ZTvn8vAkJ48?list=UUpJXOJYrJhXzgGcjL9Qdeiw

I would rank Botsch and Church as the most successful in the last five seasons in southeast Missouri.

Dustin,

You do what you can to win. I personally have no problem with stall ball. As a spectator, it's painful to watch. I've seen Bernie play 3 times this year. I honestly don't think that's going to get them far in this tournament.

I see is a Malden team celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the '85 Class 3A State Championship with a junior post named Ison...looks like deja vu to me! That '85 team lost two games early to eventual state champions in Tennessee and this team's only loss so far this year is to Scott County Central (who won their 17th State championship last year)...don't sleep on the Green Wave...not predicting that they make a run to the State Championship because their district is gonna be a load but I think they have enough horses to win another Bloomfield Tournament and it will be nice to see them hoist that trophy again...

Dago67

Fair statement. But I think it makes sense to play the percentages to win. Most good coaches always do that and their are a ton in this tournament.

Cowbell

I called Malden early in football season. More reluctant to let the game be the game in basketball and see what happens. But I strongly admire what they are doing in the Malden athletic program this season. Never been a bette time to move to Malden.

Can't argue Bosches' success

Hard work in practice with the field historically balanced could be the difference. Calling the right offensive play in the final 30 seconds of a tie game with the ball may have value for the champion.

Malden plays at Kennett Tuesday night. May be a semi-final preview.

tmm2224

Would you try to win Round 1 or Round 2 or both?

Dustin,

I've got to admit that I've liked a lot of the set full court inbound plays I saw Bostch run in the TR game. They were very good and it ended with Ellenburg in a foot race layup down the court. I would love to draw it up. It was brilliant from the inbound to finish.

I am trying to decide if I will be at the Kennett vs Malden game Tuesday night or the battle of the century match up between Woodland vs. Bernie.

I love high school basketball! Better than NBA anyday! lol

trhops,

I attend basketball games all over SE Missouri and agree.

Dustin,

That will definitely be a great game for people to attend at Woodland Tuesday.

The debate is definitely heating up following the seedings.

I like that not much is being said about my Kennett Indians. They have been missing a starter the entire season and will have him back for this tourney. Will make a big difference. He will not, from what I'm being told, be back for Malden game at kennett Tuesday. All that sets up well for a kennett run at Bloomfield. Their success in the last 5 years in this tourney should serve them well. But the field is very balanced this year.

I can promise you that Tuesday's game Bernie vs. Woodland will not disappoint. That will be a throw down and I can guarantee that Woodland isn't going to let Bernie play their infamous stall ball against them. Woodland is high intensity the entire time. Should be an awesome game. Come out everybody and fill the seats! If you can't make it, tune into kmhm 104.1 as I will be broadcasting it on the radio.

Jwhitlock I personally don't think twin rivers has a ton of talent but I do think they are very solid up and down the line up if they can get Snider to improve one more level and play hard start to finish they will be a hand full I watched them against a good my view liberty team was right there to win that game and forgot to start the game against Bernie

I agree totally with what you've said porch.

I agree that Dexter should be ranked where they are, its just very hard to see a 0 in the wins column and ranked above teams that have already won this season. Does anyone know anything about Saxony? I have seen their Jv play at the Bell City tournament, and if they are any indication, they are going to push the tempo, but I have yet to see or hear anything about their Varsity. Also didn't EP win a game by almost 100 points this year? I know that it was against Delta, but still they had to have something going to put up that many points. Anyways I will sit back and watch the comments progress as the tournament gets closer!

I was wondering the same thing about Saxony. Last year they came in at a 5 seed and got beat first round. I also am surprised by the seeds of Portageville and South Pem. I havent heard anything about them much. So I was wondering about these teams .

I'm sure this ones a Hayti/Malden championship. No other team has shown consistency like these 2 have. Has either of them had an off night? If someone says maldens 4 point loss to SCC was an off night then that proves my point even more. That being said a lot of parity this year. Who knows where championship night will bring us.

bball79

Kennett's probably as good of a pick as anybody.

If this field of teams and potential match-ups end up being this compelling in person, I'm going to have a lot to work with behind the PA mic again this year! Yup, I'll be back announcing in-arena this year! Apologies in advance, haha.

I'll take Hayti over Malden in the finals in what good be a string of good games between these two conference foes.

I've seen people posting a starter for Kennett will be available for the Bloomfield tournament. Is this due to an injury?

I think it is a discipline issue and he is almost out of timeout.

If the returning starter for Kenneth is Nelson, then Kennett would be a contender. The wild card is Dexter. Their inside game is week However, they have two or three junior shooters that can put up 3 balls on any given night and one shooter is fearless that can and will drive the lane and draw fouls for old fashion 3. if they get hot and on a run, look out. I agree with the parity comment, The Stoddard County teams are as strong this year as I have seen in recent years.

Twin Rivers Vs Hayti tonight, so we'll see what happens.

Have to score a lot of points to beat Hayti.

Richland and Marquand tied at 28-28 at halftime.

Dustin,

Who's winning the Richland-Marquand game?

48 Hayti

38 Twin Rivers

Final

Bromo100

Richland won by about 10.

Hayti and Twin Rivers was 54-44...

Does anyone have a summary of what the coaches said about their teams like they did with the Southeast Missourian Christmas tourney?

Don't know where some of ya'LL talkin bout a stall game and Bernie my son played 4 years and the only stall i ever saw was to take the last shot of a quarter or we was ahead by 30 and cuttin ya som

e slack !!!!

Haven't seen a lot of the teams in the BCT but I saw East Prairie tonight and if they are a threat then the field there is very weak.

Larry

Year-after-year Bloomfield offers a better atmosphere and closer games with the exception of the years Dexter dominated at Bloomfield and Advance and Bell City were contenders at the big show.

With this being said I'm not convinced the Bloomfield field will produce a final four team at the end of the year.

Granted Advance is as big of a contender this season as some of the years they won it all under legendary coach Jim Hall. Not sure if he ever received a one seed in his run at Advance in the Show Me Center.

Dustin, I never said anything about atmosphere or closeness of games (not to mention Advance), but you did a good job of setting up and knocking down that straw man.

Now if you want to talk comfort of seating, ease of parking and concessions I can knock that one down easily inside the comfy confines of the SMC.

Concessions are definitely much better at the Show Me Center. No argument there.