Day 1 of the Showdown

The opening night of the Poplar Bluff Showdown saw a thrilling overtime win for the host and three double-digit wins.

The Mules reached the championship side of the bracket for the first time since 2004 with a 64-60 overtime win over North Pulaski (Ark.). Poplar Bluff will face defending champion Liberty Tech of Jackson, Tenn., which beat Forrest City, Ark. in the final game Tuesday.

Warren Central of Bowling Green, Ky. beat Greene County Tech (Ark.), 74-40, while Ballard of Louisville, Ky. beat Tupelo (Miss.), 90-61.

Poplar Bluff 64, North Pulaski 60

Greg Coble's steal off an inbound pass and layin with 1.1 seconds left in overtime lifted the host Mules.

Poplar Bluff senior Jay Raulston scored 15 points and tied a school record wth 20 rebounds while Eljie Johnson recorded a double-double of 13 points and 12 boards. Coble finished with 12 points while Jake White added 11 for the Mules, who won an opening round game for the first time since winning the tournament in 2004.

Kyron Ware scored 18 points to lead North Pulaski while Missouri State-bound Aaron Cooper scored 14 points to go with five assists and four steals. Byron Colson added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Falcons, who traveled to Poplar Bluff for the first time.

The Falcons led by as many as 14 late in the first half, but the Mules pulled to within 32-21 at the break. Poplar Bluff trailed by 12 before putting together a 16-4 run to pull even heading into the fourth quarter.

There were five lead changes and four ties in the fourth alone. Raulston's hook from the paint broke a 52-52 tie with 1:11 left. Ware answered with a 3 with 50 seconds remaining. White was fouled 9 seconds later driving through the lane and hit the second of two free throws to tie the game. Both teams missed chances to win in regulation, then didn't score for the first 1:46 of overtime.

Johnson's spin move and bucket in the paint tied the game at 58 with 51 seconds left in overtime. Christian Knight hit two free throws with 16.9 to put the Falcons up but Kendric McCain hit a pull-up jumper in the paint that tied it at 60 with 5.5 on the clock.

Following a timeout, Coble stole the inbound pass and hit a layup to put the Mules ahead with 1.1 showing. White hit a layup after the Falcons threw another inbound pass away to ice the game.

Ballard 90, Tupelo 61

The Bruins opened the tournament with a 43-9 run and cruised in their first Showdown appearance since 1989.

Keisten Jones scored 26 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field to lead Ballard of Louisville, Ky. while Tyrell Means added 24 points, seven rebounds and five steals. The Bruins (10-1) shot nearly 60 percent from the field, including 8-for-10 from 3-point range in the first half to stake a 51-25 lead.

Deontaye Ewing led Tupelo (Miss.) with 17 points and six rebounds in the Golden Wave's first Showdown appearance.

Warren Central 74, Greene County Tech 40

George Fant scored nine of his 12 points during a 13-5 run by the Dragons to finish the first half. Central led by 17 at the break in a matchup of teams that returned to the Showdown.

Central, which finished third last year, was led by Jacob King's 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. Troy Holcomb added nine points, eight assists, seven rebounds and five steals. Shamarcus Wells and Brett Jackson each scored 12 for the Dragons, who are from Bowling Green, Ky.

Caleb Hartwig scored 14 to lead Tech, which finished second at last year's Showdown before winning a state title in Arkansas.

Liberty Tech 72, Forrest City 59

DeAndre Barnette scored 19, Tarius Johnson had a double-double while Kendall Anthony and the Crusaders picked up where they left off last season.

Anthony, who was named to the all-tournament team last year as Tech won the title, scored 13 points and had four assists. Johnson scored 12 and pulled down 12 rebounds for Tech, which led 22-16 after one quarter.

Teraye Lee and Willie Bean each scored 13 to lead the Mustangs, who lost in the opening round for the second straight year after winning the 2006 title.

The semifinals are Wednesday, starting at 4 p.m. with Tupelo and Greene County Tech. At 5:30 p.m., Ballard and Warren Central play the first championship semifinal while the Mules play Liberty Tech in the second at 8:30. North Pulaski and Forrest City play at 7 p.m. in the other consolation semifinal.

A 3-point and slam dunk contest is at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

For more, see Wednesday's DAR

From earlier Tuesday night.

Welcome to the 23rd Poplar Bluff Showdown here at Peters Gym.

I'll update throughout the night whenever I can, but I'll be pretty busy. Newer games will be on the top so you'll see them there as you refresh.

The final game has started between Forrest City and defending champion Liberty Tech.

After one quarter, Tech leads 22-16.

At halftime, Tech leads 38-28.

The first night is in the books ...

Forrest City 16 12 19 12 -- 59

Liberty Tech 22 16 22 12 -- 72

FORREST CITY -- Lee 3-9 (1-3) 4-6 13. Harris 3-6 1-2 7. Humphery 2-4 0-0 4. Bailey 1-3 (1-1) 0-0 5. Rogers 2-4 (1-3) 0-3 7. Austin 1-1 (0-1) 0-0 2. Bean 4-6 (0-2) 5-5 13. Barber 1-1 0-0 2. Moore 1-2 0-0 2. McKinney 2-4 0-0 4. McCoy 0-1 0-0 1. Driver 0-2 (0-1) 0-0 0. Totals: 20-43 (3-11) 10-16 59.

TECH -- Anthony 2-5 (2-6) 3-4 13. Johnson 5-8 (0-1) 2-5 12. Williams 4-7 (1-8) 2-4 13. Cain 1-2 (1-1) 3-4 8. Barnette 5-7 (2-4) 3-5 19. Yeates 0-1 1-2 1. Graham 0. Lindsey 0-0 1-2 1. Day 0-1 (1-1) 0-0 3. Bobo 0. Blaylock 1-1 0-0 2. Smith 0. Totals: 18-32 (7-21) 15-26 72.

Halftime of the third game with North Pulaski beating Poplar Bluff 32-21.

The Mules led 11-9 after one quarter but the Falcons scored nine straight to open the second and later went on a 12-2 run.

Mules have come back to tie the game heading into the fourth quarter, 41-41.

Tied at 52-52 with 1:45 left in fourth....

Jay Raulston hits a hooker from the right post with 1:11 left. North Pulaski's Kyron Ware hits a 3 from the corner to put the Falcons up 55-54 with 50 seconds left.

Jake White hits 1 of 2 free throws with 41 seconds left to tie the game at 55. ...

Falcons play for final shot but with 4.1 seconds left, Aaron Cooper is called for a carry. ...

White gets off a shot from the baseline at the buzzer but it falls short, OVERTIME NEXT, 55-55.

Falcons pull ahead midway through overtime but Mules get a bucket from Eljie Johnson in the paint to tie it at 58. Christian Knight (great name) hits two free throws for the Falcons with 16.9 seconds left for a 60-58 lead. ...

Kendric McCain hits a pull-up jumper in the paint to tie the game, time out with 5.5 seconds left. ...

Greg Coble steals inbound pass and scores with 1.1 seconds left. Falcons' inbound pass goes out of bounds, Jake White scores off inbound pass, Mules win 64-60.

Jay Raulston finishes with 15 points and 20 rebounds, tying the school record held by Lex Drum in 1977 district final and Tyler Hansbrough in 2004. Eljie Johnson scored 13 and had 12 boards while Jake White scored 11 and Coble finished with 12.

Cooper had 14 points, five assists for the Falcons while Kyron Ware scored 18.

North Pulaski 9 23 9 14 5 -- 60

Poplar Bluff 11 10 20 14 9 -- 64

NORTH PULASKI -- Ready 3-7 0-0 6. Cooper 4-12 (1-4) 14. Ware 4-5 (3-5) 1-1 18. Barron 1-8 0-1 2. Colson 4-9 2-2 10. Agee 0. Davis 0. Spicer 0. Knight 0-3 4-4 4. Bohannon 0. Allen 3-4 0-0 6. Totals: 19-48 (4-9) 10-14 60.

POPLAR BLUFF (7-2) -- Coble 5-7 2-5 12. Abraham 0-0 (0-2) 0-0 0. Raulston 7-14 (0-1) 1-4 15. White 3-7 (1-7) 2-4 11. Johnson 5-10 3-5 13. McCain 1-4 (1-3) 0-0 5. Griggs 0-0 (0-1) 0-0 0. McAnulty 0-2 1-2 1. Marler 2-2 (1-4) 0-0 7. Shrum 0. Totals: 23-46 (3-18) 9-20 64.

Greene County Tech of Paragould, Ark. and Warren Central of Bowling Green, Ky. have started the second game.

Central got out to an early 5-2 lead but Tech pulled even at 8 on Zach George's free throw with 1:47 left in the first quarter. Jacob King answered with a 3 for Central and the Dragons enter the second quarter up 12-8.

George Fant and the Dragons are putting together a run. Fant is scoring in the paint and Central has pulled out to a 30-17 lead with 2 minutes left in the half. Fant has scored seven points during the run.

Fant ends the half with a dunk, Central is up 34-17 at the break.

After three quarters, Central leads 58-31 and I've polished off a bunch of a hot wings to get ready for the Mules game. For some reason I always gain weight at this time of year.

The second game is in the books, Warren Central wins 74-40.

I'll be taking a break to cover the Mules game but will be back at halftime with an update.

Jacob King scored 17 to lead Central while Fant, Shamarcus Wells and Brett Jackson each had 12.

Tech was led by Caleb Hartwig's 14 points.

Warren Central 12 22 24 16 -- 74

Greene County Tech 8 9 14 9 -- 40

CENTRAL -- Holcomb 2-6 (1-2) 2-2 9. Carpenter 1-2 0-0 2. Wells 6-7 0-0 12. King 1-1 (5-9) 0-0 17. Fant 5-8 (0-1) 2-3 12. Boards 0. Jackson 5-7 2-4 12. Lake 0-1 -0 0. Barber 1-1 0-0 2. Marseca 0. Sheldon 1-2 0-0 2. Halsel 3-4 0-1 6. Bradley 0. Bledsoe 0. Totals 25-40 (6-12) 6-10 74.

TECH -- JosGoodman 1-3 (0-1) 0-0 2. Hartwig 6-16 2-5 14. George 1-4 (0-1) 3-4 5. Batten 2-5 (0-1) 2-2 6. Slayton 0-1 0-0 0. Shelton 0-0 (0-1) 1-3 1. Forehand 0-0 (0-1) 0-0 0. Porter 0-1 0-0 0. Snodgrass 0-0 (0-2) 0-0 0. McCreless 0-1 (2-3) 0-0 6. Liddell 1-1 0-0 2. Cothern 2-2 00 4. Totals: 13-34 (2-10) 8-14 40.

Ballard 90, Tupelo 61

The Bruins opened the tournament with a 43-9 run and cruised in their first Showdown appearance since 1989.

Keisten Jones scored 26 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field to lead Ballard of Louisville, Ky. while Tyrell Means added 24 points, seven rebounds and five steals. The Bruins (10-1) shot nearly 60 percent from the field, including 8-for-10 from 3-point range in the first half to stake a 51-25 lead.

Deontaye Ewing led Tupelo (Miss.) with 17 points and six rebounds in the Golden Wave's first Showdown appearance.

Tupelo 7 18 16 20 -- 61

Ballard 33 18 13 26 -- 90

TUPELO (11-4) -- Clayton 2-2 (1-3) 0-0 7. Marshall 1-5 (0-4) 2-2 4. Hadley 3-5 1-1 7. Ewing 3-8 (3-6) 2-4 17. Foster 3-5 (1-3) 0-0 9. Coleman 0-1 0-0 0. Morris 1-6 (0-1) 0-0 2. Brooks 4-10 (0-1) 0-0 8. Butler 1-3 (0-1) 0-0 2. Johnson 1-3 0-0 2. Sowers 0-1 0-0 0. Harrelson 0-2 (1-2) 0-0 3. Wilson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 19-52 (6-21) 5-7 61.

BALLARD (10-1) -- Means 10-12 4-4 24. Hardin 0-5 (0-1) 2-2 2. Chiles 3-5 (2-5) 0-0 12. Parker 2-3 0-0 4. Jones 5-5 (4-5) 4-4 26. Baker 0-0 (0-1) 2-2 2. Hardin 1-5 0-2 2. Johnson 1-3 0-0 3. Collier 1-1 (4-5) 0-0 14. Yackey 1-1 0-0 2. Parrish 0-0 (0-1) 0-0 0. Biggers 0. Sivills 1-1 0-0 2. Zoeller 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 25-42 (10-18) 10-14 90.

From earlier

Ballard out of Louisville, Ky. and Tupelo, Miss. are the first game of the tournament.

Ballard's Ian Chiles gets a fastbreak layin for the Showdown's first points at the 6:55 mark of the first quarter. Tyrell Means gets the first dunk to give Ballard a 4-0 lead.

Editor's Note: It was 7-0 when my phone went off, it was my wife saying she could smell something burning. A second later, 'Oh my!' click. Needless to say, I missed the next few minutes of the game tearing out of the gym and down the street before she called back to say everything was fine. By the time I got back here, Ballard was up 24-7.

We're heading into the second quarter with Ballard up 33-7.

Means throws down an ally-oop dunk from Devante Parker to start the second quarter.

The Bruins are one of the top teams in Kentucky. They've already beaten the defending state champs and preseason No. 1 (There's only one Bluegrass state title).

Ballard's lone loss was to Memphis Central, which beat the Mules 62-31 at the Riverbend Classic.

At halftime, it's Ballard 51, Tupelo 25. The Bruins hit 8-of-10 shots from 3-point range.

Tupelo also had a big win earlier this season, knocking off the top-ranked team in 6A (second overall in the state).

After three quarters, Ballard's lead is 64-41.

By the way, most first-round games at the Showdown are usually closer than your Nos. 1 vs. 16 seed at most holiday tournaments. Last year, however, was an exception with the total margin of victory at 62 points and only one closer than 10, Raytown South's two point win over New Madrid Central.

It's a final, Ballard wins, 90-61.

My pre-tournament pick for the final is Ballard against Liberty Tech. Then again, North Pulaski is pretty tough and I'd like to see what Warren Central looks like this year after finishing third at last year's Showdown.