COLUMBIA, Mo. - Despite senior guard Blake Parker producing a game-high 22 points, the South Callaway Bulldogs were defeated by the Hallsville Indians early Sunday morning at the ninth-annual Norm Stewart Classic.
The game tipped off at midnight at Columbia College's Southwell Gymnasium. Hallsville (3-0) jumped out to a 22-9 lead after the first quarter and maintained a 41-30 advantage at halftime. The Indians outscored South Callaway (0-2) 21-13 in the third period to stretch their lead to 62-43.
"We got off to a slow start offensively and Hallsville came out hot," South Callaway head coach Tony Brandt said. "We dug an early hole and couldn't dig out of it."
Junior guards Dylan Lepper and Kaden Helsel came up with 10 points apiece as the Bulldogs shot 33 percent (19-of-57) from the field. Sophomore guard Peyton Leeper pulled down a team-high six rebounds, but the Indians took a 41-26 advantage on the boards.
"We have been plagued with poor shooting to open up the season. I believe this will come around as the season goes," Brandt said. "The rebounding margin in this game was too much to overcome. Hallsville attacked the offensive glass hard and we didn't have an answer for that."
Junior guard Ethan Thompson led Hallsville with 21 points as the Indians shot 50 percent (28-of-56) from the floor. Junior guard Graham Moser tallied 18 points and 11 rebounds, while senior forward Brayden Blakemore added 12 points.
South Callaway hosts Montgomery County at 6 p.m. today.