High school boys' basketball: Kirksville holds off Fulton for Class 4, District 8 title

MEXICO - Senior forward Tyler Sayler's potential game-tying basket to force overtime was waved off as the No. 2 seed Hornets fell to the No. 1 Tigers 71-69 for the Class 4, District 8 championship Thursday night.

Fulton - which lost both of its North Central Missouri Conference matchups with Kirksville during the regular season - finished with a 15-11 record. The Hornets were seeking their first district title since 1996.

"I am extremely proud of the way our guys fought and competed," Fulton head coach Justin Gilmore said. "They went toe-to-toe with one of the better teams in our area and nearly came out on top.

"Our guys have so much fight in them and never backed down, even when things weren't going our way. It is because of young men like them that I am so proud to call myself the coach of the Fulton Hornets."

The Hornets were in front 20-19 after one quarter, but Kirksville outscored Fulton 22-15 in the second quarter and carried a 41-35 lead into halftime. The Tigers took a 57-52 advantage into the fourth quarter, setting up a dramatic final 8 minutes with the Hornets.

Freshman guard Walker Gohring knocked down a 3-pointer with about 2 minutes to play, bringing Fulton within 66-64. Kirksville then increased its lead to four points, but Sayler was fouled on a missed 3 with :24 left and converted all three free throws to make it 68-67.

After the Tigers hit a pair of free throws, Hornets freshman guard Courtland Simmons drove the length of the floor for a layup to keep it a one-point game with :15 to go. Kirksville then connected on one of two free throws to make it 71-69.

Fulton grabbed the rebound and - with no timeouts left - quickly pushed the ball downcourt with about :12 remaining. The Hornets worked the ball around the perimeter and it ended up in the hands of Sayler, who banked in a shot but it barely came after time had expired.

Simmons topped Fulton with 19 points, while Sayler and fellow senior forward John Adams both tallied 16. Freshman guard Josh Reams chipped in with 11 points.

"This was a district title game played at a high level by both teams - it was a back-and-forth battle that was close all game long," Gilmore said. "It was a great season for our guys. They came so far in the last few months. The growth this team went through is something that they can always - and should always - be proud of.

"I want to thank our seniors - Tyler and John - for their leadership. They have been the heart and soul of our team all year and it is going to be tough to see them go. Those two young men embody what it means to be a Fulton Hornet and are great role models for all the guys to come after them."

Paxton Dempsay directed Kirksville (21-5) with a game-high 25 points and Noah Copeland was next with 24. The Tigers will face the winner of Saturday's District 7 championship - between McCluer (22-4) and St. Dominic (16-10) - in a Class 4 sectional game Tuesday night at Troy Buchanan High School.