Eagles Crowned Class 4 District 3 Champions

Sullivan’s boys basketball team cruised to a 41-25 win on Friday in the Class 4 District 3 championship against St. James.

The Eagles claimed their first district championship since 2019 and won their home floor for the first time since 2003.

Sullivan heads to sectionals where they faced Lift for Life at Kirkwood High School on Tuesday.

Sullivan was rarely threatened Friday against the top-seeded Tigers, who had lost on the same court two weeks earlier.

Sullivan led 11-4 after one quarter and 21-8 at the half.

Friday’s championship victory capped off a late season surge for the Eagles, who won seven of their last nine games. They tallied four straight heading into sectionals.

St. James had chances to bury the Eagles early, but Sullivan survived a shaky beginning to eventually go on top.

The Tigers took a 4-0 lead minutes into the game. Kyle Lewis swatted away Chris Bonne’s shot, then the Tigers failed to convert at the free throw line.

Chris Boone had a fastbreak layup in his sights, but missed.

Sullivan capitalized from there.

Blaine Sappington scored on a layup. Charlie Lohden followed with a three-point play. Luke Todd landed a 3-pointer and Head Coach Ben Smith of St. James took a timeout with 2:59 on the clock. 

Logan Watters capped off the 11-0 run with a 3-pointer close to the buzzer.

Lohden netted three more free throws for Sullivan and Eagles Head Coach Dino McKinney took a timeout with 6:13 remaining in the first half. 

St. James came back with a layup from Logan Sparks and Gabe Dace answered back with a 3-point blast. 

McKinney took another timeout to talk to his team and it worked after Lohden scored on a fast break layup. 

Sappington dropped in a layup and Sullivan led 21-8 at the end of the first half. 

In the third quarter, St. James tried to mount a comeback. They first tried to when Blake Redburn landed a layup and a free throw. Sullivan had plenty of time to set up a play and found Sappington wide open under the basket to score an inside layup. He then scored one free throw and another layup at five and a half minutes into the quarter. James Perkins of St. James landed two free throws and was answered back when Watters landed an inside layup. Lohden missed a three point shot from behind the line and the ball was rebounded by Sappington. He tried to sink one in the hoop but came up short and instead landed one from the free throw line. Boone netted another free throw. During a scramble under the hoop, the ball bounced loose and it seemed like Gabe Dace came up with the loose ball. The play was overturned and the Tigers secured the ball. Lewis stormed down the court on a fast break and passed the ball to an open Sam Summers who scored on an inside layup. 

Sullivan led to start the final quarter, 31-16. Sullivan gained control while they passed the ball around to try and run the clock. St. James scored again on a fast break layup. 

Gavin Dace came up short on a free throw and St. James tried to return with a basket but was short and Sullivan scooped up the rebound.

 Sullivan missed a basket but Gavin Dace secured the rebound for Sullivan. St. James blocked Sullivan from a basket and McKinney called a timeout with 4:45 on the clock. 

Lohden landed two more free throw baskets and Boone answered back with a free throw basket. Perkins placed a layup off the inside glass and finished his score off with a free throw. 

Todd tried to tally in another layup but was fouled and came up short on the free throw. Boone missed another free throw and the loose ball was rebounded by Gavin Dace, who found Sappington for a 3-pointer. 

Boone danced his way through defenders for a late layup and McKinney called another timeout. 

Lewis landed two more free throws for Sullivan and Lohden finished the score with two free throws under a minute left.