By Fred Liggett
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The always popular Summit Grill Shootout tipped off for the 50th time on Monday night inside the Lee’s Summit High School Fieldhouse. Every team that was listed as home on the scoreboard came away with a victory in first round games.
The first game to tip off found St. Michaels taking on the LS West Titans. The Titans scored the first points of the tourney in just seven seconds but was challenged the rest of the first half by the Guardians. A Halftime lead of 28-20 by the Titans increased to 46-31 on their way to scoring a 53-45 win. The Titans improve to 4-9 on the season while the Guardians drop to 6-7. The Titans was led by Cameron Barnes with 15 points and the Guardians were led by Phillip Howard’s 20 point effort.
St. Michael’s second year head coach RJ Newton commented on being in the tourney, “I love it, got a taste of it last year.” Newton feels, “The tourney is run pretty well” and adds he is “happy having the opportunity.”
Up next was Columbia Rock Bridge who took a quick 15-5 lead over Raytown South and didn’t let up en route to a 48-32 victory. Raytown South, now 4-10, will play St Michael’s at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Meanwhile the Titans will play the Bruins in a semi-final game at 7 p.m.
The evening continued with tourney host Lee’s Summit routing Ruskin 66-41. The Tigers improved to 8-4 on the season thanks to nine three pointers the team scored with Cameron Yows finishing with a team high 16 points. Tigers will play Raytown in a semi-final round game at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday night. The first round ended with Raytown Blue Jays needing every one of their 57 points in a 57-56 win over Washington High School. Blue Jays, now 10-2, were led by Ramelo Smith’s 28 point effort.
Wednesday’s game schedule finds St. Michael’s vs Ray-South – 4 p.m., Ruskin vs Washington – 5:30 p.m., Columbia Rock Bridge vs LS West – 7 p.m. and Raytown vs Lee’s Summit – 8:30 p.m.
