The Albany Lady Warriors and Trenton Bulldogs have earned the top spots in the Hamilton Invitational Tournament, which tips off next Monday night at Penney High School. Albany was named the top girls seed just hours before losing to Jefferson in the championship game of the Stanberry Tournament. Trenton beat Marceline, 84-68, Friday night to move to 8-4.
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Albany’s state-ranked girls, 10-2, take on Ridgeway and South Harrison this week. Both AHS losses have come at the hands of the Donnie Edwards-coached Jefferson Lady Eagles. The pity is that they will both play in the same district tournament at Worth County. Gallatin’s girls, 10-3, are the #2 seed and will face a rematch with a Maysville team they beat by 11 points 2 weeks ago. The Lady Bulldogs need to come out strong here, snuff any upset attempt early and get focused on Trenton in the semifinals.
Trenton, the #3 girls seed, brought a 7-7 record into the seeding meeting after overcoming Marceline, 62-61, Friday night. The Lady Bulldogs struggled out of a 5-game losing streak that began with a loss to Gallatin in the GIT championship. They open at Hamilton against the Braymer Lady Bobcats, who went from 9-0 to 9-2 and the #6 tournament seed following losses last week to Orrick and Englewood Christian. Braymer lost again last night to Carrollton and travels to Gallatin this Friday night in what will prove to be a test of stamina for the Lady Bobcats. The Lady Bulldogs are anxious to get back in the win column against a Braymer team that has had their number in recent seasons.
Trenton’s boys got revenge, and then some, against Marceline last week. The Bulldogs dropped a 74-67 decision to the Tigers on Dec. 9 but wracked up their highest point total of the season (84) the second time around in a 16-point decision. Trenton’s only other losses have come to Lathrop, Kirksville and Macon. Gallatin, 11-2, is eying another shot at Trenton after a championship loss in the Gallatin Invitational, but a word of caution. The black and gold Bulldogs are unbeaten this season in rematches.
Albany, 9-3 this season, has had more success in the boys bracket of the HIT than any other school. The Warriors won tournament titles in `96, `97 and `99, finished 2nd in `98 and 3rd in `95. The Warriors came back to win the consolation title Friday night in the Stanberry Tournament after suffering an unexpected, 8-point opening round loss to Mound City. Albany’s only other losses were early tournament setbacks to Stanberry (1 pt.) and Princeton (3 pts. OT). The Warriors have always played well on Hamilton’s floor and a Gallatin-Albany game in the semifinals could turn out to be the highlight of the tourney.
Look for the #5 Hamilton boys, 5-7, to give #4 Braymer, 8-3, all it wants in the opening round. Like the BHS girls, the Bobcats could be stuck in a losing streak heading into the tournament.
This tournament has been better than any other around at throwing curves at top seeded teams. Remember Gallatin’s semifinal loss a year ago to Maryville’s junior varsity? How about Hamilton’s upset victory over the heavily favored Albany’s girls in the `98 semis? Don’t be surprised if this tourney doesn’t finish according to plan.