Park Hills, Mo. (KFMO) - The Mineral Area Cardinals are headed to the Midwest District Championship Game a win away from the NJCAA National Tournament after beating Three Rivers in the Region 16 Championship 75-66.
The Cardinals used a 22-4 run in the first half to take an 18-point lead at 24-6 just past the midway point of the opening half.
Three Rivers didn’t go away outscoring MAC into halftime 16-7 but trailed 31-22 at intermission.
The Raiders continued to push cutting the deficit to 45-42 with eight minutes left in regulation but a pair of big threes hit by Terron Garrett extinguished the pressure.
Garrett led the Cardinals with 21 points, Maki Joyner added 18 off the bench, and Nazir Allen was held to just 12 points in the win.
Three Rivers’ Matt Hampton was recognized as the Region 16 Player of the Year after the game. He led the Raiders with 21 points but was held to just two field goals in the first half.
MAC head coach Tony Irons was named Region 16 Coach of the Year.
Mineral Area (20-11) will play at Malcolm X (Chicago, IL) in the Midwest District Championship Game on Saturday night at 7pm. Coverage on AM-1240 KMFO and KFMOsportsPLUS begins at 6:30pm.