Bernie rolls past Hayti into Final Four

Bernie senior Jake Owens drives on Hayti's Craig Rodgers during CLass 2 quarterfinal action Saturday afternoon

Bernie scored the games first 11 points and the Mules never looked back in a 61-29 quarterfinal win over Hayti at Peter Gym in Poplar Bluff Saturday afternoon.

Hayti didn't score its first points of the game until the 5:09 mark of the first quarter on a basket by Jerome Thomas, but the Indians could only mange four in the opening period as Bernie bolted to a 21-4 advantage. The Mules increased the lead every quarter until the mercy clock was put in motion early in the fourth quarter.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," Bernie coach Brad Botsch said after the win. "Our kids deserve this. They've worked for it. They've earned it and I couldn't ask to be around a better group of kids."

Jake Owens led the Mules with 17 points, including three of Bernie's five 3-pointers for the game. Jake Welch and Jordan McGowan both finished in double figures with 11.

It is the first trip to the Final Four for Bernie since the 1988-89 season, when the Mules finished second.

The MSHSAA Class 2 Championship bracket has Bernie now playing Thursday at noon in the Hearnes Center on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia against Eskridge (18-10).

Bernie's push to reach the final four has been like a leisurely stroll in the park for the Mules who have rolled overa ll challengers. Bernie had two easy wins in the District 3 tournament before being tested by Oak Ridge in a 64-58 win, then routed Hayti in the quarterfinals by 32 points.

It's an unbelievable feeling.Our kids deserve this. they've worked for it. They've earned it and I couldn't ask `tp be around a betrer group of kids.

You just try to prepare the best you can for each team. We'll try to gather some inforamtion about the ohter teams at state. We'll try to get prepared as best we can.

Jake has been int3he hospital all lastg night. He's had a IV, they think maybe he had posiblefood poisioning. He was maybe 50 percent today. He's had nothing to eat for ever, He had no fluids in his body. I don't know how may bags of stuff they put it him. But he's a gamer. That's they type of kids and character that we have here. hey are competitiors and warriors and that's why we are where we are.

Bernie High School will celebrate the Mules MSHSAA Class 2 Final Four appearance with a send-off part Wednesday morning.

Bernie (27-4) will will play in the first semifinal game Thursday at 12:00 p. m. at the Hearnes Center on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia against Eskridge (18-10). The second semifinal game will feature Clever (24-7) vs. Sturgeon (32-0).

Bernie defeated Hayti 61-29 Saturday in a quartyerfinal game at Peters Gym in Poplar Bluff to earn its shot at the state title.. Eskridge down Stoutland (28-2) 68-55 to advance to the final four, while Clever down Adrian (28-1), 53-52, and Sturgeon handed Wellington-Napoleon (28-1) its first loss of the season, 66-61.

If Bernie drops its first game, the Mules will play for third place Friday at 5 p. m., while a win would advance the team to the Class 2 championship game Friday at 5 o'clock.

Look for complete coverage of the Mules in later editions of the Daily Statesman.