By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Updated: Thursday, March 12, 2009 10:27 AM CDT

PARK HILLS — After finishing a close runner-up at the Class 2 state championships one year ago, the South Iron boys basketball team began its quest for a return trip to Columbia on Wednesday night.

The Panthers seized momentum against third-ranked Bernie after rallying with five straight points in the final minute, but the Mules had enough time and awareness to earn one final shot in regulation.

Junior guard Jake Owens received a favorable roll when his decisive 18-foot jumper caught the front rim with one second left, and Bernie celebrated a thrilling 60-58 sectional win at Central High School.

Owens scored a game-high 17 points, and Daniel Becking matched Jake Smith with 10 each for Bernie (27-3), which will battle familiar opponent Portageville (21-5) in the quarterfinal round on Saturday.

South Iron (26-3), which featured five seniors in its starting lineup, trimmed a 58-53 deficit when Cody Smith drilled a three-pointer. Justin Ford then hit a tying layup off a driving dish from Jared Middleton with 13 seconds left.

Ford scored 14 points and James Cornell tallied 11 for the Panthers. Will Sutton powered his way to 12 points and 13 rebounds, including a pair of strong putbacks in the final period.

Bernie knocked down seven of its first 10 attempts from the field, and concluded a frenetic first quarter leading 22-20. But South Iron slowed the pace in the second and countered with an impressive 14-0 spurt.

Ford converted a steal into a fast-break basket, and Cornell gave the Panthers their largest advantage with 36-24 with a running bank shot.

Bernie answered following the break on two post baskets from Becking, and cashed in a pair of South Iron turnovers with threes from Owens and Zach Curry for a sudden 45-43 lead.

Curry chased down a rolling basketball and found Owens alone for another big layup early in the fourth, and the Mules would never trail again.

Cody Smith scored all of his nine points from the perimeter, and Middleton made four steals and five assists for the Panthers.

South Iron  20  16   7  15 - 58

Bernie  22   7  16  15 - 60

SCORING:

South Iron - Ford 14, Sutton 12, Cornell 11, Smith 9, Hampton 6, Middleton 4, Bond 2. 3-point FG - Smith 3, Hampton 2, Cornell.

Bernie - Owens 17, Becking 10, Smith 10, Welch 9, McGowan 6, Stevens 5, Curry 3. 3-point FG - Owens 2, Curry, Welch.