Hosting the annual Bland Junior High Girls Basketball Tournament last week at Bland Middle School, Jacob Walton’s Lady Bears looked to keep the championship plaque and medals in town.

Defeating Bourbon and Vienna in pool play, Bland advanced to last Friday’s championship game against Steelville’s Lady Cardinals.

Trailing 6-4 after one quarter, Bland outscored Steelville 21-9 the rest of the game to go on to a 25-15 victory giving them the tournament title on their home floor.

Riley Gehlert and Madelyn Lange led the Lady Bears with eight points apiece.

Shae Buechter and Charleigh Elrod each added three points to go along with two points from Emrie Fredendall on a second-quarter bucket.

Emilyn Lewis rounded out the scoring against Steelville on a fourth-quarter free throw for one point.

Turning back Vienna 33-5 in pool play last Tuesday, Elrod and Riley Gehlert showed the way for Bland with eight points apiece.

Elrod netted all eight of her points in the fourth quarter.

Fredendall added six points followed closely with five points from Lange all in the first half.

Rounding out Bland’s scoring against Vienna with two points apiece were Reagan Gehlert, Buechter and Lewis.

Opening the tournament with a 28-19 victory over Bourbon last Monday night, Riley Gehlert led the Lady Bears with 12 points against the Lady Warhawks.

Lange added five points who was closely followed by Elrod with four markers.

Reagan Gehlert, Buechter and Lewis each added two points for Bland rounding out the scoring against Bourbon.