2023 Blue and Gold Tournament: Takeaways, scores from Gold Division semifinals
The Gold Division championship game is set with two Springfield Public Schools programs set to play in a Blue and Gold Tournament championship game for the first time since 1965.
Central will play Glendale for the Gold Division title on Friday at 7 p.m. at Great Southern Bank Arena.
Here's what happened in Thursday's Gold Division semifinals:
Central blew out Sparta to advance to its first Blue and Gold title game since 1984
Before Central took the floor for its Gold Division semifinal game against Sparta, head coach Jordan Epps told his team that it had an opportunity to keep making history.
During his three years as head coach, he's seen the Bulldogs improve their record year over year. The Bulldogs had beaten teams that they hadn't beaten in decades and started to grab the attention of those around the area.
On the board, Epps wrote "1984" — representing the last time the Bulldogs had reached the championship game at a Blue and Gold Tournament.
"They all knew what it meant," Epps said. "That just means they're focused and locked in on stuff outside the gym as well. I told them that they got the No. 1 seed for a reason, and they have to come out and play like a No. 1 seed."
More: 2023 Blue and Gold Tournament: Takeaways, scores from Blue Division semifinals
Three games into the Gold Division, Central has looked like a No. 1 seed and a team that can contend for a Class 6 state championship at the end of the year.
An 80-42 win over Sparta in the first of Thursday night's semifinal games continued the statement the Bulldogs have sent since they stepped on Missouri State's campus. They've won their two other games by 35 and 43.
"We talk about the target on our back and being the team to beat," Epps said. "So far this week, they're playing like it and they're showing it. They're having fun, playing basketball with each other right now, and it's starting to show on the court a little more each game."
Fast starts had been an emphasis for the Bulldogs, and they got off to one. They led 25-7 at the end of the first quarter and 47-16 at halftime while keeping a similar level of intensity throughout the second half.
Devin Sanford scored 20 points while knocking down a trio of 3s. Keion Epps added 16 while Tyrique Brooks scored 13 with a pair of highlight dunks.
More: 2023 Blue and Gold Tournament: The top performers from Thursday's semifinal matchups
The overwhelming offense was aided by a defense that created turnovers often. It also keyed in on Sparta star Jacob Lafferty, who finished the game with 13 points.
It was a team effort that should have Epps writing "1983" on the board before the Bulldogs' championship game come Friday night. The Bulldogs will have another shot at history when they play for their first championship in 40 years.
"I'm not too surprised because ever since the summer, the chemistry has been great from the get-go," Epps said. "Luckily for me, they've been playing together since they were young. It's starting to show that their chemistry's there."
More: Why the Blue and Gold brings out the heroics in Sparta star Jacob Lafferty
Glendale sets up first SPS vs. SPS championship matchup since 1965
After Branson started the second half on a 6-0 run, Glendale head coach Brian McTague called a timeout with his Falcons suddenly down by five. He saw their heads down thinking they were already admitting defeat.
"We just challenged them," McTague said. "There are ebbs and flows to every game, and we just needed to make the right plays on offense."
Whatever McTague said worked. The Cinderella seven-seeded Pirates scored two points for the remainder of the half, and the third-seeded Falcons rallied the rest of the way for a 68-52 victory.
"We're a work in progress," McTague said. "We're still working on our rotations and trying to figure out who needs to be in what spots and what their roles need to be here. To be able to get here with not a finished product yet, we're excited."
More: Glendale's Amare Witham has the 'it factor' and looks like the city's next great prospect
Glendale was led by its senior leader Ta'Veaion Washington throughout. One of the tournament's standouts, Washington was the most consistent player on the floor on Thursday night as he went for 21 points.
Falcons star sophomore Amare Witham found his stroke in the fourth quarter to help send the Pirates to the third-place game. He scored eight of his 17 points in the final frame and finished the game with four 3s. Junior Anthony Fletcher also came up strong in the fourth quarter by scoring 13 of his 19 points in the frame.
The backcourt combination of Witham and Washington has made for one of the better one-two combos in the area. With Witham getting most of the headlines, McTague compared Washington to the likes of Scottie Pippen.
"He's a guy who can go out there and score 20, get nine or 10 rebounds and usually get five or six assists and four or five steals," McTague said. "He does a little bit of everything. When he's on his game, he fills up the stat sheet. He put us on his back a little bit and made some early shots to keep us in it."
More: 2023 Blue and Gold Tournament: Glendale vs. Strafford
Glendale will now go up against Central, a Springfield Public Schools rival, in the Gold championship in the first title matchup between two SPS programs since 1965.
It's Glendale's first title trip since 2016 with its last win in 2010.
"They're legit," McTague said. "They've got a lot of guys that have improved since last year with their personal development. This year, they have six or seven guys who are all threats to get 20 on any night. They're a scary team, and we're going to have to stick to our assignments and do everything right to give ourselves a chance to win."
Blue Division semifinal schedule on Thursday
7 p.m. — No. 1 Nixa vs. No. 5 Fair Grove
8:30 p.m. — No. 2 Republic vs. No. 6 Willard
Gold Division semifinal results
Winners bracket games in Great Southern Bank Arena
No. 1 Central 80, No. 4 Sparta 42
No. 3 Glendale 68, No. 7 Branson 52
Blue Division championship game
Friday night at Great Southern Bank Arena
8:30 p.m. — TBD
Gold Division championship game
Friday night at Great Southern Bank Arena
7 p.m. — No. 1 Central vs. No. 3 Glendale
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL. He's also the host of the weekly "Wyatt's World Podcast" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcasting platforms
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Blue and Gold Tournament 2023: Gold semifinals, takeaways
