In the State Farm Holiday Invitational at Helias, the Jefferson City Lady Jays stayed perfect (10-0, ranked No. 1 in Class 5) with a 58-28 rout of Blue Springs South (5-4); Helias (8-1, No. 4 Class 4) battled past Eureka (4-4) 62-57; defending tournament champion St. Joseph Benton (8-0) rolled to a 47-31 win over Blair Oaks (7-3); and Columbia Hickman (4-5) edged Poplar Bluff (2-7), 41-40.

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THE JAYS' LOSING STREAK IN THE FIRST ROUND of this tournament was unsightly --- not just because they've been playing at home, but because it was a skid that also included four years of O.G. Anunoby.

Hard to believe.

But it came to an end Thursday night in a wire-to-wire victory over the Tigers (8-4), as the Jays (6-3) took leads of 13-10 after one quarter and 33-21 on the half on the heels of a 20-8 second quarter effort.

The margin was 49-39 after three quarters, before Jefferson City hit a drought --- no points in more than four minutes to start the fourth, and the lead dwindled to 49-45.

But the Jays held on down the stretch to secure the five-point win.

What a relief it was.

Brennan Jeffries led a balanced attack with 16 points for the winners, Ben Folz and Ryan Brooks both scored 12, and Michael Appiah-Brefo added 10. James Nicholas paced the Tigers with a game-high 22 points.

The Jays got a break in this one --- the Tigers actually missed some shots. No such luck, it seemed, for the Falcons and Crusaders.

It was bombs away for Harvest Prep, as its 19 3-pointers beat the old record of 13 --- set by the Jays 20 years ago --- with ease.

"I actually got a text from a coaching friend after the game and he asked who we played," Falcons coach Ryan Fick said. "I told him, 'I think it was Golden State.'

"I thought early they had some uncontested shots, but I thought as the game went on we did a much better job of challenging their shots. But when they're hitting crossover, step-back, fall away 3's, there's not much you can do."

No kidding. For better or worse, the game the NBA's Warriors are playing has trickled down to high school Warriors.

"The 3-ball has become kind of the cornerstone of the game, offensively," Fick said. "It's gone away from the inside-out game you used to see for so many years. Now, it's penetrate and kick (it out) and hopefully, you've got some guys who can make shots."

It was Anthony, a 6-foot junior, who set the pace with eight of them.

"He's a guy," Fick said, "we'll probably be watching on TV in a couple of years."

Anthony finished with 26 points and Brandon Beavers had 15 for the Warriors (6-0), who led 22-11 after one quarter, 52-26 at the half, and 68-40 after three.

The Falcons (5-4) didn't quit, however, as they cut the lead to 17 midway through the fourth quarter.

"I'm very proud of the way our guys continued to fight," Fick said. "They continued to compete."

Eric Northweather paced Blair Oaks with 18 points and Dru Rackers chipped in 14.

While Harvest Prep had no less than seven players hit a 3-pointer, it was two guys who did the damage for Mt. Lebanon --- Loughren and Jake Hoffman, as those two hit all 13 of the 3-balls to tie the event's previous team record.

"We knew going in they were capable of doing that," Helias coach Joe Rothweiler said. "Those guys are knock-down shooters and we just lost them too much, early. They were getting too many clean looks."

Loughren and Hoffman both hit a 3-pointer in the game's first 40 seconds to make it 6-0, and it was another long ball by Loughren at the first-quarter buzzer to give the Blue Devils (7-1) at 21-12 lead.

The 6-4 senior hit two more 3's to start the second quarter to make it 27-12. Mt. Lebanon would expand the lead to 41-22 at the half on its way to the 25-point win.

"Their defense was very solid and they just played too fast, which took us out of our comfort zone," Rothweiler said. "But I don't think we quit, they continued to fight."

Loughren finished with 28 points and Hoffman had 20, while Ben Cooper led the Crusaders (2-5) with 11 points.

The loss drops Helias into the unglamorous 4 p.m. loser's bracket game Friday, but this one will have a bit more sizzle to it --- it's Helias vs. Blair Oaks.

"If our guys can't get up for that game,"Rothweiler said, "I'm going to get a little bit worried. But I think they will, it should be fun."

FRIDAY'S GAMES

MACHENS GREAT 8

WINNER'S BRACKET

Harvest Prep vs. Mt. Lebanon, 7 p.m.

Jefferson City vs. Kettering Fairmount, 8:30 p.m.

LOSER'S BRACKET

Blair Oaks vs. Helias, 4 p.m.

Hopkinsville, Ky. vs. Father Tolton, 5:30 p.m.

STATE FARM HOLIDAY INVITATIONAL

WINNER'S BRACKET

Jefferson City vs. Hickman, 5:30 p.m.