The Montgomery County boys and girls basketball teams had happy bus rides back from South Callaway High School on Saturday.

The Wildcats won the South Callaway Tournament in both boys and girls divisions, making it just the fifth time in the 56-year history of the tournament that a school captured tournament crowns in both divisions in the same year. It is also the first time MCHS pulled off the sweep in the South Callaway tournament.

MCHS defeated North Callaway 61-45 in the girls championship game and Hermann 49-45 in the boys title contest. After the boys game, both boys and girls teams posed with their championship trophies.

The girls won their first South Callaway title since 1992. They placed second four times, including last year, when they fell to Fatima in the finals.

MCHS senior Malia Rodgers was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She scored 17 points against North Callaway.

Senior Maddy Queathem also scored 17 points and was named to the all-tournament team. She hit four 3-pointers, two in each half.

Senior Olivia Shaw earned all-tournament honors after finishing with 14 points against the third-seeded Thunderbirds.

The Wildcats won their second tournament title of the season. A month ago, they came out on top in the Montgomery County Invitational Tournament after beating Hermann in the finals, their first MCHS championship since 1997. Rodgers was named MVP in that tournament as well.

The MCHS girls, who were seeded first in the tournament, improved to 13-1 with the win over North Callaway. The Wildcats began tournament play with a 61-35 victory over Russellville in the semifinals on Jan. 11.

The MCHS boys are now 12-4 after winning their sixth South Callaway crown and their fourth in the last five years. It’s also the second year in a row the Wildcats knocked off Hermann in the South Callaway finals.

Junior Clayton Parker, who finished with nine points, earned the tournament’s MVP honors. He was named MVP at the Montgomery County tournament in December.

Junior Isaiah Thomas finished with 11 points and was named to the all-tournament team. Senior Jake Stellwagen also earned all-tournament honors. 

Junior Tyler Erwin finished with 11 points against Hermann, which was the No. 2 seed.

The Wildcats began tournament play on Jan. 8 with a 77-33 win over Russellville in the first round. Three days later, they beat host-South Callaway 66-55 in the semifinals to advance to the championship game.

With the win over Hermann, the Wildcats are tied with North Callaway with the fourth-most championships with six. Ten years ago, MCHS won its first South Callaway title after beating Harrisburg in the finals.

Hermann (2012 and 2019), Blair Oaks (2007) and Southern Boone (1987) are the other schools that won South Callaway championships in both girls and boys divisions in the same year.

Both MCHS boys and girls teams will compete in the Hermann Tournament on Jan. 22-27. The Wildcats are seeded first in the boys bracket and third in the girls bracket.

The Wildcats will be back in action in both boys and girls divisions on Tuesday, when they take on Bowling Green in an EMO contest at Ballew & Snell Court.

Editor’s note: Print versions of both boys and girls championships will be published in the Jan. 17 edition of the Standard.