The Montgomery County and Wellsville-Middletown Scholar Bowl teams turned in strong showings in district competition on April 12.

The Wildcats celebrated a second-place district plaque, while the Tigers reached the district semifinals for the first time in three years. MCHS lost to host-Columbia Independent 280-190 in the Class 3, District 5 finals and W-M fell to North Shelby 330-160 in the Class 1, District 4 semifinals at Bevier High School.

Each school had one member earning all-district honors. Landon Pottebaum was the Wildcats’ representative on the all-Class 3, District 5 team, earning all-district honors for the second year in a row. Jonathan Pike received all-district notice for W-M, becoming the school’s first all-district member in three years.

A year ago, MCHS competed in the Class 4, District 6 tournament in Hallsville and reached the semifinals. This year, the Wildcats participated in a district event that included Columbia Independent, Hermann, Belle, Fayette, Linn, New Bloomfield, Russellville and South Callaway.

The Wildcats finished 2-1 in preliminary round action. After starting off the round with a loss to Columbia Independent, MCHS bounced back to beat Fayette and Hermann to advance to the semifinals.

The Wildcats defeated Hermann 270-210 to advance to the finals against Columbia Independent. With the win over MCHS, the Lions won their third district title in four years and advanced to the state quarterfinals against Clark County, which were scheduled to be played on April 22 at Columbia Independent.

Pottebaum, seniors Beckham Cothren, Bryson Nichols and Jordan Hicks and junior Aiden Christian made up the MCHS roster at the district tournament. Pottebaum and Nichols joined the MCHS Scholar Bowl team when they were freshmen. Pottebaum and Cothren earned all-conference honors for the third year in a row at the Eastern Missouri Conference tournament on March 10 at Clopton.

Pike, senior Jonah Slovensky, sophomores Chase Mitchell and Evan Bryson and freshman Royce Wilkinson made up the Tigers’ squad at the district tournament. Both Pike and Slovensky joined the team two years ago.

Like the Wildcats, the Tigers also finished 2-1 in the preliminary round. They earned the fourth seed in the semifinals.

After beating W-M in the semifinals, North Shelby knocked off Northwestern High School in the finals to win its fifth straight district title and advanced to the state quarterfinals against St. Elizabeth, which was scheduled to be played on April 22 at St. Elizabeth.

Pike finished sixth in the tournament to earn all-district honors.