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Hannibal Today
By the People, for the People
MSHSAA Directs Girls Sectional Game to Replay Fourth Quarter
Scorekeeping error leads to resumption of game with Highland leading Principia 34-29
Mar. 4, 2026 at 10:05am
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The Missouri State High School Activities Association has announced that a Class Three girls sectional game between Principia of St. Louis and Highland of Lewis County will need to redo the fourth quarter on Wednesday, March 4. This decision comes after an investigation found that officials on-site did not follow proper protest procedures when Highland pointed out a scoring error, leading to an incorrect final score of 45-44 in favor of Principia.
Why it matters
This ruling by MSHSAA highlights the importance of following proper protocols and procedures during high-stakes postseason basketball games. The decision to replay the fourth quarter aims to ensure a fair outcome and uphold the integrity of the competition.
The details
MSHSAA's investigation determined that table personnel believed Highland had only scored two points on a basket instead of three, and then opted to subtract a point from Highland's next basket. However, upon review, MSHSAA found that team scorebooks were not consulted by officials, violating an NFHS basketball rule that MSHSAA said they emphasized in a bulletin to postseason basketball officials at the start of district play. At the time of the error, Highland was leading by five points.
- The game will resume on Wednesday, March 4 with 54 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
- The winner of the resumed game will face Centralia on Friday night at Fulton.
The players
Principia
A high school basketball team from St. Louis, Missouri.
Highland
A high school basketball team from Lewis County, Missouri.
What’s next
A new crew of officials will work the resumed game, which will now take place at Hannibal High School.
The takeaway
This case underscores the need for strict adherence to officiating rules and procedures in high school sports, even in the heat of a close playoff game. The MSHSAA's decision to replay the fourth quarter demonstrates its commitment to ensuring a fair and accurate outcome, despite the initial scoring error.
