Oak Park let Staley know who is tops in the district rivalry this year on Thursday night.

The Northmen, ranked No. 1 in the 810 Varsity Top 25, laid down a resounding 66-53 win in front of a packed house at Oak Park over its district rival Staley. Oak Park finished 26-2 a year ago, with its only two losses to the eventual Missouri Class 6 state champion Falcons.

After the No. 7 Falcons (4-3) stayed close at 14-10 behind eight first-quarter points from KV Stone, the Northmen pulled away for a 10-point lead for most of the first half. But Staley pulled to six to start off the second half, and still hung within single digits midway through the quarter before juniors Corbin Allen and Zeek Brown went to work.

After an Allen dunk, he followed with two free throws for a 41-31 lead with 4:26 in the quafter. Brown hit a layup for a 43-31 margin. Allen countered a Staley trifecta with a three-point play of his own for a 46-34 lead with 3:02 left.  Allen finished with a game-high 22 points. 

Staley received an opportunity following a made bucket, foul and a technical on Oak Park. The Falcons hit two free throws, but had a turnover after the charity tosses to trail 46-38. A Brown layup and two free throws helped push the lead to 50-40 at the end of the third. Brown would add 16 for Oak Park, while Staley star forward Xavier Foster picked up fouls No. 3 and 4 at the end of the period.

Then in the final stanza, Aedin Fields put the nail in the coffin with a driving bucket and a three-point to vault the margin to 55-40 with 6:43 and seal the victory.

Oak Park will face Webster Groves tomorrow at 12:45 pm, then both teams will hit the William Jewell tournament as No. 1 seeds in their brackets. The Northmen will face Lincoln Prep, while Staley will take on Van Horn.

Staley (53)
Tavion Tate 5 2-2 13, Avian Webb 2 0-0 4, KV Stone 5 6-10 16, Xavier Wilson 4 2-2 10, Jakobe Hicks 3 1-1 7, Tra Moore 1 0-0 3. Totals 20 11-15 53.

Oak Park (66)
Adam Tanner 5 2-2 12, Josh Kori 1 0-0 2, Corbin Allen 7 8-8 22, Zeeck Brown 6 4-4 16, Caleb Estes 3 0-2 6, Aedin Fields 3 0-0 8. Totals 25 14-16 66.

Three-pointers: Tate, Moore; Fields 2