In one of the most anticipated games in recent Metro girls basketball history, Staley and Park Hill South didn't let anyone down.

With one combined loss between Park Hill South and the Falcons, a standing-room-only crowd shoehorned into Staley's arena for the Class 6, District 8 final on Tuesday night. In the end, the No. 2 seeded Falcons dealt the No. 1 seed and previously undefeated Panthers its only loss of the season, 51-43, to advance to the quarterfinals.

Staley (28-1) took a 37-28 lead early in the fourth quarter after a Destiny Manyawu bucket, but South's Addison Bjourn completed an and-one for a 37-31 deficit with 6:03 left. Three straight Staley misses led to another Bjorn driving bucket and a three-pointer on the right wing by Anaya Guess for a 37-36 margin with 4:35 left.

But two Reminyss Grant free throws, an Ava Miles hoop in the lane and London Parker layup pushed the lead to 43-36. Meanwhile, Staley held Bjorn, the Naismith Honorable Mention All-American who netted a game-high 19 points, without an attempt while South missed seven straight attempts in the interval.

A Guess three and Bjorn runner through the lane pulled the Panthers to 47-41 with just :40 left. Then Miles canned four three throws in the fourth period to help ice the game, en route to a team-high 16 points.

Park Hill South (28-1) opened with an early 11-6 lead, but Manyawu's seven second-quarter points fueled Staley to a 22-18 lead. Then Parker scored six of her 15 points in the third to help boost the Falcons to a 35-28 lead entering the final period.

Staley will face Rock Bridge (20-8) in the Missouri Class 6 quarterfinals in Columbia on Saturday.

Other area district finals

Class 6: Lee's Summit West 79, Lee's Summit North 69

Class 5: Grandview 52, Summit Christian Academy 29

Class 5: St. Teresa's Academy 53, Platte County 47

Area Class 4 quarterfinals

Benton 77, Excelsior Springs 32

Boonville 37, Notre Dame de Sion 35