Beal, Chaminade go down in Missouri

By Jason Hickman Mar 5, 2011, 10:04pm

Scoring explosion from Arkansas-bound B.J. Young lifts McCluer North past nationally-ranked Chaminade.

After a week of dominant performances in state tournament action for nationally-ranked teams, a Top 10 squad felt the heartbreaking side of win-or-go-home hoops Saturday night.

No. 9 Chaminade (St. Louis) – led by national player of the year candidate Bradley Beal – entered Missouri's Class 5 quarterfinals with a spotless 27-0 record, which included an 18-point win over Saturday's opponent just three weeks ago.

But McCluer North (Florissant) turned the tables in a 57-56 thriller, thanks to a 27-point second-half outburst from its own star, 6-foot-2 senior guard B.J. Young. The future Arkansas Razorback finished with a game-high 32 points.
Ryan Anderson was a monster again for No. 6 Long Beach Poly Saturday night.
Ryan Anderson was a monster again for No. 6 Long Beach Poly Saturday night.
File photo by Louis Lopez

Chaminade led by six at halftime and received 30 points from Beal.

In California, No. 6 Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) and No. 21 Taft (Woodland Hills) both prevailed in section finals heading into next week's CIF Division I state tournament.



Boston College signee Ryan Anderson collected 18 points and 21 rebounds as Poly cruised past Centennial (Corona) and its talented triumvirate of Division I-bound guards, 68-52.

Taft beat Westchester (Los Angeles) for the first time in four championship game meetings between the two Los Angeles City Section powerhouses.

Xcellent 25 state tournament scoreboard

Georgia Class AAAAA regional final
No. 3 Milton 69, Mill Creek (Hoschton) 35

Texas Class 5A regional final
No. 4 Marcus (Flower Mound) 46, Cedar Hill 38
Phil Forte, Marcus: 19 points

Virginia Group AAA quarterfinal
No. 5 Norcom (Portsmouth) 49, Annandale 43
Dorian Finney-Smith, Norcom: 20 points

California Southern Section Division I-AA championship
No. 7 Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 68, Centennial (Corona) 52
Ryan Anderson, Long Beach Poly: 18 points, 21 rebounds



Missouri Class 5 quarterfinals
McCluer North (Florissant) 57, No. 9 Chaminade (St. Louis) 56
B.J. Young, McCluer North: 32 points (27 in second half)

Texas Class 5A regional final
No. 12 Lakeview Centennial (Garland) 54, DeSoto 50
Chris Jones, Lakeview Centennial: 15 points

Florida Class 5A state championship
No. 15 Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) 72, Lake Wales 57
Jacoby Brissett, Dwyer: 19 points, 12 rebounds

California Los Angeles City Section Division I championship
No. 22 Taft (Woodland Hills) 66, Westchester (Los Angeles) 62
C.J. Blackwell, Taft: 20 points, 14 rebounds

Other state championship games of note

Florida Class 6A
Winter Park 52, Dr. Phillips (Orlando) 44
Austin Rivers, Winter Park: 25 points



Washington Class 4A
Gonzaga Prep (Spokane) 61, Curtis (University Place) 41
Parker Kelly, Gonzaga Prep: 24 points

Washington Class 3A
Lakes (Lakewood) 71, Bellevue 56
Nate Guy, Lakes: 22 points, 12 rebounds