By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Webster Groves is one step closer to a Missouri Class 5 state championship by posting a 65-44 win over Jackson (20-9) Wednesday. With the 21-point win the Statesmen earned the right to battle Class 4 10th-ranked Gateway Tech (24-4) in Saturday’s 7:45 p.m. quarterfinal game at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
For Webster Groves coach Jay Blossom the key to his team’s success in the postseason is to stay focused.
“We’ve been playing very well so far,” Blossom said earlier this week. “We just have to take it one game at a time. If we look ahead bad things will happen.”
Blossom, who has compiled a 182-69 record in nine seasons with the Statesmen, wants his team to get out in transition, and run. But when the opportunity is not there Webster Groves will operate in a dribble motion offense.
Defensively, Webster Groves has led the Suburban South League in scoring defense the last few years, and this season is no different. Once again the Statesmen are shutting down opposing offenses with their bread and butter man-to-man defense. Blossom said he doesn’t use a lot of full court pressure. The Statesmen do force plenty of turnovers, however, in their half court pressure defense.
Blossom credits unselfish play and senior leadership for his team’s success this season. The Class 4 fourth-ranked Statesmen have now won 52 straight Suburban South games, a streak that began seven years ago. Webster Groves has also won 51 straight contests at home.
“It’s become a monster of its own,” Blossom said of the conference streak. “Each class wants to keep it going. We don’t really talk about it. But we do take a lot of pride in it.”
Drew Hanlen, a three-year starter, and Zach Redel have been the focal point of the Statesmen offense all year. The 5-foot-11 Hanlen, who scored 18 points against Jackson, is averaging a team-high 19 points and 4.8 assists per game. The senior also leads the team with 85 steals this season. Redel, on the other hand, uses his 6-7 frame to produce 15 points and a team leading nine rebounds per game. The senior also has 48 blocks this season.
The pair has been so dominant that they have drawn plenty of box-and-one and triangle-and-two defenses over the course of the year.
Six-foot-3 senior forward Mike Whittier adds eight points a game, while Derrick Dilworth, who is a great passer that sees the floor well, and Vinnie Raimondo average around six points a night. Jonathan Bowie, Joe Hinton and Jason Meehan come off the bench to provide plenty of depth in Blossom’s eight-man rotation.
Class Leaders (Boys) – Raytown (Class 5), St. Charles West (Class 4), Hogan Prep (Class 3), Clever (Class 2) and Scott County Central (Class1).
Class Leaders (Girls) – Hickman Mills (Class 5), Marshfield (Class 4), Mount Vernon (Class 3), Westran (Class 2) and Rock Port (Class 1).
Missouri Boys Basketball Rankings
Top 10
1. Raytown (26-0)
2. St. Charles West (27-1)
3. Springfield Kickapoo (23-4)
4. McCluer North (22-4)
5. Webster Groves (25-3)
6. Parkway South (26-2)
7. Lee’s Summit West (18-7)
8. Springfield Central (18-4)
9. Branson (21-4)
10. Sikeston (22-3)
Class 5
1. Raytown (26-0)
2. Springfield Kickapoo (23-4)
3. McCluer North (22-4)
4. Webster Groves (25-3)
5. Parkway South (26-2)
6. Lee’s Summit West (18-7)
7. Springfield Central (18-4)
8. DeSmet Jesuit (19-9)
9. Waynesville (21-6)
10. Gateway Tech (23-4)
Class 4
1. St. Charles West (27-1)
2. Branson (21-4)
3. Sikeston (22-3)
4. Webb City (20-4)
5. McCluer South (23-6)
6. Republic (18-9)
7. St. Francis Borgia (21-6)
8. Carl Junction (18-5)
9. Ruskin (14-10)
10. University City (16-8)
Class 3
1. Hogan Prep (17-4)
2. Cardinal Ritter (19-3)
3. Maplewood-Richmond Heights (20-4)
4. Charleston (15-8)
5. East Newton (19-5)
6. Willow Springs (21-4)
7. Mount Vernon (14-9)
8. Bowling Green (23-0)
9. Highland (18-5)
10. Linn (20-3)
Class 2
1. Clever (23-2)
2. South Iron (23-1)
3. Harrisburg (20-3)
4. Thayer (25-1)
5. Wellington-Napoleon (20-2)
6. West Platte (18-7)
7. Sturgeon (19-4)
8. Concordia (20-3)
9. Eskridge (14-9)
10. New Haven (15-9)
Class 1
1. Scott County Central (21-2)
2. Newtown-Harris (23-0)
3. Bell City (21-2)
4. La Plata (21-1)
5. Glasgow (21-2)
6. Chadwick (17-4)
7. Eminence (18-5)
8. Fair Play (21-2)
9. Northeast Nodaway (17-5)
10. Lesterville (18-4)
Missouri Girls Basketball Rankings
Top 10
1. Hickman Mills (27-0)
2. St. Joseph’s Academy (23-4)
3. Incarnate Word Academy (26-3)
4. Blue Springs (25-2)
5. Marshfield (24-0)
6. Bolivar (25-2)
7. Ozark (22-5)
8. Rock Bridge (21-6)
9. McCluer South (24-3)
10. Springfield Kickapoo (19-5)
Class 5
1. Hickman Mills (27-0)
2. St. Joseph’s Academy (23-4)
3. Incarnate Word Academy (26-3)
4. Blue Springs (25-2)
5. Ozark (22-5)
6. Rock Bridge (21-6)
7. Springfield Kickapoo (19-5)
8. Hickman (20-7)
9. Liberty (19-6)
10. Lee’s Summit (17-10)
Class 4
1. Marshfield (24-0)
2. Bolivar (25-2)
3. McCluer South (24-3)
4. Platte County (24-3)
5. Notre Dame de Sion (19-8)
6. Republic (17-8)
7. St. Dominic (25-1)
8. Branson (19-8)
9. St. Francis Borgia (20-6)
10. St. Joseph Benton (20-4)
Class 3
1. Mount Vernon (20-4)
2. Blair Oaks (21-2)
3. South Shelby (21-1)
4. Palmyra (15-5)
5. Skyline (21-3)
6. North Callaway (20-4)
7. Seneca (16-8)
8. Stockton (16-8)
9. Hermann (16-6)
10. Hallsville (19-4)
Class 2
1. Westran (22-0)
2. Penney (25-0)
3. Canton (20-2)
4. Osceola (21-0)
5. Crest Ridge (23-1)
6. Naylor (21-2)
7. Fordland (17-4)
8. Smithton (22-1)
9. North Platte (19-3)
10. New Haven (18-7)
Class 1
1. Rock Port (21-3)
2. Northeast (19-3)
3. New Franklin (16-4)
4. Mound City (17-5)
5. Meadville (24-0)
6. South Nodaway (16-5)
7. Silex (15-8)
8. Gilman City (20-1)
9. Delta (19-2)
10. DeKalb (17-5)
