By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Erving Walker was named the Springfield Tournament of Champions MVP in leading Christ the King (N.Y.) to its fifth TOC championship over the weekend, and deservedly so. But it was Ryan Pearson, a member of the All-Tournament team, that saved the day for the Royals in the championship contest.
Trailing 71-68 late in the game, Walker made a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to a single point. Pearson then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and calmly made two more charity tosses to give the Royals the lead for good. The George Mason signee then added another free throw seconds later to account for the 73-71 overtime win over LeFlore (Ala.).
“I was thinking, if I miss, we lose and if I make the (free throws), we’re going to win this game,” Pearson told the Springfield News-Leader.
Besides his late game heroics, Pearson also led the victors by scoring 34 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Walker, who will play at Florida next season, finished the contest with 24 points. Walker scored 85 points in three games during the tournament.
LeFlore’s 6-foot-11 junior center DeMarcus Cousins led all scorers in the finals by posting 38 points.
Waynesville Knocks Off Kickapoo for First Time in Decade
Chris Rebuck came off a screen with less than eight seconds remaining and hit a three-point shot to rally Waynesville to a 65-64 conquest of Ozarks Conference foe Kickapoo in the third place contest of the Tournament of Champions. The win over the Chiefs ended more than a decade of futility for Waynesville against its conference foe.
Dominique Long set the screen that allowed Rebuck to connect on the uncontested shot.
“I’ve been at Waynesville for four years, and we’ve lost every single game we’ve played against them,” Tiger coach Tom Bildner told the News-Leader. “It let us know it’s possible to win.”
Kickapoo lost despite carrying a 20-11 lead into the second period. The Tigers trailed 36-32 at intermission before knotting the score at 50-50 heading into the final frame.
Long led the way for Waynesville with 23 points. L. J. Fort added 16 points for the Tigers. Dusty Allen scored 18 points for the Chiefs. Kyle Vaughan and Alex Hall contributed 17 and 15 points, respectively.
Helen Cox Edges Monsignor Pace in Fifth Place Game
Despite playing in his fourth game in four days, Helen Cox (La.) standout Greg Monroe still managed to be Greg Monroe. The 6-10 Georgetown signee produced 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals during the Cougars 67-64 win over Monsignor Pace in the fifth place game of the Tournament of Champions.
But it was his performance in the fourth period that sealed the deal for Helen Cox. Monroe held Monsignor Pace’s 6-8 center Terrence Saintil to a mere zero points and one rebound during the final eight minutes of the game, while scoring 11 points himself during that same time span. Monroe scored seven of the Cougar’s final 11 points.
Justin Fairman chipped in 18 points for Helen Cox, while Calvin Thompson added 16 points. Monsignor Pace was led by Ray Shipman’s 21 points. Rakeen Buckles and Darius Perkins produced 13 and 12 points, respectively. Saintil rounded out double-digit scoring for Pace with his 10 points.
McCluer North Avoids Winless Tournament
McCluer North scored nine-straight points in less than a minute of the fourth period to put the skids on a Champaign Central rally and boosted the Stars to a 67-52 win over the Maroons in the seventh place game of the Tournament of Champions Sunday.
After earning a 35-19 halftime advantage, North saw its lead cut to 40-35 late in the third period, and 43-35 heading into the final eight minutes of play. That’s when the Stars stepped into a man-to-man defense and forced several turnovers on its way to the 15-point win.
Torres Roundtree and Femi John scored 22 and 21 points, respectively, in leading the winners. Anthony Booker added 13 points and 11 rebounds. Verdell Jones led the Maroons with 17 points, while Donald Stewart contributed 12 points.
24th Bass Pro Tournament of Champions
Hammond Student Center – Springfield, Mo.
First Round Results
Christ the King (N.Y.) 65, McCluer North 64 OT
Kickapoo 70, Monsignor Pace (Fla.) 65
LeFlore (Ala.) 72, Champaign Central (Ill.) 59
Waynesville 63, Helen Cox (La.) 60
Semifinals
Christ the King 63, Kickapoo 59
LeFlore 70, Waynesville 47
Consolation Bracket
Monsignor Pace 74, McCluer North 68
Helen Cox 65, Champaign Central 64 2OT
Championship
Christ the King 73, LeFlore 71 OT
Third Place
Waynesville 65, Kickapoo 64
Fifth Place
Helen Cox 67, Monsignor Pace 64
Seventh Place
McCluer North 67, Champaign Central 52
All-Tournament Team
DeMarcus Cousins, LeFlore; Nick Williams, LeFlore; Ryan Pearson, Christ the King; Greg Monroe, Helen Cox; Alex Hall, Kickapoo; Femi John, McCluer North; Dominique Long, Waynesville; Dusty Allen, Kickapoo; Ray Shipman, Monsignor Pace.
Most Valuable Player
Erving Walker, Christ the King
Girls Basketball: Lady Hounds Work the Boards
The Sweet Springs girls basketball team knocked off Calhoun 66-31 in first round action of the Windsor Tournament by performing blue-collar work on the boards. The Lady Greyhounds ripped down 50 rebounds, including 30 on the offensive end, in the 35-point Sweet Springs win.
Five Lady Hounds scored in double figures as well, with Stephanie Krause leading the way with 13 points. Jodie Harris produced a double-double by scoring 10 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.
Phillips Scores Rare Quadruple-Double in Win
Cloe Phillips did a lot of everything Friday in leading Green City to a 67-35 girls basketball win over Macon County. Phillips dominated Macon County by scoring 31 points, pulling down 12 rebounds, dishing out 10 assists and swiping 10 steals.
Heil Scores 42 Points for Dexter
Although she had never really come close to scoring 42 points in a game during her career, Dexter coach Chad Allen wasn’t surprised that Lady Bearcat Katelyn Heil scored 21 points in each half on her way to 42 points in an 81-66 triumph over Portageville Friday.
“She definitely has the green light,” Allen told the Dexter Daily Statesman. “If she’s open, we want her to shoot. She’s one of our better shooters and she felt it tonight.”
Football: O’Neal Nets Hall of Fame
Former Hardin-Central football coach Gary O’Neal will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Sunday February 10 at the University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield, along with 15 other individuals and two teams.
The three-time State Coach of the Year recipient earned his way into the hall by compiling a 239-52 record to go along with two state championships and two runner-up finishes. O’Neal also has 10 undefeated regular seasons.
O’Neal served as Central’s football coach from 1976-2003, and the school’s principal for 27 of the 28 years he was at the school.
