By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
It went against every fiber of his being. But Webster Groves boys basketball coach Jay Blossom, and his coaching staff, felt that a 2-3 match-up zone was the best line of defense for their Webster Groves basketball team in Saturday’s Class 5 championship game against defending champion McCluer North.
Blossom, who normally employs a man-to-man defense regardless of the circumstances, proved prophetic following a 71-62 triumph over the Stars that netted Webster Groves its second state title in school history. The Statesmen last won a championship in 1996 when it took home the hardware following the Class 4 title game.
“It went against what we believe in, but what the hell,” Blossom told the St. Louis Post Dispatch of his decision to switch defenses. “After watching so much film of them, we felt like that was the way to attack them.”
The Stars did shoot the ball well from two-point range, making 26 of 45 shots (57.8 percent). But when you throw in a 2-for-19 shooting performance from 3-point range, those numbers drop to 28-for-64 (43.8 percent).
Webster Groves (29-3) senior Drew Hanlen capped off a tremendous high school career by winning the one prize that had eluded him. He led Webster Groves by scoring 19 points and dishing out five assists. Hanlen connected on 5-of-7 field goals, including 2-of-3 three pointers, in the nine-point win. Zach Redel added 16 points and 14 rebounds to the scoring box for the Statesmen. Derrick Dilworth and Mike Whittier chipped in 14 and 10 points respectively.
Anthony Booker led all scorers with 23 points after connecting on 10-of-14 shots from the field and 2-of-3 from the free throw line. Femi John was the only other Star to reach double digit scoring. Torres Roundtree added nine points for McCluer North (25-5).
Missouri Boys Class 4 Championship Game
Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) 48, St. Charles West 36
After falling to Ruskin in last year’s Class 4 championship game, Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) (24-6) took the 2008 title game one step further. The Bulldogs picked up their third state title by shutting down top-ranked St. Charles West 48-36. Notre Dame won a pair of Class 2 championships in 1986 and 1987.
Ryan Willen and Austin Greer led the way for the Bulldogs by scoring 19 and 12 points respectively in the 12-point win, which ended a 26-game winning streak for the Warriors. Ty Williams and Mark Himmelberg added seven and five points in the defensive struggle.
Kramer Soderberg led St. Charles West (30-2) with 19 points, but saw his stellar high school career end without a state title. Alex Bazzell and Brian Maurer added 10 and seven points respectively as only three Warriors found their way into the scoring column.
The score was tied 28-28 at halftime, but Notre Dame’s defense held the Warriors to just eight points after halftime. The Bulldogs took a 39-32 advantage into the final frame.
Missouri Girls Class 5 Championship Game
Columbia Rock Bridge 50, Incarnate Word 35
Rock Bridge scored the first eight points of the girls Class 5 championship game and never looked back in claiming their first girls state basketball championship.
The Bruins (25-6), who had never won a playoff game before this season, looked like veterans on the court as they built a 27-10 halftime advantage and upped their lead to as many as 27 points in the third quarter. Katherine Harry, who led all scorers with 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, scored the first six points of the third period to extend Rock Bridge’s advantage to 33-10. Amaya Williams and Kelsie Shearrer added 15 and 11 points respectively for Rock Bridge.
Britteni Williams was the only Red Knight to score in double figures with 10 points. Kayla Person and Chloe Nelson scored eight and seven points for Incarnate Word (29-4).
Missouri Girls Class 4 Championship Game
Bolivar 47, Notre Dame de Sion 43, OT
Bolivar capped off a 29-2 season with an 18-game winning streak, and more importantly, a girls Class 4 state championship following a 47-43 overtime win over Notre Dame de Sion.
The Liberators followed the lead of star senior guard Casey Garrison in taking a 13-5 advantage after the opening period of play. But the Storm rallied to take a 23-20 lead at halftime after out scoring Bolivar 18-7 in the second quarter.
Notre Dame de Sion stretched their advantage to eight points in the final frame before the top-ranked Liberators made their move and eventually regained a three-point advantage with 26 seconds remaining. But Teresa Turner rallied the Storm again by connecting on a 3-pointer from the corner with 2-seconds left in regulation to send the game into an extra frame.
Garrison, who scored 25 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and was credited with four steals, scored four of the Liberator’s six overtime points in leading her team to the four-point win. Hayley Blair added 10 points for the Liberators and Rachel Sawyer added 10 rebounds. Turner led the Storm with 13 points. Kelley Murphy added eight points and seven rebounds, while Erin Murphy scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Missouri State Tournament Scores
Boys Class 5
Webster Groves 85, Gateway Tech 65
Truman 52, Raytown 49
McCluer North 68, Parkway South 48
Fort Zumwalt South 60, Waynesville 57
Webster Groves 64, Truman 60
McCluer North 50, Fort Zumwalt South 38
Championship – Webster Groves 71, McCluer North 62
Consolation – Fort Zumwalt South 61, Truman 58
Boys Class 4
Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) 61, St. Clair 33
Lincoln Prep 42, Ruskin 40
St. Charles West 48, Berkeley 36
Webb City 65, Clinton 56
Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) 67, Lincoln Prep 57
St. Charles West 62, Webb City 53 OT
Championship – Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) 48, St. Charles West 36
Consolation – Webb City 70, Lincoln Prep 52
Girls Class 5
Incarnate Word Academy 48, Nerinx Hall 41
Hickman Mills 47, Lee’s Summit 38
St. Joseph’s Academy 67, Hazelwood East 63
Columbia Rock Bridge 51, Waynesville 28
Incarnate Word Academy 60, Hickman Mills 48
Columbia Rock Bridge 55, St. Joseph?s Academy 42
Championship – Columbia Rock Bridge 50, Incarnate Word Academy 35
Consolation – St. Joseph’s Academy 70, Hickman Mills 67
Girls Class 4
Notre Dame 45, Farmington 38, OT
Notre Dame de Sion 60, Platte County 41
McCluer South-Berkeley 57, St. Dominic 56 OT
Bolivar 68, Webb City 53
Notre Dame de Sion 47, Notre Dame 27
Bolivar 71, McCluer South-Berkeley 54
Championship – Bolivar 47, Notre Dame de Sion 43 OT
Consolation – McCluer South-Berkeley 63, Notre Dame 45
