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BT JIM WIENERS

McCluer North Boys Basketball returns to Mizzou Arena, on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, this Friday-Saturday in hopes of winning their second straight Class Five State title.

Friday, approximately at 9:30 p.m., McCluer North (24-4) will take on St. Peters-based Fort Zumwalt South (26-3) in one of the Class Five Boys Semifinals. The other semifinal, starting at 7:50, pits Webster Groves (27-3) against Independence-Truman (20-8). Saturday the semifinal winners play for the state title at 8:05 p.m. while the semifinal losers play at 9:45 for third place.

McCluer North and Fort Zumwalt South played in last years state final four at Mizzou Arena. While the Stars won the state title Fort Zumwalt South took third place. Also last year McCluer North went overtime in the 48-44 Quarterfinal win over Webster Groves.

McCluer North tries to become only the second Suburban North Conference School to win back-to-back state titles. McCluer used two different head coaches, Larry Jacob in 1973-74 and Mark Bernsen in 1974-75, to win back-to-back Class 4A titles.
McCluer North began their road to repeat by winning District Seven, Feb. 20, 23; by defeating district host Riverview Gardens, 78-55 and Hazelwood Central, 62-61 (the Stars defeated the Hawks by the same score on Feb. 14). The Stars won their sectional game Feb. 27 over Oakville at St. Louis Community College, 72-55 and last Saturday in the quarterfinal game at the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ Mark Twain Building the Stars defeated Parkway South, 68-48.

Going back to the state semifinals and finals “was expected,” said McCluer North head coach Randy Reed, last Saturday at UMSL. “Our motto is the closer you get to Columbia the better they play,” Reed said. And going back to Columbia, Reed said, “Feels great, that is what the whole season is about.”

Four McCluer North players average in double figures in scoring — Femi John-17.4, Torres Roundtree-15.2, Anthony Booker-13.4 and Bobby Peebles-10.0. Booker leads in rebounds, 9.2 per game, and blocks, 44, while Peebles leads in assists, 94, and steals, 72.

LUTHERAN NORTH won their 11th District title in 31 years by winning Class Three, District Five, Feb. 26-29 at Orchard Farm High. Lutheran North defeated North County Tech, 54-46, Lutheran St. Charles County-59-47, and Cardinal Ritter, 47-47. The Crusaders played Bowling Green last Wednesday at St. Charles West with the winner playing Saturday, 2:45 in Hannibal against Highland or Blair Oaks and the state semifinals and finals are March 13, 15 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

“Most of our games have been close,” said Lutheran North coach Brent Rueter Feb. 29 at Orchard Farm.

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