Blog

By Jim Wieners

McCluer North won the Blue Division while Washington High won the Gold Division, defeating cross-town rival Borgia in the final. The Stars new head coach, Laney, replaces Randy Reed, who took the head coaching job at St. Louis Community College from retiring long time coaching legend Randy Albrecht (most of it at the Meramec campus).

McCluer North won two games in Pool A, 87-47 over Summit on Nov. 25 and 86-54 over Carnahan High of the Future on Nov. 29 then won the title game Nov. 30 over Cardinal Ritter College Prep 72-70 in overtime. Last year the Stars were a Class Five Quarterfinalist a year after winning back to back state titles.

Against Summit Rashad Lindsey scored 24 points on nine out of 16 shooting including three of six shots made from three point range. Zeke Moore added 18 points, Dorian Holland added 1o while Jordan Boone had nine assists and five steals.

Against Carnahan the Stars outscored the Cougars 70-38 in the final three quarter to break a 16-16 tie after the first. Lindsey scored 26 points hitting seven of 12 shots including three out of four three-pointers and made nine out of 10 free throws. Moore made seven of eight shots including a trey for 16 points; Demarco Owens hit all six of his shots for 12 while Holland, who made all seven free throws, and DeMonte Morris, who made all five of his shots, each scored 11.

Against Ritter, coached by legend Marvin Neals, both teams hit 56 percent of their shots and both teams shot over 63 percent of the free throw line (McCluer North shot 65 percent to Ritter’s 63.6) but the Stars outscored the Lions, 9-7 in overtime. Lindsey scored 25 points making eight out of 15 shots and all six free throws, Holland scored 16 hitting six out of eight shots Owens scored 13 while pulling down 12 rebounds and Morris added 10.

McCluer North will play in the Ramey Shootout Dec. 14 7 p.m. against Chicago-Morgan Park, in the Route 66 Shootout in Waynesville Dec. 20-21 and will be in the Collinsville (Ill.) Tournament, Dec. 26-28, a tournament the Stars won in 2011.

HAZELWOOD WEST opened the season Nov. 26 with a 62-29 rout over Cleveland NJROTC at the former Southwest High (St. Louis) as 10 Wildcats scored including Mark Dowell Jr. who scored 18 points. The Wildcats resume Dec. 12 in the Webster Groves Tournament with a 7 p.m. game against the host Statesmen.

OTHER BOYS TOURNAMENTS started this past Monday, Dec. 2, and close out Friday, Dec. 6, weather permitting. Hazelwood Central is in the St. John Vianney Jerry Boeckman Invitational, Hazelwood East is in the Troy Buchanan/Francis Howell Tournament, McCluer and Jennings are in the Pattonville Tournament, North Technical is in the Winfield Tournament and Trinity Catholic is in the Valley Park Invitational.

On Dec 9-13 LUTHERAN NORTH will be in the St. Charles West Warrior Classic a tournament they won two years ago but finished third last year. Despite a change of coaches the Crusaders are coming of their second straight third place finish in Class Three State.