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Hazelwoood Central, North Tech. Win Basketball Districts
By Jim Wieners
About one week ago Hazelwood Central Boys Basketball won their third consecutive district title in Class Five. Nearly a week before that in Class Three North Technical Boys Basketball played in only their second district title game, ever, and this time they won their first-ever district title.
By winning Class Five, District Five at home Hazelwood Central not only won their third straight district title but their 16th overall since 1982. With Hazelwood High winning a 1962 Regional title the Hawks have won a total of 17 District or Regional titles.
By winning Class Three, District Six at O’Fallon-based Christian High, North Tech’s Boys Basketball district title was the fourth in all sports going back to 2008 with Class Two, District Two Boys Track And Field. North Tech also won two Class Three Girls Basketball District titles (2010, 2013).
Hazelwood Central has not won a State Basketball title. In fact, none of the Hazelwood District high schools have won a state basketball title. North Tech, meanwhile, has not won a state sports team title.
HAZELWOOD CENTRAL began their run to the Class Five, District Five title with a 75-43 rout of Hazelwood West on Feb. 29. Xavier Sneed led the Hawks in scoring with 24 points, Dominque Dobbs led in rebound with 10 to go along with scoring 13 points and Steve Holloway added 17. It was a rematch of Suburban XII Conference, North Division rvials which was less lopsided than the district tournament game as the Hawks defeated the visiting Wildcats 77-64 back on Dec. 17, 2015.
In the Class Five, District Five championship game Hazelwood Central defeated DeSmet Jesuit 61-47 on March 3. and the Hawks secured the district title when they outscored the Spartans 41-29 in the second half. Dobbs led the Hawks in rebounds with 15 and shared top scoring honors, 17 points with Sneed while Holloway added 11. Dillon Gilkey and Ryan Stipanovich shared top scoring honors for DeSmet with 13 points each.
Hazelwood Central put their 24-4 record on the line March 9 when they played 23-5 Chaminade College Prep in a March 9 Sectional at Lindenwood University’s Hyland Arena. Chaminade, third in State last year, rolled over Ritenour 103-49 on March 3 and Hazelwood East 67-35 March 5 at St. Joseph’s Academy to win Class Five, District Six. Prior to districts Chaminade easily won at home Feb. 16 over Hazelwood East 79-55.
Hazelwood Central or Chaminade will return to Lindenwood Saturday, March 12, for a 6 p.m. State Quarterfinal game against Lafayette or CBC. If Chaminade and CBC won March 9 then Jayson Tatum would lead his Chaminade Red Devils into battle against the CBC Cadets coach by Jayson’s father, Justin Tatum. Saurday’s winner will head to Columbia and the University of Missouri-Mizzou Arena for a March 17 6:50 State Semifinnal and play March 19, 4:30 for the State Championship or March 18, 12:45 for third place.
NORTH TECHNICAL began their run to their first boys district title Feb. 23 with a 58-45 win over Winfield as Erik Hicks scored 11 points. Two days later, Feb. 25, North Tech defeated Lutheran High St. Charles County 68-55, with the Golden Eagles outscoring the Cougars 57-43 in the final three quarters, as Tyree White had 27 points and 11 rebounds, Derrick Hendson scored 14 and Hicks added 10. Two more days later, Feb. 27, North Tech, with 16 points from White and 11 Jontate Huntspon rebounds, defeated Duchesne 38-34 to win the Class Three, District Six title avenging last years title game won 57-48 by Duchesne.
North Tech’s run at state ended March 2 at St. Charles West with a 64-58 Sectional loss to Cardinal Ritter. North Tech was led by Jontae Huntspon, with 20 points (on nine out of 12 shooting) and nine rebounds, White with 15 points and Henderson with 10. North Tech had won 57-32 Dec. 4, 2015 at Cardinal Ritter.
Cardinal Ritter, who defeated Trinity Catholic 72-61 (Feb. 26) and Northwest Academy of Law 58-59 (Feb. 27) to win Class Three, District Five at Lutheran North, lost 84-59 in the March 5 State Quarterfinal game to Columbia-Father Tolton Regional Catholic at Warrenton.
