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Hawks Sweep Class 5, District 6 Basketball— Both Boys and Girls
BY JIM WIENERS
Hazelwood Central High School’s Boys and Girls Basketball Teams took their first steps in the Missouri State High School Activities Association road to the Mizzou Arena, University of Missouri, in Columbia, Mo., with wins last week in the Class Five, District Six Tournaments at Hazelwood West.
In Boys Basketball Hazelwood Central defeated Riverview Gardens, 65-48, and McCluer, 58-57, to win District Six. The Hawks were to play Lafayette in the sectionals Wednesday at Northwest-Cedar Hill and the winner plays Oakville or Fort Zumwalt South in the quarterfinals Saturday, 1 p.m., at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Mark Twain Building. Saturday’s winner plays at Mizzou Arena March 13 at 5 p.m. (semifinals) and March 14 at 12 noon (third place) or 8:20 (championship).
In Girls Basketball Hazelwood Central steam-rolled past Riverview Gardens, 62-25, and Hazelwood West, 63-25, to win District Six. The Hawks were to play Parkway South in the sectionals Wednesday at Northwest-Cedar Hill and the winner plays Oakville or Fort Zumwalt West in the quarterfinals Saturday, 2:45, at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Mark Twain Building. Saturday’s winner plays at Mizzou Arena March 13 at 8:20 (semifinals) and March 14 at 1:40 (third place) or 6:40 (championship).
It was the first district title for the Hazelwood Central boys since 2006 and their 13th since 1982. The Hawks also won the 1962 Class L Regional title as Hazelwood High. For the Central girls it was their first district title since 2004 and their eighth since 1983.
Hazelwood Central Boys, 25-3 overall prior to Wednesday, is 9-0 against Suburban North Conference teams including a 7-0 league mark. On Jan. 12 Central defeated Lafayette at home, 49-48. In District Six Connell Crossland had 16 points and 10 rebounds against Riverview while scoring 19 more against McCluer.
“I got a lot of confidence in our players,” said Central boys head coach Josh Martin. “We believe in each other.” On Crossland’s scoring Martin said “Connell has played like that all year.”
Hazelwood Central Girls, 23-2 overall prior to Wednesday, is 12-0 against Suburban North teams including 3-0 in the Suburban North Tournament and 7-0 in league play. The Hawks, whose two losses were against Incarnate Word Academy, defeated Oakville, 40-26, on Feb. 10. In District Six the “mercy rule” non-stop clock was used in the fourth quarter of both games as Candyce Ussery scored 13 points against Riverview and Chantiera Johnson scored 14 against Hazelwood West.
“We knew we were going to be competitive,” said Central girls head coach Wendy Reeves. “We were fortunate to have to players we have.” Defense has been the key for the Hawk ladies and Reeves said “we try to keep it simple” while on offense Reeves said “we have so many offensive threats.”
