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Hazelwood Central Beats Webster, Vashon; Wins Class 5, District 2
By Jim Wieners
Hazelwood Central Boys Basketball is trying to make a statement after sweeping the Suburban XII Conference North Division and winning four tournaments including Class Five, District Two.
However, before playing the Class Five, District Two Tournament at McCluer North, Hazelwood Central pulled off a couple of huge victories over 2017 State Champions. The Hawks won their home finale 68-67 Feb. 20 over Class Five State Champion Webster Groves. Two nights later, Feb. 22, the Hawks played at a packed Vashon Gym and won 78-72 over the Class Four State Champions.
Nearly a week later Hazelwood Central won 71-65 Feb. 27 over Pattonville and 70-65 March 7 over Hazelwood West to win Class Five, District Two. It was Hazelwood Central’s 17th District title since 1982 and their fourth since 2009. A Hazelwood High 1962 regional title to the 17 Hazelwood Central district titles and the Hawks have won 18 district or regional titles.
Against Webster Groves, the Hawks led 14-11 after a quarter and increased the lead to 31-23 at halftime after Central outscored the Statesmen 17-12 in the second quarter. Hazelwood Central had to withstand a strong Webster second half as the Statesmen outscored the Hawks 44-37.
Senior Cameron Williams, one of 11 seniors on the 14-man Hawk roster led all scorers with 27 points, making 12 shots out of 22 attempts from the field. Cameron Williams pulled down 11 rebounds, and made three steals. Shaun Williams, another senior, scored 20 points including 12 from the free-throw line, out of 14 attempts.
At Vashon Hazelwood Central outscored the Wolverines 48-37 in the second half including a 22-13 third quarter. The Hawks led 17-12 after one quarter but Vashon had a 23-13 second quarter as the Wolverines led 35-30 at halftime.
Cameron Williams had a game-high 28 points on nine out of 17 shooting, including eight out of 15 from inside the three-point arc, and made nine out of 10 free throws. Shaun Williams scored 19 points and made seven out of 11 free throws. Xavier Ball scored 16 points on seven out of 12 from the field and pulled down 10 rebounds.
CLASS FIVE, DISTRICT TWO — Against Pattonville the Hawks led 56-48 after three quarters and withstood a 18-15 fourth quarter by the Pirates. Ball and Cameron Williams each scored 16 points, Senior Telly Wright scored 15 and Shaun Williams added 14 to go along with 10 rebounds. Cameron and Shaun Williams combined to make 11 out of 14 free throws.
Against Hazelwood West, the Hawks outscored the Wildcats 20-9 in the third quarter after leading 34-31 at halftime. The Hawks led 24-17 after a quarter but the Wildcats went on a 14-10 second-quarter run and outscored the Hawks 26-16 in the fourth quarter to make the game close
Cameron Williams scored 20 points on nine out of 15 shots, Shaun Williams scored half of his 18 points on three shots from three-point range, Ball added 15 while senior Jhaylen Covington-Berry made eight out of 14 free throws among his 14 points.
STATE — Hazelwood Central played Poplar Buff March 7 at Jefferson College and the winner plays in the Saturday, March 10 quarterfinal against Chaminade or Francis Howell 2:45 at Lindenwood University Robert Hyland Arena. The winner plays in State March 15-17 at JQH Arena at Missouri State University in Springfield.
