McCluer North Hosts McCluer in

Red Pool Boys Basketball Showdown

By Jim Wieners

With the St. Louis Suburban Public High School Athletic and Activities Association making conference realignment to color pools for all their schools and all their sports except Football, McCluer North hosts McCluer Friday, Jan. 25, in a Red Pool Boys Basketball Showdown, that tips off at 5:30.

McCluer North and McCluer are in the Suburban Red Pool Boys Basketball. The Ferguson-Florissant School District rivals compete against Eureka, Kirkwood, Ladue-Horton Watkins, Lindbergh, Parkway Central Parkway West and former Suburban North Conference rival Pattonville. Meanwhile Hazelwood Central is in the Yellow Pool, with Jennings, while Hazelwood East and Hazelwood West are in the Green Pool with Riverview Gardens and McCluer South-Berkeley.

In Girls Basketball McCluer North is in the Red Pool, McCluer is in the Green Pool, Hazelwood Central and Hazelwood West are in the Yellow Pool and Hazelwood East is in the Blue Pool, with Jennings, McCluer South-Berkeley and Riverview Gardens.

   McCLUER NORTH was 14-2 prior to the Jan. 22 game at 14-1 Trinity Catholic. The Stars won their first nine games before losing to DeSmet Jesuit in the Coaches Versus Cancer Semifinals, and then won five of their next six while losing only at Hazelwood Central. The Stars have tournament titles at Troy Buchanan and Kirkwood (Denver Miller) while taking third place in the Coaches Versus Cancer at St. Louis Community College-Meramec. McCluer North opened Red Pool play Jan. 18 with an 80–67 win at Parkway Central.

Senior A’Tavian Butler is scoring 18.3points per game, pulling down 121 rebounds, and blocking six shots.

Butler scored 25 points against Hazelwood East (Dec. 4) and Eureka (Jan. 10 at Kirkwood) and had 11 rebounds against Hazelwood East and at Hazelwood Central (Jan. 15). Senior Mekai Ray has 65 assists, including 10 Dec. 30 against Mehlville (Coaches Versus Cancer Third Place Game) and 39 steals.

Beginning with McCluer, the Stars will play seven of their last nine games before districts against Red Pool opponents while the other two are against Riverview Gardens (Feb. 14) and Hazelwood West (Feb. 19)

McCLUER was 11-5 prior to hosting Westminster Christian Academy Jan .23 in the championship game of the Lindbergh Tournament, rescheduled from Jan. 11 at Lindbergh due to heavy snow. The Comets, which were on a 5-0 start including wins over Hazelwood West, Quincy, Ill., and Red Pool rival Parkway West, won four of the last five games, losing at Hazelwood East, before playing Westminster. McCluer was 1-3 in the St. Louis University High Legends of Winter Classic (Dec., 27-30) including a loss to Hazelwood Central.

Senior Dareon Graham is scoring 18.6 points per game is scoring 18.6 points per game, including 24 against St. Louis Christian High, shooting 68.4 percent from inside the three-point arc, and has 20 steals. Senior Demerius Richmond has 72 rebounds and 18 blocked sots while senior Richuan Purtty has 25 assists. Beginning with McCluer North the Comets will play seven of their last eight against Red Pool teams, with the none-pool game is Feb. 19 at Jennings.

   TRINITY CATHOLIC will be playing half of their last eight games before districts in their second round robin of Archdiocesan Athletic Association Division II opponents, as the Titans have first-half wins over Bishop DuBourg, Duchesne, Lutheran St. Charles County and O’Fallon Christian. The last eight games begin Saturday, Jan. 26 with a 4:30 game at two-time Illinois Class 2A State Champion Chicago Orr Academy.

Prior to districts, the Titans have a Feb. 9 visit to St Louis Public High League Powerhouse Vashon.

Trinity won their first 13 games before losing 64-62 in the Jan. 18 Belleville (Ill.) East Tournament semifinals to eventual tournament champion Alton, Ill. The Titans rebounded to beat Soldan Jan. 19 and take third place. Trinity was snowed out of the Jan. 11 game at Chaminade and was to host McCluer North Jan. 22 and Brentwood Jan. 23.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us