Titans Have Showdown At Vashon

After Hawks Play Bloomington, Ill.

By Jim Wieners

Vashon High School is winners of 10 State Boys Basketball Championships, which makes them third overall but would be second if three state titles are not vacated due to Missouri State High School Activities Association rules violations.

Trinity Catholic High School just won their first state title but that was in Football, not Boys Basketball. Trinity, in fact, has no district Boys Basketball titles. Of their predecessors, only Mercy, before merging with St. Thomas Aquinas, won district or regional titles (six), and their best finish was fourth in 1961 (Class L).

So far this season Trinity is 17-2 overall, 5-0 in Division II of the Archdiocesan Athletic Association prior to the Feb. 4 game at O’Fallon Christian. Moreover, the road for the Titans to their first state title will likely have to go through Vashon, and the Wolverines are 14-5 overall (5-0 in the Public High League Large Division) prior to going to Metro Catholic Conference contender CBC (Feb. 6). In addition, Vashon was to host Grandview Christian Feb. 2.

Saturday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m., Trinity visits Vashon for what could be a possible Class Three State Quarterfinal preview. Regardless of the outcome, the only way a rematch happens is Trinity winning District Seven (hosted by North Tech) and the Feb. 27 Sectional at Francis Howell Central and Vashon winning District Six at home and the Sectional at Webster Groves.

The Class Three State Quarterfinal is March 2; 1 p.m. at Hazelwood Central and Vashon will already be familiar with the Hazelwood Central Field House as the Wolverines take on the Hawks four days later, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. Meanwhile, Hazelwood Central could look at the Wolverines playing the Titans because the Hawks visit Vashon Saturday for a 4 p.m. game against Bloomington, Ill.

The night before the showdown with Vashon, Trinity completes AAA Division II play Friday, Feb. 8 with a 7:15 home game against Bishop DuBourg, two days after hosting Duchesne (Feb. 6). Two days after visiting Vashon, Feb. 11 The Titans play their final game before Class Three, District Seven, 7 p.m., at MCC contender Chaminade, rescheduled from Jan. 11 due to heavy snow.

Both of Trinity’s losses were by two points each, including Alton, Ill., in the Belleville (Ill.) East Tournament semifinals (64-62 Jan. 18), and Milwaukee, Wis., Washington at Chicago-Orr Academy (65-63 Jan. 26). Against District Seven opponents Trinity has a win at Duchesne (73-55 Dec. 7) and over Soldan International Studies at Belleville East (57-42 Jan 19-third place). Trinity has wins over Hazelwood Central (58-57 Nov. 30 at St. John Vianney Tournament Finals) and visiting McCluer North (79-66 Jan. 22).

There are at least six seniors and four football players on the Titan hoop team. The senior football/basketball players are Marcus Washington University of Texas-Austin bound) and Isaiah Williams (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign-bound).

Vashon’s losses are to two Illinois teams, East St. Louis and Belleville West, two from Florida and one from New York. The Wolverine wins include Soldan as well as District Six opponents Cardinal Ritter College Prep and Carnahan High School of the Future.

HAZELWOOD CENTRAL has a Suburban Yellow Pool win over Ritenour and was 12-7 overall prior to playing a Feb. 5 Yellow Pool game against Parkway South. Other Suburban Yellow Pool games include Friday, 7 p.m. at Marquette (Rockwood School District), Feb. 12, 5:30 versus Webster Groves, Feb. 15, 5:30 versus Lafayette and Feb. 21, 7 p.m., at Jennings.

Hawk leaders include senior Isaiah Ervin, 16.8 points per game, 12 blocks; freshman Tevin Gowins, 73.7 percent free throws, 75 assists, 58 steals; and sophomore Caleb Jones.

   CLASS 3, DISTRICT 7, hosted by North Tech, is scheduled for Feb/ 16-22. The tournament includes Trinity, Duchesne, Soldan, McCluer South-Berkeley, Sumner, Collegiate School of Medicine-Bio Science and Lutheran North, whose girls’ team was State Quarterfinalist.

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