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BY JIM WIENERS

It is not too often that a high school would win both the boys and girls district basketball titles in the same year.

But to do that on their home floor? “It’s something you dreamed of,” said McCluer North athletic director Bruce Smith, last Saturday.

McCluer North won both the boys and girls Class Five, District Five titles while playing at home. McCluer North principal Shane Hopper said last Saturday he does not remember the Stars ever winning both, especially at home but the Missouri High School Activities Association does remember the Stars winning both titles in a year once. According to MSHSAA records McCluer North won both the boys and girls titles in 1990, the same year the Stars won their second of three straight state wrestling titles.

It was the seventh tile since 1977 that the Stars won the district or regional boys title and looking for their second state title in four years. On the girls side the Stars won their 11 district or regional title but the first since 1999 and is looking to win their first state title since 1986.

The coaches, Randy Reed (boys) and Dwayne Polk (girls) are both graduates of Vashon High (Reed in 1978 and Polk in 2004). Both played basketball for legendary and now former Vashon, coach Floyd Irons, who was at the Boys’ District final last Saturday and came by to see Reed, while the media was interviewing him.

Both of the McCluer North teams defeated Hazelwood East in the opening round (boys won 60-50 on Feb. 22 and the girls won 50-28 on Feb. 20). Both teams defeated Riverview Gardens (boys won 52-48 in the district title game last Saturday while the girls won in the semifinals, 47-46 on Feb. 23). The Stars boys and girls both defeated Hazelwood Central (boys won 55-53 on Feb. 24 while the girls defeated the Suburban North Champions, 42-40 last Saturday).

Both of the McCluer North teams played in the Class Five Sectionals Wednesday at St. Louis Community College at Meramec.  The Stars played Oakville in the boys’ game and the winner plays this Saturday, 2: 45 against Francis Howell or Parkway West at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Stars played Cor Jesu in the girls’ game and the winner faces Parkway North or Fort Zumwalt West, this Saturday, 1 p.m. at UMSL.

For more information including Wednesday’s scores go online at msshaa.org, click on “Basketball” and under boys or girls click on “Championship Brackets” and click on “Class 5.”

Mizzou Arena, Columbia, on the University of Missouri campus, will be the site for the semifinals-finals, March 11-13. If McCluer North wins sectionals and quarterfinals the semifinals are March 11 at 3:30 (girls) and 6:50 (boys). Third place games are March 12 at 12 noon (girls) and 1:40 (boys) while the championship games are March 13 at 6:30 (girls) and 8:05 (boys),

McCluer North was seeded fourth in boys’ basketball behind Central, Suburban North champion McCluer and Riverview, who defeated McCluer in the semifinals, Feb. 24. North was seeded third in girls’ behind Central and Riverview.

North boys had a mid-season slump and lost to the three higher seeded teams in district Reed said, “I had to re-evaluate my team.  Coach Irons told Me that each game is a state championship game.  (And) practice makes perfect”

North girls, who played it close in a loss earlier in the year to Central, used efficient practices in preparing for district play, especially at the free throw line. “They practiced hard and it paid off,” said Polk

In boys’ basketball districts Denzel Reed scored 18 points against East and 23 against Riverview. Against Central Galen Brown and Jordan Granger each scored 12 while Ryun Davis had 11 rebounds.

In girls’ basketball districts Folashade John scored 20 points against East while Kaci Cason had 24 points and 14 rebounds against Riverview. Scoring Information against Central was unavailable.

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