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Hazelwood West Wins St. Charles West Boys Basketball Tournament
By Jim Wieners
After opening the season with a 1-2 performance Nov. 29-Dec. 3 in the Pattonville Tournament Hazelwood West Boys Basketball responded Dec. 7-10 by winning the St. Charles West Tournament.
First-year Wildcat head coach Cary Lewis Jr., said he tried to get the ‘Cats to adjust the style of defense he wanted in the Pattonville Tournament but said he took the blame because they were not ready. Hazelwood West lost to CBC, 81-62 Nov. 29, won Dec. 1 over Jennings, 85-47, and lost Dec. 3 to tourney host Pattonville, 78-55.
The Wildcats turned things around in the St. Charles West Tournament as they won Dec. 7 over Fort Zumwalt West, 76-46, won Dec. 8 over Fort Zumwalt South, 72-57, and won Dec. 10 over Lutheran North, 72-66. “Getting my kids to buy in my personality,” Lewis said. Having to adjust to how the ‘Cats play defense and rebounding to win the SC West Tourney “I’m really proud of my kids,” said Lewis.
Darris Smith has scored over 21 points per game, made 56 percent of his shots from inside the three-point arc, nearly 36 percent from outside the arc and has made 16 of his 17 free throws. Smith has 25 assists and 19 steals while Charles Fitzgerald has 47 rebounds and blocked seven shots.
The ‘Cats open Suburban North Conference play and play their home opener Dec. 17 with a 7 p.m. game against Riverview Gardens then stay at home Dec. 20 for a 6:30 game against Francis Howell North, who was 0-3 in the St. Charles West Tournament. The ‘Cats, Dec. 27-30, play in the Chaminade Tournament.
LUTHERAN NORTH gave Hazelwood West “a good challenge,” said Crusader head coach Brent Rueter. The game “could have gone either way…. Hazelwood West is a nice ball club playing pretty well,” Rueter said. The Crusaders open the tourney, and their season, Dec. 6 with a 58-50 win over tourney host St. Charles West then won again on Dec. 8 this time by beating Kirkwood, 67-64.
Anthony Virdure has averaged nearly 21 points per game, hitting nearly 55 percent of his shots from the floor and made nearly 79 percent of his free throws, as well as blocking five shots. James Mitchell averages nearly 10 rebounds per game while Alex Doss has eight steals Lutheran North has their home and ABC League opener Dec. 17 with a 7 p.m. game against Lutheran South then plays in the Mary Institute-Country Day School Tournament Dec 22-30.
HAZELWOOD EAST took fifth place in the six-team Troy-Buchanan Tournament after opening the season at home Dec. 3 with a 66-64 loss to University City. In the Troy-Buchanan Tournament the Spartans lost two Pool A games, Dec. 6 to Troy-Buchanan, 59-50, and Dec. 7 to St. Dominic, 69-67. The Spartans salvaged a win Dec. 10 by defeating Wentzville-Timberland, 73-42.
East hosted CBC Dec. 13, visits Normandy Dec. 17 and hosts Chaminade Dec. 21, all in 5:30 games. The Spartans return to Normandy for the holiday tournament, Dec. 27-30.
MIDWEST SHOWDOWN SHOOTOUT–On Dec. 11 at Lindenwood University’s Robert F. Hyland Arena, in St. Charles, two of our area’s top teams scored victories.
McCLUER NORTH defeated Gary, Ind., Lew Wallace, 65-60, HAZELWOOD CENTRAL defeated East St. Louis (Ill.), 87-73, and McCLUER lost to Chicago Farragut, 60-55. East St. Louis replaced Central Park Christian, Alabama.
McCluer and Hazelwood Central will be playing in the Meramec Tournament, Dec. 26-30. On Dec. 26 McCluer takes on Vianney at 5:30 while Hazelwood Central meets St. Charles West at 7 p.m.
TRINITY CATHOLIC AND NORTH COUNTY TECH will be in the Lutheran St. Charles County Cougar Classis, Dec. 16-18 in St. Peters. On Dec. 16 Trinity, who will also be in the MICDS Tournament, plays Lutheran-St Charles County at 8:15 while North County Tech meets Elsberry at 5 p.m.
