Blog

By Jim Wieners

Hazelwood Central won their second straight district title while Incarnate Word Academy, who is seeking their third straight state title, won their third straight in districts.

Hazelwood Central won District Eight defeating host McCluer, 57-34 on Feb. 25, four days after more than doubling up Hazelwood East, 85-41. Hazelwood Central took their 18-9 record to Maryville University Feb. 29 and played Francis Howell Central, with the two teams splitting their previous two games in December.

The winner plays against Kirkwood or Fort Zumwalt West March 3, 1 p.m. at the University of Missouri St. Louis

Incarnate Word, Metro Women’s Athletic Association White Division Champions, eliminated Suburban North Conference champion Pattonville, 48-39 on Feb. 24 a day after the Red Knights routed district host Parkway Central, 68-38. Two days before the IWA rout Parkway Central upset Hazelwood West, 51-46. IWA took their 23-6 record north to the University of Missouri-St. Louis for a Feb. 29 game against Parkway South with the winner returning to UMSL March 3 to face St. Joseph’s Academy or Jackson in a 6 p.m. contest

The March 3 winners will play March 8 in the state semifinal game at Mizzou Arena, Columbia. The March 3 winners from UMSL can only meet at Mizzou Arena March 9 at 12 noon for third place or March 10 at 3 p.m. for the state championship.

HAWKS REBOUND FROM LOSS TO PATTONVILLE IN ROLLING OVER DISTRICT RIVALS –Hazelwood Central wanted to achieve two goals but only manage to achieve to reach only one. Five days before beginning District Eight the Hawks 37-game Suburban North Conference wining streak ended (Feb. 16) with a 42-34 loss at Pattonville. Regardless of the outcome this has been “a challenging season” according to head coach Wendy Reeves

Nine days after losing to Pattonville Hazelwood Central met their other goal by winning the district title. With half of the packed McCluer M-4 Gym crowd staying around after the McCluer North boys win (see related article) McCluer gave Hazelwood Central a first-half battle as the Hawks took a 22-16 lead to the locker room at halftime.

“We were a little upset aft halftime,” Reeves said and part of being upset, although Reeves was not asked about it, was the fact that Alyssia Winston’s name was not in the official scorebook (it was in Hazelwood Central’s) and the Hawks were hit with a technical foul in the first quarter. McCluer made two free throws after the Hawks opened the scoring with a three-pointer.

Hazelwood Central settled down in the third quarter, outscoring the Comets, 20-6, and took a 42-22 lead in the third quarter. The Hawks coasted from their outscoring McCluer 15-12 in the final quarter The key in the second half, Reeves said was key transitional baskets made by the Hawks Winston had 20 points and 11 rebounds while Alexis Chappelle scored 16.

Against Hazelwood East “we did a pretty decent job,” Reeves said, and East “was playing well.” Central gradually pulled away from East during the game and sealed the game in the fourth quarter as the Hawks outscored the Spartans, 18-8. Chappelle scored 21 points while Winston pulled down 10 rebounds.

INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY overcame a seven-point deficit against Pattonville to seal the District Four title, even though Pattonville’s Mikala McGhee was the game’s top scorer with 18 points. Lateesha Deloach led the Red Knights with 13 points while Taylor Manuel added 10.

Against Parkway Central five Red Knights scored in double figures with Manuel having a game-high 15 points. In rebounding Parkway Central’s Chelsey Gibson had a game-high 19 while Carly Frala led Incarnate with 10.

If Incarnate Word and St. Joseph’s meet March 3 expect the gym in the Mark Twain Building to be packed. IWA defeated St. Joe twice in packed gyms, at IWA in late January