Blog

By Jim Wieners

McCluer North Boys Basketball Head Coach Randy Reed has taken the Stars to the Class Five State Tournament at Mizzou Arena, on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia four times in six years since 2007.

However the 2012 Stars were able to do what the 2008 team could not, repeat as State Champions. McCluer North became only the second high school in the Suburban North Conference (McCluer High the other in 1974-75 [Class 4A]) to win back to back state titles and McCluer North is only the second high school (Poplar Bluff is the other in 2004-05) to repeat as Class Five State Champions. With three state titles McCluer North has won the most Boys Basketball titles among Suburban North Conference teams and combined with the girls’ team winning the 1986 Class 4A title (the only title won by a Suburban North Girls’ team) the Stars have four state basketball titles.

McCluer North, with the Class Five Boys Basketball title, now has won eight state titles in 38 years which begun in the winter of 1975 with Boys Soccer. The three state Boys Basketball titles tie the school mark for most titles by the school with Class 4A Wrestling (1988-90, coached by Charlie Sherertz).

McCluer North was 28-1 and ended the season with 26 consecutive wins after losing only to St. Francis Borgia, 28-26, Nov. 26, 2011 in the championship game of the St. Francis Borgia Tournament. The Stars secured their second straight title, their third in six years, March 10 with a 69-60 in at Mizzou Arena over a Nixa team that won 30 in a row after their season-opening loss to Columbia Rock-Bridge. While other high  schools in St. Louis outside the Suburban North were mentioned highly McCluer North felt like they were “under the radar” and Reed mentioned that to at least a couple of reporters.

The Stars were ranked second in state Class Five to Nixa but the Stars responded to the challenge. After trailing 16-15 at the end of the first quarter the Stars dominated the middle two quarters by outscoring the Eagles 33-21 including a 17-8 third quarter and took a 48-37 lead into the fourth quarter. In the fourth Nixa, who made eight shots from three-point range, tied the game at 54-54 with 2:43 left but the Stars finished on a 15-6 run to seal the title repeat.

Jordan Granger closed his McCluer North career by scoring 26 points, 19 in the first half and pulled down 16 rebounds, 10 in the first half. Suburban North Player of the Year, and football quarterback, Galen Brown closed his career by scoring 14 of his 18 points in the second half. Nixa was led by Austin Ruder who made six shots from three-point range and scored 24 points.

Two days earlier at Mizzou Arena, March 8 McCluer North rolled to a 70-57 semifinal win over Lee’s Summit West. The Stars led from start to finish as they outscored Lee’s Summit West, 15-2 in the first quarter and Lee’s Summit West got no closer than two points twice in the second quarter. The Stars padded on to their 26-20 halftime lead with a 44-37 second half.

Brown scored 14 of his game-high 20 points in the second half while Byron Ray added 19, 13 in the second half. Shaquille Harrison led Lee’s Summit West with 19 points, 13 in the second half, and 10 rebounds.

On March 3 at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Mark Twain Building the Stars won their quarterfinal game over St. John Vianney, 63-54, and ended the Golden Griffins’ season at 27-2. After leading 9-4 in the first quarter and 20-14 at halftime McCluer North took charge with a 19-12 third quarter and coasted from there. Brown led the Stars with 19 points, Granger added 18 to go with three blocks and Ray had 12 points and four assists. Leading the way for Vianney were Tony Cochran, 15 points, and Brad Woodson, 14 points.

The most lopsided win for McCluer North on the road to the state title came Feb. 29 at Maryville University as the Stars routed Fort Zumwalt South, 62-28, in the sectional round. The Stars ran away from the Bulldogs with a 55-20 run through three quarters leaving the fourth quarter with a non-stop clock. Granger had 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, Brown had 11 points and five steals and Tremayne Garrett had five assists while George Cater led Fort Zumwalt South with 12 points.