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North Tech Boys Basketball Roll After Winning Orchard Farm Tournament
By Jim Wieners
After a 3-3 start North Tech Boys Basketball has been on a winning streak and for the first time in a long time, if not ever, the Golden Eagles have won two basketball tournaments.
The most recent came last week when North Tech won the Lanny Hradek Orchard Farm Tournament for the first time in that tournament’s history. North Tech opened Jan. 14 with a 71-41 win over Brussels, Ill., then on Jan. 16 North Tech was a 52-44 winner over the host Eagles. Finally on Jan. 19 the Golden Eagles rolled over Suburban East Conference contender Affton, 77-46. In December North Tech won the Lutheran-St. Charles County Cougar Classic.
“The kids are playing extremely well, playing a lot smarter and shot the ball real well,” said North Tech head coach Don Boyce. The Golden Eagles are playing well defensively and was very aggressive in the rout of Affton, the first win over a team with 10 wins and the game closed out with a non-stop clock for a portion of the last quarter. Kevin James scored 14 points while Michael Henderson-Burt and Cameron Ussery each added 13.
North Tech had a tough battle against host Orchard Farm but the Golden Eagles pulled away late over the Green and White clad Eagles as Ni’Sean Rigmaiden and Marcus Neal each scored 11 while Henderson-Burt added 10. The Golden Eagles pulled away to a 30-point win over Brussels, a school that has only 43 students in Calhoun County, Ill., as James scored 18 while Henderson-Burt and Neal added 14 each.
North Tech put their 14-3 record and an 11-game winning streak, as of Jan. 20, on the line this week. After hosting a Jan 22 game against Confluence Prep Academy Charter, who finished eighth at the Orchard Farm Tournament, the Golden Eagles host Public High Leader Miller Career Academy Jan 25 at 6 p.m. “The Miller Career game will be a big challenge for us.”
HAZELWOOD CENTRAL TO DEFEND AMERITIME CLASSIC, PUT WIN STREAK ON THE LINE — Hazelwood Central is playing this week in the Ameritime Classic at Missouri Baptist University and the defending four-time tournament champion was to aim for their fifth straight title as the top seed. The Hawks had put their nine-game winning streak and their 12-3 record on the line as they faced Parkway South on Jan 21, then played St. Francis Borgia or Parkway Central on Jan. 23. The tournament closes on Jan 23 with games at 4 p.m. (seventh place), 5:30 (consolation final), 7 p.m. (third place) and 8:30 (championship)
DeSmet, who lost to Hazelwood Central in the Meramec Tournament Semifinals, will be there as the number two seed and Nolan Berry is back after recovering from two broken arms. Hazelwood Central has defeated DeSmet in the Ameritime Tournament Championship game the last three years. Other key Hawk wins during the streak have been over defending two-time state champion McCluer North, Hazelwood East, Cardinal Ritter and CBC, who will meet the Hawks again Feb. 2, 4:30 at Maryville University.
RIVERVIEW GARDENS NOW HOT AFTER COLD START — After opening the season with a six-game losing streak and 11 out of their first 13 games, has now won seven in a row and that includes winning the Kirkwood Denver Miller Tournament for the second year in a row, two weeks ago. Riverview won the Denver Miller Tournament with a 73-56 win over Eureka, a rematch of last years tournament finals, a 75-68 win over Normandy, a tournament rematch, and an 81-75 overtime win over Chaminade, who won the tournament two years ago.
In the Denver Miller Tournament Tyrin Williams led the Rams by scoring 25.3 points per game including a 43-point effort against Chaminade while making 13 shots from three point range. Other key Riverview wins during the streak include Pattonville, 56-39, and Hazelwood East, 72-67. Riverview puts their nine-game winning streak and their 9-11 record on the line Jan. 25 when they have a 7 p.m. tip off at Hazelwood West.
