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McCluer North Boys 4-Peat, Hazelwood Central Girls 3-Peat District Basketball
By Jim Wieners
Until someone eliminates McCluer North Boys Basketball the Stars are still the Class Five Boys State Champions and have won four district titles in a row
Hazelwood Central Girls Basketball has not won a state title. In fact all of the Hazelwood Schools are still looking for their first state title, boys or girls. But Hazelwood Central Girls won a three-peat in districts.
On March 2 at Hazelwood East McCluer North Boys and Hazelwood Central Girls secured Class Five, District Eight Basketball titles. McCluer North has won 10 District or Regional titles since 1977 but seven of them came since 2005 and three of those years, including the last two, resulted in state titles. Hazelwood Central, since 1983, has won 11 District titles and was a Class 4A State runner up in 1985.
McCluer North Boys and Hazelwood Central Girls secured district titles March 1 as they each defeated tournament host Hazelwood East. McCluer North won 62-51 in the boys final while Hazelwood Central won 52-42. In route to the final McCluer North, Feb. 26, won the Boys District Semifinal over McCluer, 45-44, while on Feb. 28 Hazelwood Central won the Girls District Semifinal over McCluer North, 63-32.
McCluer North avenged home losses during the season. The Stars lost to McCluer 55-50 on Jan. 24 and lost to Hazelwood East, 63-58 on Feb. 15. Hazelwood Central Girls were 2-0 over the District Eight opponents but the margin of victory at McCluer North was larger than the 53-34 win on Jan. and the margin over Hazelwood East in the rematch was smaller than the 61-32 home beat down on Jan. 10. Even Hazelwood Central head coach Wendy Reeves said the rematch with Hazelwood East was going to be a tough one.
In the rematch win over McCluer Terrance Bush led the Stars with 20 points while Rashad Lindsey added 10. Against Hazelwood East McCluer North trailed only once, 3-2, and saw the lead cut to one at the end of the third quarter, 37-36 but the Stars outscored the Spartans 25-15 in the final quarter. Bush made eight of 11 free throws in route to scoring 24 points while Lindsey scored 23 and made 10 out of 11 free throws.
McCluer North was 13-12 prior to a March 6 rematch with Fort Zumwalt North in the sectional at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Mark Twain Building. Right before districts Fort Zumwalt North won 62-53 on Feb. 19. The winner plays Troy Buchanan or St. John Vianney March 9, 6 p.m. at Lindenwood University, St. Charles for the right to play at Mizzou Arena, March 15-16.
“This is a young team in kind of a rebuilding season,” said McCluer North head coach Randy Reed. However the last week saw the Stars “playing McCluer North Basketball,” Reed added.
Hazelwood Central Girls were led in scoring against McCluer North by Jessica Jordan with 18 points while against Hazelwood East Alexis Chappelle scored 19. The Hawks took a 19-8 record to the March 6 Sectional against Fort Zumwalt South at UM-St. Louis with the winner playing March 9 against Cor Jesu Academy or Fort Zumwalt West at Lindenwood.
