Five Takeaways: Webster Groves (with Courtney Ramey)
Elite point guard Courtney Ramey returned to the Webster Groves lineup last week after missing the first month of the season with a broken wrist. The Statesmen struggled mightily in Ramey’s absence against a national schedule, which was understandable. Not surprisingly, having Ramey back in the lineup is a game-changer for the Statesmen, who are in the hunt for a second consecutive Class 5 state title. As Ramey continues to round into full form, his presence alone has been a big difference.
In the two games since Ramey’s return, Webster Groves has been a completely different team. The Statesmen defeated conference foe Marquette by 30 points, but then went on the road to defeat Wheeler (GA) 74-62 in the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia.
Webster Groves will continue its national schedule tonight when they open play in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, MO against Christ the King (NY) tonight at 9:30 p.m. Then, they will head to Springfield, MA to play Mount Vernon (NY) in the Hoop Hall Classic.
Here are five takeaways from having a healthy Courtney Ramey back in the lineup:
*Rebounding: Ramey does many things on the court, but one thing that may get overlooked is his rebounding. He is one of the top rebounding guards in the country. He averaged nearly nine boards a game as a junior. At 6’4″ he has the size, but he also has the determination and instincts to get on the boards.
*With Ramey back at the point guard, everyone else gets put in their proper place on the floor. Webster’s lineup this season is stacked with talented offensive players who can score. In his absence, they were forced into greater ball handling and decision making roles, which made scoring more difficult for them.
*Ramey makes the game easier for everyone. The victory over Wheeler showed how easy the game can be for his teammates. With Ramey running the show, 2019 guard Ray Adams went back to his role as knock down shooter as he made a event record seven 3-pointers while scoring 23 points. Talented 2018 guard R.J. Wright scored 20 points and made three 3-pointers. Even 6’8″ 2018 forward Carte’are Gordon found more room to operate in the paint as he powered his way to 17 points. 2019 guard Amorey Womack also added 11 points while displaying his offensive chops.
*On the defensive end, Ramey can guard just about anywhere on the floor. He’s an excellent on-ball defender, but he can also cause problems on the wing with his size, length and anticipation.
*The Bottom Line: With Ramey back in the lineup, the Statesmen become a serious threat to defend their Class 5 state championships. There are several strong challengers from around the state (Lee’s Summit West, Chaminade, Rock Bridge, Hazelwood Central to name just a few), but the Statesmen look strong once again. Without Ramey, those kids got a little more battle tested with increased responsibility against national competition. With him, they are potentially better offensively than last year’s year with the dynamic duo of Ramey and Gordon surrounded by three legit offensive threats in Adams, Wright and Womack.