Class 3 Title Tilt Recap/Top Performers: Vashon vs Catholic
The Class 3 State Championship Game was a great matchup of contrasting styles. The perennial powerhouse Vashon Wolverines (24-5), winners of 12 straight, came in loaded with athleticism and high-major talent. They squared off against a deep, fundamentally sound Springfield…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Class 3 State Championship Game was a great matchup of contrasting styles. The perennial powerhouse Vashon Wolverines (24-5), winners of 12 straight, came in loaded with athleticism and high-major talent. They squared off against a deep, fundamentally sound Springfield Catholic (28-3) squad who had won 12 of 13 themselves. Both teams were very much battle tested, surviving gauntlet schedules and proved without a doubt they were the best Class 3 had to offer.
It was apparent right from the tip that this was going to be a physical game. Vashon was looking to go up-tempo and get out in transition. When they did, it worked, as evident by 6’7 Jr Cam’ron Fletcher‘s highlight reel slam in the 1st quarter and several shifty euro-step finishes in the first half. He and Mizzou signee 6’2 Sr Mario McKinney are elite athletes that took advantage of any opportunity they could find to speed the game up. 5’11 Jr Phillip Russell hit a pair of big threes and had 8 points for the Wolverines at halftime. Catholic was up for the challenge, led by 6’2 Sr Jake Branham‘s 13 first half points. The Irish took care of the ball for the most part, and capitalized on their opportunities when they attacked the Wolverine’s pressure. Vashon took a tight 32-26 lead into the break.
The 3rd quarter belonged to Vashon. Their star duo of McKinney and Fletcher turned up the intensity on both ends of the floor. Suffocating defense forced several Irish turnovers and Vashon converted in transition, extending their lead to 50-38 at the end of the period. Catholic had a dynamic duo of their own. Jake Branham and 6’2 Sr Charlie O’Reilly converted some clutch buckets, cutting the deficit down to as low as 7 midway through the final period. From there the two teams would trade baskets until McKinney found Fletcher for a rim rocking two hand slam. He got free again shortly after for another throw down that gave Vashon a 15 point lead effectively sealing the win. It was a magical run and amazing season for the Irish, but in the end the star-studded Wolverines of Vashon brought home the 69-59 win and the championship.
Here are some of our top performers from the Class 3 title game.
Top Performances:
MVP: 6’2 Sr Mario McKinney – Vashon
Mario has been the leader and catalyst for Vashon all season and he refused to wrap up his impressive senior season without hoisting the Class 3 trophy. The future Missouri Tiger is an electric lead guard who can fill it up at all three levels and plays max-effort on both sides of the ball. His pesky defense created numerous Catholic turnovers. He was lethal in transition where he found open teammates, finished crafty slashes to the rim, and battled through contact getting to the charity stripe. He turned it on in the second half and finished with a game high 23 points for the Wolverine’s in their championship win.
Runner-Up: 6’2 Sr Jake Branham – Catholic
Jake Branham is an absolute stud. He was tasked with handling the ball and shouldering the scoring load against one of the most athletic and defensively intimidating teams in the state at any level. He accepted and exceeded the challenge. Jake was fearless driving through the heart of the Wolverine defense and finishing several acrobatic lay-ups. He handled the ball with poise against aggressive and physical traps and pressure. He buried multiple three-pointers and finished with a gritty game high 25 points to wrap up a tremendous career. The crafty guard holds numerous high level NAIA and juco offers and is sure to have a stellar college career.
Most Athletic: 6’7 Jr Cam’ron Fletcher – Vashon
Cam’ron possesses a rare combination of size, skill, and raw athleticism which is probably a good part of the reason he is one of the most coveted juniors in the country. He is beyond bouncy and proved to be a match-up nightmare for the Irish. Fletcher is nearly impossible to keep off of the offensive glass and is unstoppable in transition. He blocked or altered several Catholic shots and had three Sports Center Top 10 worthy dunks in the championship win for Vashon.
Mr. Hustle: 6’2 Sr Charlie O’Reilly – Catholic
Charlie did not have his best offensive performance, although he did finish with 11 points in the contest. However, he left it all on the floor for his team. He played with passion, intensity, and physicality on both ends of the floor. It seemed that he was first to every loose ball and never took a possession off. Another Catholic senior who has had a tremendous career, his contributions go beyond the stat sheet. He is a huge piece to what has been a truly storybook season for Springfield Catholic.
Unsung Hero/Shooter: 5’11 Jr Phillip Russell – Vashon
As both teams were feeling each other out early on, Phillip made himself very comfortable by knocking down a couple three-pointers and finishing a tough curl and score. He cashed in from the foul line late, helping seal the state title for the Wolverines. He finished with a quiet, but huge 17 points for Vashon.