Preview: Championship Saturday
Springfield, MO – The final day of the prep basketball season in Missouri a couple of monster state-championship game matchups that also have city bragging rights on the line in both games as a bonus. The action will be hot and heavy tonight at the JQH Arena on the campus of Missouri State University.
The Class 5 championship game will be an All-St. Louis affair with Webster Groves squaring off with Chaminade in a 4:30 tip-off. The session will conclude at 8;10 p.m. with Raytown South taking on Grandview for the Class 4 state title in an All-Kansas City affair.
Here is a look at the two matchups:
Class 5: Chaminade (27-2) vs. Webster Groves (21-9), 4:30 p.m. – Not only is this an All-St. Louis matchup, but it’s a battle between the last two Class 5 state champions. Webster won the state title last season while Chaminade won the crown in 2016. Both teams have tremendous star power and excellent complimentary players. Webster Groves got a career-high 40 points from 6’8″ 2018 forward Carte’are Gordon in its 81-61 victory over Liberty in the semifinals on Thursday night. Five-star point guard Courtney Ramey had 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists against Liberty. The dynamic duo has been the linchpins of the Statesmen attack for both of these Final Four runs. The emergence of 6’2″ 2018 guard R.J. Wright has a third scoring option has been big for Webster Groves. He scored 18 points in the semifinals against Liberty. 2019 guards Ray Adams and Amorey Womack also provide offensive firepower when they are on their games.
Chaminade is back in the Final Four for the fourth consecutive season. 2018 standouts Jericole Hellems and Jadis White were a part of that championship team in 2016 that was led by All-American Jayson Tatum and Co. These two seniors led Chaminade back to the championship game with a tremendous rally against Rock Bridge in the semifinals. The Red Devils fought back from a 16-point halftime deficit to defeat Rock Bridge 80-77. The 6’7″ Hellems had 31 points and 11 rebounds while the 6’1″ White had 20 points and eight assists. They lead a high-octane attack that also features 6’6″ 2020 shooter Luke Kasubke, 6’2″ 2019 two-way guard Keyyaun Batchman and 6’4″ 2020 forward Harrison Vickers. The Red Devils have negotiated a tremendous schedule that includes victories over Vashon, Belleville West, Sikeston and Chicago area powers Whitney Young and Morgan Park.
Class 4: Raytown South (25-5) vs. Grandview (27-3), 8:10 p.m. – Not only are both teams in the Kansas City area, they happen to be in the same conference. They split their two meetings this season, so this rubber match is for all the marbles. It cannot get any better than that. Grandview survived an excellent Sikeston team 59-56 in the semifinals while Raytown South fought off a scrappy Jennings team 61-57 to get to the championship game. This game will feature a lot of size and athleticism on both sides. Raytown South has an excellent front line, led by 6’6″ 2018 combo forward Sevon Witt, who can score, rebound and handle the ball. He gets plenty of support up front from 6’6″ 2018 forward Caleb Jones-McCrary and massive 6’7″ 280-pound 2018 center Tyren Clark. However, the player that makes the Cardinals go is talented 6’3″ 2018 guard Jamar Madge, who is both smooth and very explosive.
Grandview comes at you with a nice collection of 6’4″ athletes with excellent athleticism and length. The Bulldogs fell behind Sikeston by 14 points early, but fought back behind its excellent defense in the second half. They are led by 6’4″ 2018 Northwestern signee Jordan Lathon and 6’4″ 2018 Air Force commit Mason Taylor. There is more perimeter firepower, thanks to 6’0″ 2019 guard Deandre Sorrells and 6’2″ 2020 guard Reggie Morris, who saved Grandview’s bacon with their perimeter shooting on Friday night. The combined for 32 points and 10 3-pointers against Sikeston, making five each. The Bulldogs will battle Raytown South’s size with 6’4″ 2018 forward Mike Nweke, 6’6″ 2019 forward Kamto Eze and 6’5″ 2018 Kansas football recruit Cartez Crook-Jones.
Buckle up folks. It promises to be a special night in Springfield.