The Confluence Academy Titans started the 2017-18 season under the radar when it came to mentioning the top teams in the area.
The Titans are no longer under the radar. They are out front as a rising team in the metro area with some exciting players to watch. Confluence is currently 15-4 and won their first championship trophy after winning the Flyer Invitational at Lindbergh last weekend. The Titans rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat a solid Vianney team 68-59 in the championship game. They also gained a measure of respect during the Christmas holidays when they took a powerful Belleville West team to the final buzzer before losing 65-63 in the Centralia Tournament.
Confluence features one of the most impressive 1-2 scoring duos in the area in 5’9” senior guard Brandon Frederick and 6’7” senior forward Leon Perry. Nicknamed “L’il Buckets,” Frederick is averaging nearly 30 points a game to lead the St. Louis area in scoring. He has tremendous shooting range from the 3-point distance and he will pull up from just about anywhere on the court. Meanwhile, Perry is a strong inside player who is averaging 25 points and eight rebounds a game. He scored 38 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against Vianney in the championship game at Lindbergh.
Frederick and Perry have received plenty of help from a pair of transfers, who have stepped in and played big roles. Senior guard Michael Clark came over from Career Academy and has averaged 12 points a game while providing excellent point guard play. Senior guard Jermaine Bell, a Fort Zumwalt North transfer, is a 6’4” wing player who is averaging nearly 10 points a game. Holding down the middle for the Titans is big 6’8” senior Ahmad Hodges, who is averaging eight rebounds a game.
Cardinal Ritter host Showcase event
Cardinal Ritter College Prep will be hosting a four-game showcase event on Saturday evening. In the opening game, Cardinal Ritter will play in a girls’ game at 3 p.m. In Game 2, Soldan will face Gary Roosevelt (Indiana) at 4:30 p.m. The third game will feature CBC vs. Confluence Academy at 6 p.m. In the finale, host Cardinal Ritter will face Jennings at 7:30 p.m.
Incarnate Word goes on the road
Area girls’ power program Incarnate Word Academy will be taking its show on the road for two games this weekend to play against some national competition. The Red Knights will be spending the next two days in the state of Kentucky. IWA will face Mercer County (Kentucky) on Friday at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the Red Knights will face Sacred Heart (Kentucky). It will be Incarnate’s second big trip of the season. In early December, the Red Knights travelled to Washington D.C. to take on top programs from Miami and Washington.
Whitfield to face SEMO power Sikeston
One of the big games of the weekend will be a battle between Whitfield and Sikeston in the MFA Oil Break Time Shootout, which will be played on Saturday at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Tip-off time is at 3 p.m. Whitfield is one of the top teams in state in Class 3 while Sikeston is a perennial Class 4 powerhouse.
The game will also feature two of the top players in the state in the Class of 2018. Whitfield is led by 6’5” guard Torrence Watson, a Mizzou signee who will be playing on his future collegiate home court. Sikeston is led by 6’3” All-State guard Fred Thatch, Jr., who has signed with Saint Louis University.
