One of the biggest events on the high school basketball calendar is the Rameybasketball Midwest Showdown Shootout, which is presented by area basketball coordinator Terrell Ramey.
The 12th edition of the Midwest Showdown Shootout will be held this Saturday with six games at Webster Groves High School. There will be teams represented by teams on both Illinois and Missouri as well as a team from Alabama.
Here is a preview of the event:
Game 1: Mt. Vernon (Illinois) vs. Monroe City (Missouri), 1 p.m. – Mt. Vernon is an excellent team from Southern Illinois that is led by standout junior guard Amir Spann. Monroe City is a top Class 3 team in Missouri that features 6’3” senior guard CE Talton, a two-time All-State performer.
Game 2: Alton vs. Jennings, 2:30 p.m. – An excellent Illinois vs. Missouri matchup of very athletic teams that mirror each other. Alton is a contender in the Southwestern Conference with top players such as 6’7” senior Donovan Clay and 6’3” senior Malik Smith. Jennings finished third in the Class 4 state tournament a year ago. The Warriors are led by 6’4” senior Elijah Hicks and 6’6” senior forward Buck Bowling.
Game 3: Lee (Alabama) vs. Hazelwood Central, 4 p.m. – Huntsville Lee is led by Top 100 recruit Kobe Brown, who has committed to Missouri. Hazelwood Central is led by 6’2” senior guard Isaiah Ervin and 6’0” sophomore guard Aamoud Scarbrough. The Hawks are off to a good start in a transition season.
Game 4: Springfield Parkview vs. East St. Louis, 5:30 p.m. – This game features two of the most spectacular athletes in the two-state area. East St. Louis is led by 6’7” senior Terrance Hargrove, a Saint Louis University recruit. Parkview is led by 6’6” Missouri State signee Tyem Freeman. Both of these two players are highlight-reel performers with tremendous athleticism.
Game 5: Webster Groves vs. Cardinal Ritter, 7 p.m. – A contest featuring two of the area’s top programs year-in and year-out. The Statesmen are coming off the championship of their own tournament. They are led by the backcourt trio of 6’0” Amorey Womack, 6’3” Ray Adams and 5’10” Joe Jones. Cardinal Ritter has one of the area’s top guards in 5’10” senior Malek Davis and a solid young forward in 6’3” sophomore Mario Tillman. Freshman guard Luther Burden is just coming off an outstanding football season.
Game 6: Belleville West vs. CBC, 8:30 p.m. – The Maroons are coming off their first IHSA Class 4 state championship. They are led by tremendous 6’7” senior forward E.J. Liddell, who is headed to The Ohio State University, along with excellent point guard Lawrence Brazil and solid power forward Keith Randolph. CBC is led by stellar 6’3” junior guard Caleb Love and hard-working 6’6” senior forward Josh Wallace.
Admission for the event is $12 and tickets will only be available at the door.
GAC-Suburban Shootout returns to Lindenwood
Another big event this week will be the annual GAC-Suburban Basketball Challenge, which will be held this week at Lindenwood University in St. Charles. The four-day 16-game event features matchups of teams from St. Charles County against teams from Suburban St. Louis County.
Here is the schedule for the GAC-Suburban Challenge:
Wednesday, December 12: Pattonville vs. Warrenton, 5 p.m.; McCluer vs. Fort Zumwalt North, 6:30 p.m.; Parkway South vs. Francis Howell Central, 8 p.m.
Thursday, December 13: MICDS vs. Timberland, 5 p.m.; McCluer South-Berkeley vs. St. Charles, 6:30 p.m.; Eureka vs. St. Charles West, 8 p.m.
Friday, December 14: University City vs. Washington, 4 p.m.; Parkway North vs. Fort Zumwalt West, 5:30 p.m.; Whitfield vs. Troy, 7 p.m.; Parkway Central vs. Fort Zumwalt North, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 15: Normandy vs. Winfield, 11 a.m.; Duchesne vs. Francis Howell North, 12:30 p.m.; Parkway West vs. Christian-O’Fallon, 2 p.m.; DuBourg vs. Holt, 3:30 p.m.; Maplewood vs. Liberty, 5 p.m.; Lutheran North vs. Francis Howell, 6:30 p.m.
Fort Zumwalt South takes Warrior Classic
One of the most impressive tournament championship performances from last week came from the Fort Zumwalt South Bulldogs, who won the championship of the St. Charles West Warrior Classic. The Bulldogs were able to win the championship without the services of top scoring guard E.J. Bellinger, who is out with an injured hand. Bellinger averaged 24 points a game last season. Junior forward J.J. Schwepker and senior guard Jake Patton stepped up and had big tournaments. In the championship game, South defeated Marquette 62-61 in overtime on a 3-pointer by guard Judah Nunn as time expired.
