The fourth annual Molina Healthcare Midwest Showdown Shootout was a big success last Saturday at Lindenwood University. Several of the regions top players and teams were brought to St. Louis by event coordinator Terrell Ramey of Rameybasketball.com.
In the featured game, McCluer North defeated Indiana state power Gary Lew Wallace 65-62. Standout guard B.J. Young scored a game-high 29 points to lead the Stars while 6’8” junior Jordon Granger added 14 points. Lew Wallace was led by its All-American candidate Brandon Dawson, who had 16 points.
In the co-feature, Hazelwood Central defeated East St. Louis 87-73 in a very entertaining uptempo contest. The Hawks had a balanced attack led by junior B.J. McLaughlin’s 18 points. He was one of six Hawks’ players in double figures. Cody Fondren scored 14 points, Jordan Wilson and Curtis Churchman added 12 points, Trae Anderson scored 11 points and Jordan Martin scored 10 points. The Flyers were led by senior Keante Minor’s 31 points.
Chicago Farragut defeated McCluer 60-55 with a 7-0 run in the final two minutes of the game. Soldan defeated Memphis Craigmont 62-53 as junior Paul McRoberts scored 24 points and junior guard Pete Sanders scored 21 to lead the Tigers. Imagine Prep Academy defeated Christian O’Fallon 43-37 as sophomore Martavian Payne scored 24 points. Branson (Mo.) defeated Memphis Wooddale 56-51.
Lindenwood’s Hyland Performance Center was filled for much of the event. Congratulations to Terrell Ramey on putting on another outstanding showcase for area prep basketball fans.
Suburban Shootout
There will be a special three-day basketball event taking place in St. Charles this weekend. It’s the inaugural GAC/Suburban Shootout, which pits teams from the Gateway Athletic Conference in St. Charles against team from the Suburban Conferences in the area. The 17-game event will be held at the Family Arena in St. Charles and will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The schedule goes at follows:
Friday, Dec. 17: Mehlville vs. Fort Zumwalt East, 4 p.m.; Lindbergh vs. Howell North, 5:30 p.m.; Kirkwood vs. Fort Zumwalt South, 7 p.m.; Marquette vs. Holt, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 18: Fox vs. Barat Academy, 9 a.m.; Seckman vs. Warrenton, 10:30 a.m.; Northwest vs. St. Charles, noon; Summit vs. Timberland, 1:30 p.m.; University City vs. Washington, 4 p.m.; Parkway North vs. St. Charles West, 5:30 p.m.; Lafayette vs. Duchesne, 7 p.m.; Eureka vs. St. Dominic, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 19: Parkway South vs. Fort Zumwalt West, 1 p.m.; Parkway West vs. St. Charles Christian, 2:30 p.m.; Parkway Central vs. Francis Howell, 4 p.m.; Oakville vs. Francis Howell Central, 5:30 p.m.; Webster Groves vs. Troy, 7 p.m.
A visit to Cameron
I made my first visit to historic Cameron Indoor Stadium last weekend to broadcast the Saint Louis U.-Duke game. If you are a college basketball fan, it is like visiting a shrine. I wrote a detailed account of my first experience at Cameron, which you can check out by visiting my website, www.earlaustinjr.com or www.stlamerican.com. A visit to Cameron Indoor Stadium should be on every college basketball fan’s bucket list.
Washington in Tennessee
Former Vashon High standout James Washington III is enjoying an excellent senior year at Middle Tennessee State. The 6’0” Washington leads the Blue Raiders in several categories, including scoring at 15 points a game. Washington is also averaging 2.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.1 steals while shooting 46 percent from 3-point range and 81 percent from the free-throw line. As a junior, Washington averaged 11.8 points a game.
