It was a great holiday season if you were a fan of the Hazelwood Central basketball program. The boys’ team won the championship of the Coaches vs. Cancer Holiday Tournament at Meramec for the third time in four seasons. Meanwhile, the girls’ team won the championship of the Visitation Christmas Tournament for the first time.
For the boys, it was their second tournament championship of the season. Hazelwood Central defeated Vashon to win the Vianney Tournament to start the season. At Meramec, they were the top seed in a strong field and came away with victories of Eureka, Parkway West, Webster Groves and CBC for the title. In the semifinals against Webster Groves, senior guard Steve Holloway scored a career-high 26 points in an 81-57 Hawks’ victory. Senior forward Dominique Dobbs had 23 points and 12 rebounds as Central defeated No. 2 seed CBC 76-69 for the championship. Holloway and standout guard Xavier Sneed led the All-Tournament Team for Central.
On the girls’ side, the Hawks rode the talents of the sophomore trio of Mallory Meeks, Kelsie Williams and Kourtney White to the Visitation title. In the championship game against Parkway North, Meeks and Williams scored 14 points each to lead Central to a 50-43 victory. Meeks scored 14 points while Williams added eight points in the Hawks’ 42-35 victory over Ursuline in the semifinals. The Hawks are now 11-2 after their tournament championship.
Jayson goes for 46
Chaminade College Prep All-American Jayson Tatum scored a season-high 46 points to lead the Red Devils past Huntington Prep 84-83 at the Cancer Research Classic in West, Virginia last weekend. Tatum scored the last of his 46 points in the closing seconds of overtime to give Chaminade a dramatic victory.
Althoff rolls to Collinsville Title
Belleville Althoff crushed every team in its path en route to winning the championship of the Prairie Farms Collinsville Tournament championship. The Crusaders won their four games by an average margin of 29 points. Althoff’s 85-55 victory over Decatur MacArthur in the championship game was a testament of its talent and balance. Senior forward Brendon Gooch scored a team-high 21 points. Juniors Jordan Goodwin and Marvin Bateman scored 18 points apiece. Goodwin also had 14 rebounds while Bateman made five 3-pointers. Senior Tarkus Ferguson had 10 points and 11 rebounds while junior C.J. Coldon added 13 points. The Crusaders are tuning up for its showdown with Chaminade on Saturday at the Highland Shootout.
Aaron Cook dominates
Senior guard Aaron Cook of Westminster Christian put on a show in leading the Wildcats to the championship of the MICDS Tournament. The 6’2” Cook averaged 24 points in the tournament, but saved his best performance for last as he scored 34 points in the Wildcats’ 64-53 victory over Francis Howell in the championship game.
MICDS girls four-peat
The MICDS girls won their fourth consecutive MICDS Holiday Tournament title with a 47-31 victory over St. Charles in a battle of the tourney’s top two seeds. The Rams were led by seniors Taylor Baur and Rachel Thompson. The 6’2” Baur scored 18 points while the 5’9” Thompson added 15 points.
Area teams head to Cape
The Tiger Shootout will be held on Saturday at Cape Girardeau Central High in Southeast Missouri. The event features four teams from St. Louis against four teams from the SEMO region. In the first game, McCluer will face Kennett at noon; followed by Parkway South vs. New Madrid County at 1:30 p.m.; Sikeston vs. Carnahan at 3 p.m. and MICDS vs. host Cape Central at 4:30 p.m.
Another reminder for Highland Shootout
Some of the nation’s best players will be at the Highland (Ill) Shootout on Saturday. Here is the schedule once again: Highland vs. Triad (girls), 11 a.m.; Okawville vs. Breese Central, 1 p.m.; Hazelwood Central vs. Springfield Lanphier, 2:45 p.m.; Vianney vs. Highland, 4:45 p.m.; Father Tolton vs. Peoria Manual, 6:30 p.m.; Chaminade vs. Althoff, 8:15 p.m.
