While
everyone tries to catch their collective breath from the glut of
holiday tournament action last week, there are three more big high
school events on the horizon this weekend.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>Cardinal
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>Ritter College “font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>Prep will be hosting its Second Annual Boys Basketball Classic on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, St. Louis area power Soldan will take on perennial national power St. Augustine from New Orleans at 6 p.m. Soldan is coming off a runner-up finish at last week’s Normandy Holiday Tournament.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>The second game will feature host Cardinal Ritter against Chicago Hales Fransiscan at 7:30 p.m. Ritter is led by 6’8″ senior standout Cameron Biedscheid, who is averaging 30 points a game to lead the St. Louis area in scoring.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>There will be a triple-header on Saturday. Missouri Class 4 contenders Borgia and Duchesne will meet at 1 p.m. in the first game. Borgia is the defending state runnerup in Class 4 while Duchesne has one of the area’s top young teams.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>Chicago Hales Franciscan will take on St. Augustine at 2:30 p.m. In the finale, Jefferson City Helias will take on Chaminade at 4 p.m.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”> Highland “font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”> Optimist Shootout “font-family: Verdana;”>Â
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>On the Illinois side, the Highland Optimist Shootout is a five-game event that will feature some of the top teams from both sides of the river. The first game will be a girls matchup between O’Fallon and host Highland at 1 p.m.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>The second game will be a metro east showdown between East St. Louis and Cahokia at 2:45 p.m. Cahokia is coming off the championship of the Centralia Holiday Tournament. The Comanches are led by standout junior Keenan Minor and sophomore Darius Austin. East Side is led by excellent junior DeShawn Munson and senior standout Brandon Johnson.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>At 4:45 p.m., Illinois small-school power Breese Central will face undefeated Vianney at 3 p.m. Breese Central is coming off the championship of the Mater Dei Tournament. They are led by 6’6″ senior Brandon Book. Vianney won the Meramec Holiday Tournament title. The Golden Griffins feature guard Tony Cochran, 6’10” senior George Suggs and 6’5″ junior Brad Woodson.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>McCluer North will face Champaign Central at 6:15 p.m. The Stars are coming off the championship of the Collinsville Holiday Tournament.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>Senior Jordan Granger was the Most Valuable Player at Collinsville. In the finale, host Highland will face Carbondale at 8 p.m.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”> Girls Basketball Shootout “font-family: Verdana;”>Â
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>The Prepcasts.com Girls Basketball Shootout will be held on Saturday at CBC. The event will feature several of the top programs in the state of Missouri.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>The opening game will feature Edwardsville (Ill.) vs. Eureka at 1 p.m.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>Two of the area’s top post players will be featured in 6’2″ junior Emmonnie Henderson of Edwardsville and 6’3″ senior Alex Hilyer of Eureka.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>At 2:30 p.m., Smithville will face St. Dominic in a rematch of last season’s Class 4 state-championship game, won by St. Dominic.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>Mid-Missouri state power Columbia Rock Bridge will face Kirkwood at 4:15 p.m.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana; layout-grid-mode: line;”>Defending Class 5 state champion Incarnate Word will face Lafayette atÂ
rematch of last week’s Visitation Christmas Tournament semifinals,
which was won by IWA 45-43. IWA is led by 6’4″ senior Taylor Manuel
while Lafayette features
junior guard Jordyn Martin. In the finale, Class 5 contender St.
Joseph’s Academy will face Ozark at 7:15 p.m. St. Joe’s features
senior twins Maddie and Morgan Stock and 6’3″ junior Sydney
Stipanovich.
