Next Monday’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is a day of celebration and remembrance for all of us. It is also a great day of basketball with several MLK events going on around the area.
St. Louis University High will be hosting an excellent MLK Classic featuring six top teams. The opening game will be Pattonville vs. St. Mary’s at 1 p.m. The game will be a rematch of the third place game of the MICDS Tournament, which St. Mary’s won at the buzzer in overtime. In Game 2, Vashon will take on CBC at 2:30 p.m. in a game featuring two of the area’s top programs. The finale at 4 p.m. will feature host SLUH against Hazelwood Central in another battle of top area teams. Hazelwood Central defeated SLUH in the MLK Classic last year.
MLK Girls at North Tech
If you are a fan of girls’ basketball, North Tech High in Florissant will be the place to be on Sunday and Monday for the St. Louis MLK Classic. This event features schools from four different states. The first three games will be held on Sunday with Miller Career Academy vs. Chicago Kenwood in the first game at 1:30 p.m. Hazelwood Central will face South Miami (FL) at 3 p.m. with North Tech taking on Chicago North Lawndale finishing up Day 1 at 4:30 p.m.
On Monday, Bethalto Civic Memorial (IL) will face Huntsville Lee (AL) in the first game at 10 a.m. Kirkwood will face South Miami at 11:30 a.m.; North Tech vs. Kenwood Academy at 1 p.m.; Incarnate Word vs. Bolingbrook (Ill) at 2:30 p.m.; St. Charles vs. North Lawndale at 4 p.m. and Cahokia vs. Lift for Life at 5:30 p.m.
Cardinal Ritter vs. McCluer North doubleheader
Cardinal Ritter and McCluer North will renew its annual MLK Day series with a double-header, which will be held at Cardinal Ritter this year. The girls game tips off at noon, followed by the boys game at 1:30 p.m. McCluer North defeated Cardinal Ritter in the championship game of the St. Francis Borgia Tournament in November.
Chaminade National Tour Continues
Chaminade College Prep will continue its national schedule this weekend when it competes in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo. The tournament fields some of the top prep programs in the country. It includes Oak Hill Academy (VA), Sierra Canyon (CA), Bishop Gorman (NV), Christ the King (NY) and Ranier Beach (WA). Chaminade will open play against Christ the King tonight at 9 p.m. The championship game is set for Saturday night at 8 p.m. The games annually fill up the John Q. Hammons Arena in Springfield. A big-time event. After playing in the Bass Pro, Chaminade will head East to Springfield, MA to play national power DeMatha in the Hoop Hall Classic on Monday at 11 a.m.
Huge success
Last weekend’s Highland Optimist Shootout was a huge success. A capacity crowd of more than 3,000 jammed the gym to watch some of nation’s top stars, who really shined on the big stage. Chaminade’s All-American Jayson Tatum had 32 points and 12 rebounds in a 66-51 victory over Althoff. Five-star recruit Michael Porter, Jr. of Father Tolton scored 31 points in a victory over Peoria Manual. Younger brother Jontay Porter had 10 points and 10 blocked shots for Tolton. Hazelwood Central’s Xavier Sneed had 21 points and seven rebounds in the Hawks’ 60-49 victory over Springfield Lanphier. Vianney’s Carte’are Gordon had 28 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Golden Griffins to a 55-42 victory over Highland.
