Missouri state champions Webster Groves and Vashon finished their respective seasons with a spot in the national rankings. Webster Groves, the Class 5 state champions, finished as the No. 13 team in the Max Preps Top 25 National Rankings after its 30-2 season. Vashon completed its 27-3 season as the Class 4 state champions and the No. 25 team in the nation by Max Preps.
*Individual Honors for local standouts
Edwardsville High senior guard Mark Smith took home a couple of big postseason honors after a stellar year for the Tigers. The 6’4” Smith was selected the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Illinois. Smith also earned the Mr. Basketball Award in Illinois. A powerful point guard, Smith averaged 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to lead Edwardsville to a 30-2 record and a berth in the Class 4A Supersectionals.
Vashon High point guard Daniel “Peanut” Farris was selected as the Class 4 Player of the Year by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and the website Prep Hoops Missouri. The 6’0” Farris concluded his career by leading the Wolverines to back-to-back state championships.
Kirkwood High girls’ standout Lauryn Miller also took home a pair of postseason honors after leading the Pioneers to the Class 5 state championship. Miller was chosen the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Missouri as well as the Class 5 Player of the Year by the MBCA.
Webster Groves High junior standout Courtney Ramey was selected the Class 5 Player of the Year by Prep Hoops Missouri after leading the Statesmen to the state championship. The 6’4” Ramey has already committed to the University of Louisville.
*Triple Crown for Carte’are
Webster Groves junior forward Carte’are Gordon accomplished a most unique Triple Crown during the calendar year. During the summer, Gordon helped lead a powerful MoKan Elite team to the championship of the Nike EYBL Peach Jam, which is the most prestigious tournament on the summer grassroots circuit. Gordon was also a member of Team USA that won a gold medal at the FIBA U17 World Championships in Spain in August. The 6’8” Gordon completed his personal triple crown two weeks ago when he helped lead the Statesmen to the Class 5 state championship. Gordon has committed to Saint Louis University.
*PHL makes history
It was a historic postseason for the Public High League as two teams came home with state championships for the first time in history. Joining Class 4 state champion Vashon in the winner’s circle was Northwest Academy, which won the Class 3 state championship the previous week. Northwest Academy head coach Gerald Jones was a star point guard for Vashon’s Class 4A state championship team in 1986.
*Gateway Tech celebrates 20 Years
At last week’s girls’ state tournament, there was a reunion of the 1997 Gateway Tech girls team that made history by becoming the first girls PHL team in history to win a state championship. Most of the team members and their families were in Columbia to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of that achievement. The Jaguars defeated Jackson 42-41 to complete an undefeated season at 28-0. Gateway Tech was directed by the brilliant Sherman Curtis as its head coach. The team is in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame because they went undefeated, but I think Sherman Curtis should definitely be in the Hall of Fame for his excellence on the sidelines at Vashon and Gateway Tech.
*Congratulations to the women’s basketball team at St. Louis Community College for its fifth-place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II national tournament in Harrison, Arkansas last week.
*Congratulations to the Harris-Stowe State University Men’s team on making its first ever appearance at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Tournament in Kansas City last week. The Hornets pulled off three consecutive upsets to win the American Midwest Conference Tournament title to earn their spot in the national tournament.
