Vashon vs. Beaumont tonight at Soldan
Of the St. Louis American
The Public High League boys basketball championship will be up for grabs tonight when perennial power Vashon takes on its rival Beaumont. The game will be played at Soldan High, beginning at 6:15 p.m.
Vashon enters the contest with a 6-0 record in PHL play while the Bluejackets are 5-0 in league play. Vashon has had a stranglehold on the PHL for several years. This season, they have won their PHL games by an average margin of more than 40 points. Beaumont set themselves up for this showdown by defeating league contenders Gateway Tech and Career Academy last week.
The Wolverines have been led all season by 6’7″ All-State forward Leon Powell, who is averaging better than 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. Powell has been getting ample support in the scoring department from 6’1″ junior Cornelius “Cornbread” Walker.
Beaumont has leaned on its inside duo of 6’7″ sophomore Richard Anderson and 64″ senior Willis Smith. The much-improved Anderson is averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds a game while the hard-working Smith averages 12 points and eight rebounds a game.
Dunk of the year
The dunk of the year in area basketball took place last weekend at the Saint Louis University-George Washington game at the Scottrade Center. The highlight-reel play was delivered by East St. Louisan Tommie Liddell, who leaped over the rim to jam home a missed jumper by teammate Luke Meyer over GW’s athletic 6’8″ forward Terron Diggs. The spectacular play was shown over and over again on the building’s giant scoreboard and the crowd got louder each time. Liddell has provided SLU fans with many scintillating plays this season, but this “Dominique Wilkins-like” follow dunk may have been the best.
Riverview breakthrough
The breakthrough high school team of the year so far has to be the Riverview Gardens girls. Last year, the Rams were 6-19 and looking up at the rest of the Suburban North Conference. Heading into this week’s action, the Rams sit atop the Suburban North standings with a 4-0 record. They are also 15-3 on the season. Coach Jaron Young has done a splendid job with this young group. Last week, the Rams pulled off a statement victory with a 57-50 victory over Hazelwood Central. The Hawks were one of the preseason favorites in the league.
The Rams have been led by its talented backcourt of sophomore Shelah Fields and senior Tiera Thompson. The 5’5″ Fields is a smooth ball-handler who averages 14 points a game. The 5’3″ Thompson comes off the bench, but she brings offensive firepower and a deadly stroke from 3-point range. She averages 11 points a game. She scored 18 in the victory over Hazelwood Central. Up front, the Rams have a team in contributors that include seniors Cecily Young, Ashley Ruff and juniors Kourtney James and Chantel Jones. Riverview still has meetings with Hazelwood East and McCluer North, which will decide who wins the Suburban North.
Chaminade champs
Chaminade’s boys won the Metro Catholic Conference title last week after a hard-fought 5248 victory over SLUH on the Jr. Billikens’ home court and Senior Night. Junior guard Todd Starks enjoyed a huge night for the Red Devils with 27 points.
East Side girls
On the Illinois side, the IHSA girls Class AA regional playoffs get underway next Monday with games all over the metro east. Belleville East drew the overall No. 1 seed and will compete at the Collinsville regional. East St. Louis, the No. 2 seed will compete in the Salem regional. HIghland (No. 3) and Carbondale (No. 5) will compete in the Marion regional while No. 4 Mater Dei and No. 6 Althoff highlight the Mater Dei regional. All of the regional championship games will be held on Thursday, Feb. 15. All of the regional winners will advance to the O’Fallon Sectional. Edwardsville will be the top seed in the Taylorville Sectional. The Tigers will get things started next week at the Alton regional.
