Gateway Classic hosts annual hoops fest
Of the St. Louis American
Basketball fans can celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday at the annual MLK Basketball Shootout on Monday, Jan. 16 at Vashon High. The event is presented by the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation.
This year’s MLK Classic will feature four games in two different sessions. It will also feature three teams that are just coming off winning tournament championships over the Christmas holiday. The first session will feature Normandy vs. University in the opener at 1:30 p.m. The next game will feature Cardinal Ritter vs. McCluer North at 3 p.m. Cardinal Ritter won the 72nd annual Normandy Holiday Tournament last weekend while North finished second in the Chaminade Tournament.
The second session will feature a double-header of the annual “Border War” between East St. Louis and Vashon. The girls teams’ will meet at 5 p.m. followed by the boys game at 6:30 p.m.
Vashon, the No. 1 ranked team in St. Louis, is currently 10-1 and coming off the championship of the Poplar Bluff Holiday Tournament last week. The Wolverines are led by the trio of 6’7” junior Leon Powell, 6’6” senior Bobby Hill and 5’10” James Washington. Powell averaged 21 points a game as the Wolverines recorded three impressive victories at Poplar Bluff.
East St. Louis’ girls are currently one of the top teams in the state of Illinois. The Flyerettes (11-1) won four games last weekend to capture the Peoria Manual Holiday Tournament title. East Side is led by the talented sister act of 6’1” sophomore Teanadra Smith and 5’11” senior twins Victoria and Veronica Smith.
Tickets for the event are sold separately for each session for $8 in advance and $10 at the door. They are on sale at the participating schools and at the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation.
Holiday tournament recap
*Cardinal Ritter rallied from a 10-point deficit to defeat Beaumont 58-49 to win the Normandy Holiday Tournament title for the second time in four years. Senior guard Marquis Jones enjoyed an excellent tournament, averaging 20 points a game in the Lions’ three victories over Gateway Tech, Normandy and Beaumont. Jones scored 19 points in the championship game, all of them coming in the second half. Normandy defeated McCluer 55-54 in the third-place game on a last second 3-pointer by sophomore guard Anthony James.
*McCluer South-Berkeley looked impressive in winning its own girls tournament. The Bulldogs defeated Gateway Tech (46-42), Vashon (58-43) and Career Academy (50-32) to win the championship. Coach Shawn Jones has guided MSB to a 7-1 record with a lineup that features two sophomores and three freshmen in the lineup. Leading the way is 5’8” sophomore Meghan Lewis, who averaged 17 points a game in the tournament. She averages 18 points and five rebounds a game on the season. Freshman guard Lametria Jackson scored a game-high 17 points in the championship game. Freshman Markeita Baker scored 15 points against Vashon and freshman Monai Douglas scored 14 against Gateway Tech. She is the daughter of former Saint Louis University star Monroe Douglass.
*Hazelwood East won the Duchesne Tournament for the second consecutive year as the Spartans defeated the host Pioneers 44-39. Sophomore center Channon Haywood was huge in the finals for East with 16 points, 16 rebounds, five steals and four blocks. Haywood is averaging 13 points and 11.7 rebounds for the season. Junior post player Dalia Thomas is averaging nine points and seven rebounds.
*Francis Howell Central junior Shakara Jones scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Mustangs past Hazelwood Central 47-41 in the championship game of the Rockwood Summit Tournament. The 6’1” Jones is averaging 24 points and eight rebounds in leading the Mustangs to a 11-0 record.
*Demario Washington of Belleville East was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Collinsville Tournament after leading the Lancers to their first holiday tournament title. Washington averaged 13 points a game in the Lancers’ three victories. Belleville East defeated Quincy 45-38 in the championship game.
