Summary compatible with Google Search Console: STL teams prove their dominance in Columbia tournaments, scoring epic victories and thrilling fans back home. Read the exciting recap now!
(Columbia, MO, that is), Winning Three State Basketball Titles
Three came to Columbia from the city. Three came back to St. Louis, title plaques with pleasure.
They’re the high school basketball city of champions, with heavy emphasis on “city”, as three teams brought home championship plaques from Columbia, Missouri last weekend at the state basketball championships.
For the fourth uninterrupted season in a row, the Vashon Wolverines (26-6) claimed the Missouri Class 4 title with a 68-37 rout over upset-minded John Burroughs (27-5 ) in the title game. Wolverines senior CBC transfer Nasar Binion posted a game-high 25 points to lead the way. Jordan Richard and Andre Aaron Jr. combined for 16 points. In the semifinal contest, freshman flash Jimmy McKinney III led the way with 16 powers to help power Vashon past perennial Kansas City black school power, Central High.
In the title game, John Burroughs was led By Ramzi Salem with 21 points and led off the court by former Public High League standout from the old Central High, Daryl “Pee Wee” Lenard. He coached the Bombers to their first state tournament.
first state tournament Final Four appearance since 1953. By contrast, Vashon coach Tony Irons guided the Wolverines to their fourth straight state championship, after the Class 4 state tournament was canceled a week before the finals in 2020 because of the pandemic. Speaking on the Charlie Tuna radio show (590 am) this week, Lenard gave kudos to his foe and expressed pride for his program’s historic appearance.
“Congratulations to Tony Irons,” said Lenard, who starred in high school and at St. Louis University well before Irons grew up to become a successful player and coach. “He’s like my nephew. I don’t have the athletic ability that his team has….but I’m proud of my team.”
Meanwhile, Cardinal Ritter’s boys won their second straight title, this time capturing the Class 6 crown with a 52-42 win over Chaminade, in an all-Catholic school final. Nashawn Davis had 18 points and six rebounds to lead the way, while teammates Clayton Jackson and Derrick Rivers added nine points apiece. It was head coach Ryan Johnson’s second straight state title and fourth overall in his short coaching career.
The third city school to accomplish the feat last week was Lift for Life, not a city Catholic school like Ritter, or a regular public school like Vashon, but a public charter school. Lift for Life’s team took home the state’s Class 4 girls crown with a 75-57 rout over Park Hills Central
Freshman Amaya Manual had 19 points, six rebounds and six steals, sophomore Zha Harris had 18 points and nine steals and senior Paige Fowler came up really big in her final high school game with 13 points and 16 rebounds. The Lady Hawks also won a state title in 2021, its first ever.
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