ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

Clayton seeks state semifinal return

It's been a few years since Clayton's orange flag flew in the final four of the boys basketball state tournament.

A few meaning 50 years.

According to the Missouri High School Activities Association, Clayton (22-7) last advanced to the semifinal round in 1975. Clayton finished that season in third place.

The Greyhounds are looking to snap that streak when they travel to Potosi (23-4) for a Class 4 quarterfinal at 6 p.m. Friday. Potosi has never advanced to the state semifinals.

Clayton snapped a 14-year drought last week by winning its first district title since 2011 with a 71-58 home victory against Gateway STEM in the Class 4 District 4 final.

The Greyhounds followed that up Monday by winning 64-47 at Owensville in the sectional round and will take on a Potosi team that has lost to Farmington four times this season but nobody else.

Clayton's leaders this season include senior Eli Fauss (21.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game), sophomore Sabastian Bolden (17.4 points per game) and sophomore Damarion Verges (10.4 ppg).

The winner will face either five-time defending Class 4 champion Vashon (24-2) or Mexico (23-6) in the first Class 4 semifinal game at 2 p.m. March 21.

Lafayette, SLUH face off for final four

St. Louis University High (14-12) plays host to Lafayette (16-13) at 6:30 p.m. Friday in a Class 6 quarterfinal.

While not as long as Clayton's 50-year drought, either Lafayette (21 years) or SLUH (nine years) will advance to the state semifinals for the first time in a while. SLUH finished finished in 2016 in its last appearance, while Lafayette was third in 2004.

The Jr. Bills are led by a pair of highly touted football recruits in senior Landon Pace (11.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg) and junior Keenan Harris (13 ppg, 8 rpg). Harris scored 15 points Monday in a 54-45 victory against Seckman in the Class 6 District 1 final.

SLUH, which also played the district tournament at home, opened the event with a 55-47 win over two-time defending state champ Cardinal Ritter in the quarterfinals and then won 52-51 over Lindbergh in the semifinals.

The Lancers counter with junior Drew Pickering (11.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg) and junior Nolan Savoie (7.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg). Junior Brady Micek went off in the Class 6 District 2 title game against Marquette — a 76-65 Lancers victory — with 22 points, five assists and four rebounds. 

The teams haven't played since Dec. 29, 2015, when Lafayette won 61-56 in the Coaches vs. Cancer Holiday Tournament.

The winner will face Chaminade (18-10) or Fort Zumwalt North (20-9) at 10 a.m. March 19 in the first Class 6 semifinal game at Mizzou Arena.

The Red Devils were the Class 6 state runner-up last season, while the Panthers were fourth in 2021 in their only final four appearance.

McCluer North looks to restore tradition

It's been six seasons since the Stars (12-12) won a district title and were in the quarterfinal round. They play at 7 p.m. Friday at Westminster (23-6).

Considering McCluer North was 2-10 on Jan. 4, it didn't appear that streak would end this season.

But the Stars (12-12) have won 10 of 12 games since, topped with a 64-55 victory at Holt in the Class 5 District 5 title game.

Harrison Bailey-Howard poured in 22 points in the district final for North, Terron Brooks had 15 and Kendall VanDyke chipped in 14.

North is seeking its first state semifinal appearance since 2012, when it won the second of consecutive Class 5 state championships.

The host Wildcats, under coach Dale Ribble, won their second district title in three seasons by snapping a four-game losing streak to rival John Burroughs that dated to Jan. 27, 2023.

Westminster won 50-46 over the Bombers in the Class 5 District 6 final behind sophomore Will Powers, who scored a career-high 29 points by going 12-for-20 from the field, including 5-for-10 from long range.

Powers averages 16.7 points a game, while teammate JD Robertson averages 14.6.

The Wildcats last made the final four in 2021, finishing as the Class 4 runner-up.

Webster Groves heads to Sikeston

Two perennial boys basketball powers face off for the first time — at least in the 21st century — when Webster Groves (24-5) visits Sikeston (26-3) at 7 p.m. Friday in a Class 5 quarterfinal.

The Statesmen are looking to advance to state semifinals for the first time since 2022, when they won the fifth championship in program history and first under coach Justin Mathes, who has helmed the program since the 2019-20 season.

Sophomore sensation Scottie Adkinson leads Webster Groves. Adkinson is lighting up the scoreboard at 24 points a game. The slashing guard also tallies 5.6 rebounds a game while averaging a team-high 3.3 assists. Pairing with the sophomore is freshman phenom Miles Simpson, who has burst onto the scene by averaging 10.3 points and 6 rebounds a game.

Host Sikeston counters with senior and Southeast Missouri signee PJ Farmer. Tristan Wiggins pairs with Farmer to form an impressive 1-2 punch at the guard position.

The Bulldogs made four final four appearances between 2011-18, winning the title in 2011.

In the Class 5 semifinals, the Webster Groves-Sikeston winner will face either McCluer North or Westminster at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mizzou Arena.