Final Four: Friday’s Class 4-5 Semifinal Standouts

<p>Prep Hoops Missouri was on hand in Springfield, MO. to watch Friday's Final Four action at the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown at Missouri State University.</p> <p>The state semifinals were held on Friday in the Class 4-5 playoffs. In Class 4, Vashon defeated New Madrid Central 48-39 while Father Tolton defeated Pembroke Hill 48-39. In Class 5, Webster Groves defeated Cardinal Ritter 58-55 and Helias defeated Springfield Catholic 53-50.</p> <p>Here is a look at Friday's standouts from the Class 4-5 State Semifinals.</p> <h3>Class 5</h3> <h5>Webster Groves</h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="984950" first="Matt" last="Enright"]: Matty Ice had a big game in the victory over Cardinal Ritter with a game-high 23 points along with three assists. He knocked down three 3-pointers and hit 10 of 12 from the free throw line. He was able to get to his spots and create shots off the dribble throughout the evening.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1259025" first="Iziah" last="Purvey"]: The 6'4" 2024 forward had 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the victory over Cardinal Ritter. The thick-bodied standout was a matchup problem with his physical strength and skill set as he made six of nine shots from the field. He has the inside moves of a big post player and the handles of a guard.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5>Cardinal Ritter</h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="984516" first="Robert" last="Lewis"]: The 6'8" 2022 forward had 18 points and 10 rebounds against Webster Groves. The long and springy Lewis had a dominant stretch early in the third quarter as Ritter battled back from a six-point halftime deficit to take a brief lead. He was also a force on the offensive boards.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1045827" first="Braxton" last="Stacker"]: The 6'5" 2022 Murray State recruit had 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals on the evening. He was at his best when he was attacking the basket on the drive. He also has the pull up jumper to compliment his driving ability.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="984513" first="Kristian" last="Davis"]: The 6'3" 2022 guard had 12 points and five rebounds against Webster Groves. He did a nice job of creating his own shot and getting buckets in the lane off the drive.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5>Helias</h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1070093" first="Desmond" last="White"]: The 6'2" 2023 guard scored a team-high 19 points to lead the Crusaders in the victory over Catholic. He was able to get his points despite the heavy defensive pressure from the Irish. He also did a nice job of trusting his teammates and delivering some excellent passes, which led to some key buckets and 3-pointers from the Crusaders' role players.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1180102" first="Malcolm" last="Davis"]: The 6'1" 2022 guard scored 16 points in the victory over Catholic. He worked hard for his buckets as he had a couple of nice step-back 3-pointers while constantly staying on the attack.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5>Springfield Catholic</h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="991577" first="Zach" last="Howell"]: The 6'5" 2022 wing scored a game-high 25 points to go along with 10 rebounds against Helias. He made a pair of long 3-pointers, but he could also go inside and score in the post. He also attacked on the drive with a nice spin move in the lane to get to the basket.</p> <p>Liam O'Reilly: The 6'2" 2022 Missouri State football recruit had 11 points and three assists against Helias. He handled the ball well, played solid defense while knocking down three 3-pointers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Class 4</h3> <h5>Vashon</h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1362685" first="Kennard" last="Davis"]: The 6'6" 2023 forward had 14 points, rebounds and two assists in the Wolverines victory over New Madrid. Despite some early foul trouble, he was able to impact the game at both ends with his athleticism and versatility.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="981142" first="Jayden" last="Nicholson"]: The 6'5" 2023 wing had 11 points, five rebounds and four assists against New Madrid. He had a very strong third quarter where he scored seven points and made some big defensive plays as the Wolverines picked up the pressure and he was in the middle of it.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5>New Madrid Central</h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1180834" first="Marcelous" last="Phillips"]: The 6'5" 2022 forward had 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks against Vashon. He is a blue-collar player with excellent athleticism. He just goes about his business of scoring and rebounding around the rim without a lot of frills. Just a lot of production.</p> <p>Shamar Williamson: The 6'2" 2022 guard had 13 points, two assists and four steals against Vashon. He has been very solid throughout the postseason with his play at both ends of the court.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5>Father Tolton</h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="984500" first="Jevon" last="Porter"]: The 6'11" 2022 Pepperdine recruit had 14 points, eight rebounds, two steals and four blocked shots in the victory over Pembroke Hill. He also hit the game-winning free throw with four seconds left to give the Trailblazers a 39-38 victory.</p> <p>Aaron Rowe: The 6'2" 2025 guard had 12 points, two assists and two steals in the victory over Pembroke Hill. The talented rook has poise to go along with his advanced skill level. He can play at any pace and he has a smooth pull up jumper from the mid-range.</p> <p>Takhi Chievous: The 6'4" 2022 wing had 11 points, two rebounds and two steals against Pembroke Hill. I've been impressed with his motor throughout the tournament. His level of activity has been very high.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5>Pembroke Hill</h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1170197" first="Darin" last="Conley"]: The 6'3" 2023 forward had 13 points and seven rebounds against Pembroke Hill. The "Diesel" put in some solid work inside as he battled a much taller Tolton team. He played with great effort and activity.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>