Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament Sunday Recap

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops Missouri was at Maryville University on Sunday to watch the action at the Coaches vs Cancer Holiday Tournament. We had a chance to watch the two semifinals games and the two fifth place bracket contests.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a recap of the four games that we watched.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DESMET vs VIANNEY</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2711153,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/IMG_8954.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/IMG_8954.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2711153" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67722d4462ba3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67722d4462c06"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two Metro Catholic Conference rivals met once again in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive years. Top-seeded DeSmet got quite a tussle from the Golden Griffins before they pulled away late to take a 70-58 victory to advance to the championship game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartans are a well-oiled machine on offense with plenty of offensive weapons. They were led by 6'4" 2026 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2346155' first='Jordan' last='Boyd'], who scored 19 points. He is a blue collar worker with good athleticism and a strong motor. DeSmet also got 14 points from 6'4 2025 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1715259' first='Riley' last='Massey'] and 13 points from 6'3 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1850530' first='Ian' last='Thomas']. Massey is a smooth offensive player who also had the assignment of guarding Vianney standout guard [player_tooltip player_id='1419873' first='Luke' last='Walsh']. Thomas is an excellent point guard who was very effective on his slashing drives and post ups against smaller defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vianney was led by 6'2 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2090504' first='Ben' last='Karsten'], who scored a game-high 25 points. He was on a heater from long distance as he made seven 3-pointers. Walsh finished with 21 points despite facing a wave of defenders. Also impressive was 6'2 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2346715' first='Brock' last='Long'], who scored 10 points. He scored some tough buckets in traffic in the lane. His concentration level on those shots was very good. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>**********<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marquette vs Hickman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2711160,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/IMG_9035.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/IMG_9035.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2711160" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marquette shook up the tournament on Saturday when they took down defending champion Webster Groves in the quarterfinals. The Mustangs followed that up with an equally impressive 80-68 victory over Hickman in the semifinals. Marquette trailed 61-58 in the fourth quarter before closing the game on a 22-7 run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs have a deep and talented squad. On this night, the main man was 6'6 2026 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2117946' first='Alex' last='Komorech'], who scored a game high 31 points. He was a force with his size and versatility. If he wasn't knocking down 3-pointers off the pick and pop, he was throwing down dunks to seal the game. 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1598824' first='Brody' last='Owen'] scored 13 points while 6'2 2025 guard Ethan Lenahan scored 12 points off the bench. He hit four 3-pointers, including two big dagger triples in the fourth quarter. The 6'2 Owen is the Mustangs' best shot creator off the dribble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hickman trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half, but the Kewpies staged a furious rally to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Their full court pressure along with the inside power of 6'6 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1419872' first='Brock' last='Camp'] brought Hickman back. Camp finished with 14 points before fouling out late in the game. The Kewpies got strong performances from 2025 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2401479' first='Roman' last='Kemp'] and 6'2 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2731393' first='Elijah' last='Tatum']. Kemp scored a team high 21 points as he hit four 3-pointers and scored on penetrating drives. Tatum is a dynamic athlete with a strong motor. He scored 16 points and was disruptive on the full court press.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>********<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Webster Groves vs Westminster </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2711161,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/IMG_8935.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/IMG_8935.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2711161" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Webster Groves defeated Westminster 58-56 in a thriller that went down to the closing seconds as WCA had two shots to to tie and force an overtime before the buzzer sounded.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Statesmen were led by 6'3 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2334870' first='Scottie' last='Adkinson'], who scored 24 points. Each time Westminster made a move or took the lead, the young lefty would deliver a bucket on a strong take to the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westminster was led by 6'3 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2334909' first='Will' last='Powers'], who scored 20 points, all coming in the second half. He sat out much of the first half with foul trouble, but he made up for it in the second half as he made five 3-pointers. 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1955038' first='Evan' last='Montandon'] also had it going from distance as he knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*******<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lafayette vs Eureka</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2711162,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/IMG_8884.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/IMG_8884.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2711162" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two Rockwood School District rivals met for the second time this season with both games going down to the wire. Lafayette won the first contest 51-49 a few weeks ago back. The rematch netted the same result as the Lancers defeated Eureka 47-46 in dramatic fashion on a buzzer beater by 6'0 2025 guard Drew Austermann. The Lancers were led by 6'0 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2404040' first='Nolan' last='Savoie'], who scored 14 points. He did a great job scoring on twisting drives in the lane with good body control. Drew Pickering, a 6'2 2026 power forward, added 12 points. He is an undersized post player who used his strength and physicality to get the job done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eureka was led by 6'6 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1850534' first='Jaxson' last='Joggerst'] who scored 14 points. I was very impressed with his nimble footwork around the basket. He maneuvered well in tight spaces to score. The Wildcats sizable front line also featured 6'9 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2544891' first='Jack' last='Cubbage'], who used his height and length to block three shots. He also ran the court well in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->