An Evening at the MICDS Tournament

Prep Hoops Missouri spent its Friday night watching the four quarterfinals games at the Don Maurer Holiday Invitational at MICDS.   Here is a look at those four quarterfinals games.   MICDS TURNS BACK FRANCIS HOWELL UPSET BID   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/IMG_8068.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/IMG_8068.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3271082" /></a></figure>   In the opening game of the quarterfinals, No. 1 seed MICDS defeated No. 8 seed Francis Howell 58-41. The margin may have been 17 point, but it was a competitive game for three quarters. An acrobatic tip in by 6'4" 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2090481' first='Jason' last='Stokes'] at the buzzer gave MICDS a 43-35 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Rams then ran off the first 12 points of the fourth quarter to build their biggest lead of the game at 20 points.   Stokes led the Rams with 17 points, which 12 of them coming in the second half. He warmed up early in the second half with a pair of 3-pointers over the Vikings' zone defense. Fellow 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1790003' first='Brandon' last='Clemens'] added 11 points as he showed his overall scoring chops. I was most impressed with 6'4" 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1666704' first='Keshon' last='Mims'], who scored 11 points while playing with a terrific motor that never stops. He takes great pride in playing defense and he was also crashing the boards at both ends of the court. He was also using his athleticism on slashing drives. He also took a charge in the third quarter.   Also in double figures was 6'4" 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2348242' first='Tyler' last='Ray'] with 10 points. He is an all-purpose player who can play any position on the floor from point guard to the low post. He rebounds well and he can score around the basket. Adding to the inside play is 6'6" 2026 forward Gabe Weaver. He is headed to Minnesota to play football, but he has developed into quite a low post player on the basketball court. You can throw the ball inside to him and he can be a dependable scorer. Much improved player.   Francis Howell managed to hang around behind the scoring of 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2404058' first='Lincoln' last='Swan'] and the shooting of 2026 guard Aaron Burzynski. The 6'0" Swan scored a team-high 18 points and he did it by knocking down four 3-pointers while also creating his own shot off the dribble very well. He was hitting step backs and mid-range jumpers off the bounce while being well defended. Burzynski also hit four 3-pointers, including three in the first half that kept the Vikings in contact. He was excellent from the corners with his quick release.     ******   CLAYTON RALLIES TO UPEND EDWARDSVILLE   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/IMG_8100.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/IMG_8100.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3271085" /></a></figure>   In perhaps the best game of the evening, No. 5 seed Clayton defeated No. 4 seed Edwardsville (IL) 73-68. Edwardsville controlled the action for much of the game and even built a double-digit lead before the [program_tooltip program_id='2076546' first='Greyhounds' last=''] rallied to take the victory and earn a place in the semifinals against No. 1 seed MICDS next Monday.   Clayton was led by its excellent 2027 dynamic duo in 6'4" guard [player_tooltip player_id='2836920' first='Demarion' last='Verges'] and 6'2" guard [player_tooltip player_id='2528025' first='Sebastian' last='Bolden']. They combined to score 48 points as Verges scored 25 points while Bolden added 23. Verges did most of his damage in the first half as he scored 18 points. He got the [program_tooltip program_id='2076546' first='Greyhounds' last=''] off to a good start with 10 points in the first five minutes of the game. He is very smooth in how he plays the game, whether he was pulling up for a mid-range jumper off the bounce of knocking down a 3-pointer. He hit three triples in the game, including one in the fourth quarter to break a 58-58 tie.   Bolden was held to two points in the first half as Edwardsville defenders face-guarded him all over the court. He field goal attempts were also limited. The second half was a different story as he scored 21 points after halftime. He is known as an excellent 3-point shooter, but he only made one 3-pointer in the second half. He was attacking off the dribble to hit layups and short jumpers. He was also drawing contact to get to the free throw line as he made seven shots from the charity stripe. The Greyhounds also got good play from 6'0" 2026 guard Matthew Hurst. He was really putting in work in the paint as he used his strength to score against opposing guards. He also made numerous hustle plays to get offensive rebounds and loose balls with his multiple efforts.   Edwardsville was led by 6'4" 2026 guard Micah Butler, who scored 20 points. He is one of the top players in the metro east Illinois part of the St. Louis area. He has shooting range from well beyond the 3-point line and he also could drive it well. The other main shooter for the Tigers was 2026 guard Brady Niemi, who scored 15 points on five 3-pointers. He was coming off screens and letting them fly from long distance. An impressive youngster was 6'3" 2029 guard Matthew Wilson, who scored 10 points. He is a physical player with a solid body. He cuts well for open layups and he was also getting buckets with some tough takes in the lane. He also wanted to take big shots down the stretch of this close game, which shows his poise despite being such a young player.   ******     CBC OUTLASTS LADUE IN UP TEMPO AFFAIR   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/IMG_8112.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/IMG_8112.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3271127" /></a></figure>   No. 2 seed CBC defeated No. 7 seed Ladue 75-64 in a game that was fast-moving and entertaining. The Rams led CBC for much of the first half and the teams battled on even terms for much of the second half before the Cadets' pressure came to the forefront. They put the game away with a late run in the closing minutes.   CBC is a very young team, but the Cadets can come at you with waves of guards, all with speed and quickness for the entire 32 minutes. The leading scorer on Friday night was 5'11" 2027 guard Kyron Jackson, who scored 18 points. He did a lot of work in the paint as he was slashing well and getting offensive rebounds and scoring in transition. Talented 2029 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2887650' first='Stacy' last='Sorrell'] added 17 points. He is a talented floor general who can also score. He is very crafty when he attacked in the point as he was able to draw contact and get to the free throw line. [player_tooltip player_id='2833574' first='Triston' last='Howard'] is a 2028 guard who scored 13 points. Darian Jones is a 5'8" 2026 point guard who can provide tenacious on-ball pressure while hitting the open 3-pointer.   Ladue has an impressive Inside-Outside combination is 6'4" 2027 forward Noah Murov and 5'11" 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2508286' first='Will' last='Becker']. Murov scored a team-high 17 points while providing matchup problems. He is a solid ball handler who was scoring off the dribble and also hitting pick and pop 3-pointers. He also had some crafty moves around the basket. Becker is a talented offensive player who was a one-man press breaker at times. He could fight off the contact and get all the way to the basket for a layup. He also moves without the ball well as he set up defenders with V-cuts to get himself open. He can also create well off the dribble to knock down perimeter jumpers and 3-pointers.   *******     HAZELWOOD EAST RUNS AWAY FROM PARKWAY CENTRAL   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/DeAnthony-McJames.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/DeAnthony-McJames.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3271432" /></a></figure>   In the final game of the evening, No. 3 seed Hazelwood East defeated No. 6 seed Parkway Central 76-48. The Spartans put the game away early with a 16-2 run to begin the game. Their athleticism and pressure defense overwhelmed the Colts as they created turnovers and turned them into transition layups. By the end of the first quarter, East had built a 31-8 lead.   Hazelwood East has a nice group of perimeter players with good size and athletic ability. The biggest one is 6'4" 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2528023' first='Paul' last='Crawford'] who was really attacking the basket with tenacity. He entered high school as a jump shooter, but he has since gotten bigger and physically stronger. He is much more confident when he attacks in the lane.   Aarron Brown is a 6'2" 2026 guard who is also a good athlete, but he was knocking down shots from the left corner. The southpaw displayed a feathery touch from 3-point range off the catch. DeAnthony McJames is a 5'10" 2026 point guard who has slick handles and slippery moves into the paint, where he scored on twisting layups in traffic. [player_tooltip player_id='2701089' first='Javon' last='Pringle'] is a 6'4" 2027 forward who plays with a lot of activity as a rebounder and defensive player.   Parkway Central was led by 6'8" 2026 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='2352744' first='Henry' last='Kokal'], a rock solid player who is headed to Missouri S&T, where he will join his older brother Oliver Kokal, a former standout at Parkway Central. He is a rugged player around the basket as a scorer and rebounder. He catches the ball and powers up with strength and physicality. A new player who I was impressed with was 6'2" 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='3255496' first='Danelli' last='January']. He is a smooth offensive player with 3-point shooting range and the ability to elevate on his jumper. He was also slicing into the lane for layups with either hand.

Prep Hoops Missouri spent its Friday night watching the four quarterfinals games at the Don Maurer Holiday Invitational at MICDS.