Cadets, Tigers on collision course in Columbia
Paul Kopsky/STLhighschoolSPORTS.com | CBC's Ryan Pierson (left) and Oakville's Toraino Hellems are two of the key players in Thursday's Class 5 semifinal game in Columbia.
One team is making a return trip with thoughts of unfinished business.
The other hasn’t been there in 13 years.
One team is laden with seniors. The other has only two.
On Thursday, CBC (22-8) and Oakville (26-4) will tip off at 6:50 p.m. at the Mizzou Arena in a Class 5 state semifinal.
Coach Nick Traxler’s club has won 16 straight and 19 of its last 20.
The latest came in a 53-35 thumping of Parkway West in a Class 5 quarterfinal. Oakville has hardly been challenged as of late, winning by nearly 20 points every trip out.
“They are definitely a pleasure to be around right now,” Traxler said. “But we have a bad taste that is lingering.”
That bile-like taste in the back of their throats is nearing 365 days old. The Tigers lost both of their games at state last year to finish fourth. Seven players, including three starters, return from that club.
“This group, they truly have that sense of unfinished busi ness,” Traxler said. “Last year was not their best and they have been on a mission to get back.”
Led by a trio of seniors, Oakville provides many problems. Garrett Reeg (6-foot-6) is a standout post player who averages 17.6 points and 10 rebounds a game. The Tigers have two outstanding senior guards in Toraino Hellems (6-0) and Josh Noblitt (6-0). Hellems runs the show and averages nearly 15 points, five assists and two picks an outing. Noblitt is another double-figures scorer and the team’s top 3-point shooting threat.
Junior guard Javier Duren, who had 14 points against Parkway West and is averaging 10.2 points, is also a big threat.
“They’re a much different team than what we have faced lately just because they have everything you need in a good team; long guards, shooting guards, a couple of big guys in the middle,” CBC coach Bob McCormack said. “They have size, quickness, they shoot it…it’s going to be a really good matchup Thursday night.”
CBC hasn’t been to Columbia since 1997 when Larry Hughes and Justin Tatum ruled the roost and helped the Cadets win a state title.
“It’s been a little while but we remember how to get there,” McCormack said.
The Cadets have been riding high thanks to two marquee wins. The latest was Saturday’s impressive 69-57 victory over Webster Groves. CBC had four players reach double figures in that huge victory. Senior center Ryan Pierson (6-10) went for 24 points and 12 rebounds while versatile junior guard Seth Jackson pumped in 16 points and had 10 rebounds.
“That game is indicative of how we have played all year long where we spread the wealth and everybody contributes and do their own little thing,” McCormack said. “It’s happened in all of our victories and most of our losses.”
Another season-defining moment came in the district championship game.
In front of a crowd so large that spectators were seen peering in from the outside, CBC knocked off defending state champion and Metro Catholic Conference champion Chaminade 56-46.
Cadet senior guard and the program’s most prolific 3-point shooter, Cory McArthy, called the victory a momentum changer.
“We had won our three previous games before that but that really got us going because we have been terrible against them the last few years,” McArthy said. “They have been the ones to knock us out of districts. It was a real confidence booster.”
While it is hard to take your eyes off the towering Pierson, Traxler knows if you spend too much time worrying about the big man, the three other double-figure scorers in the starting lineup will rip you apart.
“(Pierson) is a heck of a player, but, like our squad, if you focus on one guy the other three will hurt you,” Traxler said. “CBC is just playing good team basketball right now.”
Traxler isn’t ready to give his team an advantage due to their experience from a season ago.
“These are still high school boys and jitters are going to be on both sides,” Traxler said. “The kids are going to have fun and the best part is we get to watch.”
The other two teams in the ‘final four’ are Kansas City-Park Hill South (21-9) and Springfield-Hillcrest (23-7). The title game is slated for 8:05 p.m. Saturday and the third-place game is Friday at 1:40 p.m.
