There’s a pattern to the success of the St. Vincent boys basketball program.
The Indians had won two district titles in their history, one in 1987 and the other in 2005. If a person would continue that pattern it would make 2024 a logical continuation.
Let’s just say the Indians continued that pattern and left no doubt.
St. Vincent pulled away in the second half to defeat Brentwood 56-34 in the Class 2, District 4 tournament on Saturday in Caledonia.
“It’s a great feeling to win a district title,” St. Vincent boys basketball coach Bruce Valleroy said. “For us it’s been a long time and for us it’s about 18 years in between. These players were not even born yet. I just look back to June and where we started and all the hard work we put in and this is the way you do it.”
The defense was the calling card for the Indians all night as they were able to frustrate Brentwood with their zone and trapping style. Brentwood only scored three points in the first quarter and four in the third.
“Defense was the key for us with all the steals and deflections we were able to get,” Valleroy said. “Offensively it probably wasn’t one of our best games, but we did just enough. We can’t complain about our shot selection. However, when you play good defense it allows you to stay in games until you go get something going.”
St. Vincent was led by Max Wheeler’s 15 points, while Colden Prost had 13. Jacob Schremp added 9 points. Schremp scored the first six points of the game for the Indians, who led 9-3 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Indians picked up the pace and Prost hit a trio of long range shots, the last of which gave the Indians a 25-15 lead with 2:40 left before halftime. The Indians led 29-17 at the half and never led by less than double digits again.
That’s because the Indians scored the first 11 points of the third quarter, and won the quarter 20-4. Brentwood scored its first points of that quarter with 2:20 remaining. St. Vincent was unfazed and continued to pour on the points and led 49-21 heading into the fourth and the result was a foregone conclusion.
Valleroy made some changes to their zone and press scheme in the third and it made all the difference.
“Brentwood was doing some things and we thought we would move our back guys up and that helped us get into their passing lanes and get anything going,” Valleroy said.
Logan Hawkins led Brentwood with 16 points, but the guard averages 21 points per game, and was relatively shut down by the Indians. Many of his points came in the fourth with the game already decided.
“From what I’ve seen he has taken over games in the fourth quarter, and we did a good job on him,” Valleroy said. “WE also were able to disrupt their big guys inside and kept them off the offensive boards for the most part.”
St. Vincent played Puxico (22-5) in the Class 2 Sectional on Tuesday.
