Prep basketball: Saxony downs Valle at Winter Warrior Classic
Valle Catholic senior Michael Okenfuss (23) drives toward the basket and draws a foul during the 12th Annual Winter Warrior Classic third-place game against Saxony Lutheran last Thursday. (PHOTO BY ERIC VICCARO/Herald staff)
By ERIC VICCARO
eviccaro@stegenherald.com
The Valle Catholic High School boys’ basketball team placed fourth in its own seven-team Warrior Winter Classic last week.
Saxony Lutheran ran a pair of zone defenses that stymied Valle Catholic in the third-place game, and the Crusaders overwhelmed the Warriors 62-20 before a stunned crowd.
“Saxony made it very difficult on us,” said Valle Catholic head coach Tyler Search. “I really don’t think we came ready to play. Maybe we were still thinking about the night before.
“They used some different zone looks (including a stifling 1-3-1 alignment) and their length is impressive,” Search added.
Valle Catholic suffered a heart-breaking 71-66 loss to Seckman in the tournament semifinals last Wednesday.
The Jaguars shot “lights out” while the Warriors were 11-of-30 from the free-throw line, which relegated the Warriors to the third-place game.
Although the Warriors showed flashes of brilliance during the event, they never really put a full game together.
Saxony Lutheran’s Wilson Lodge paced all scorers with 21 points, including 10 field goals. William Eldridge also scored in double figures for the Crusaders with 11.
Aiden Heberlie and Clayton Drury scored five points apiece, with Clayton 3-of-4 from the foul line. The Warriors were 6-of-17 from the stripe, an area of concern moving forward.
Valle Catholic was limited to three points in the first half, all on a traditional 3-point play from Eli Fallert.
Saxony Lutheran took control of the game in the second quarter, outscoring Valle Catholic 24-9 with a 33-12 lead.
Landon Ochs knocked down a 3-pointer with 11.9 left in the third quarter, and the Crusaders lead stood at 37 points (53-16).
Most of the fourth quarter was played using the Missouri State High School Activities Association-mandated running clock rule.
The Warriors played without Harry Oliver and Sam Drury, the latter who still has yet to make his season debut.
In the loss to Seckman, Aiden Heberlie netted 22 points, including nine field goals. Carson Tucker added 17 points, including five 3-pointers. Chase Fallert chipped in with 13 points, including six free throws.
Valle Catholic opened the tournament with a slim 65-62 victory over St. Vincent, with Chase Fallert dropping in a team-best 25 points (including two 3-pointers and 11-of-17 from the line).
Harry Oliver played his best game of the season with 15 points, including seven field goals. Tucker chipped in with 11.
Both Chase Fallert and Carson Tucker were named to the Warrior Winter Classic all-tournament team. Look for the
What’s Ahead?
Valle Catholic has a busy week ahead, with games against Bismarck tonight and at West County Friday.
These games are Mineral Area Activities Association Small School Division contests.
(Editor’s Note: For the complete story and statistics, subscribe to either the print or electronic editions of the Ste. Genevieve Herald. Subscribe: 1-573-883-2222.)
