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Category: High School

Bishop LeBlond hires Girres, Adkins as new basketball coaches

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BishopLeBlond2Bishop LeBlond High School has hired new boys and girls basketball coaches as they introduced the two Friday at a press conference.

Mitch Girres will take over the LeBlond boys’ program after eight years at Benton High School.  He coached the Cardinals’ freshman boys team from 2008 to 2010 and has been the JV and assistant Varsity girls coach the past six seasons.

Girres is a graduate of Cameron High School and Missouri Western State University.  He takes over for Tom Tewell, who spent three years as the head coach at LB.

Bryan Adkins will take over the Eagles’ girls program as he has 13 years of experience as a head basketball coach.

Adkins coached the Wathena/Riverside girls team for 11 years and then was the Riverside boys coach the past two years.  His combined record is 156-124.

He takes over for Jeff Sullivan who became the Bishop LeBlond principal last summer.

Chris Neff resigns as boys basketball coach at Lafayette

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LafayetteClick here to listen to Dave Riggert’s interview with Chris Neff

The head coach of the boys basketball program at Lafayette High School has resigned. Chris Neff sent a letter to the St. Joseph School District Thursday morning, to take a position in the North Kansas City School District.  He will be the head boys basketball coach at Staley High School.

“It has been a pleasure to work in the Saint Joseph School District for the past nine years,” Neff wrote in his resignation letter. “I would like to thank each of you for all that you have allowed me to do and all that you have done for me within the district. I am forever grateful for all that we have accomplished and how we have grown. The relationships that my family and I have through our time in St. Joseph will always be cherished and have helped to mold us into the people we are today.”

Coach Neff was hired in 2007 as a math teacher and head basketball coach. Neff’s accomplishments as head coach at Lafayette high School include, among others:

• 2016 Class 4 Final Four, 2nd Place
• 2014 Class 4 Final Four, 2nd Place
• 2011 Class 4 Final Four, 4th Place
• 7 MEC Championships: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
• 6 District Championships: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016
• 2013-2014 St. Joseph Sports, Inc., Coach of the Year

“We certainly have big shoes to fill at Lafayette High School. The students and staff will miss Coach Neff. He was the driving force for our success in the basketball program and we congratulate him on moving to the next level. We thank him for his tireless efforts to make our basketball program one of the best,” said Tyran Sumy, Principal.

Springfield selected to host MSHSAA basketball and football championships

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MSHSAASpringfield, Missouri – The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) announced late Friday that Springfield will be the host city for the 2018-2022 Boys & Girls State Basketball Championships and 2016 State Football Championships.

“We’re excited about coming down to Springfield,” said Kerwin Urhahn, MSHSAA Executive Director. “It’s a high-school rich environment and southwest Missouri supports high school sports very well. We’re looking forward to having all of our participants experience that excitement and enthusiasm first hand. We also appreciate all the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis has done for us in football and all that Mizzou has done in basketball over the years. We greatly value those partnerships and their support.”

In a competitive bid process, bids were submitted by the Springfield Sports Commission and the Convention & Visitors Bureau with facilities at Missouri State University (MSU) serving as the venues. Supporting entities include the City of Springfield, Greene County, Springfield Hotel Lodging Association, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Elliott Lodging, Hammons Hotels & Resorts, O’Reilly Hospitality Management, Chevy Dealers of the Ozarks, Buffalo Wild Wings with numerous other organizations providing promotional support.

“We’re delighted Springfield was selected,” said Tracy Kimberlin, president/CEO of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, which manages the Springfield Sports Commission. “With the cooperation and partnership of MSU and many other businesses and organizations, we submitted a proposal showing very strong community-wide support for hosting the state championships.”

Craig Long, CFO at MSHSAA, said the organization was impressed by the amount of community support and they’re looking forward to returning to Springfield.

“We’re humbled by the magnitude of community support that was evident in the proposal that came from the Springfield community and we’re excited about the championships being at Missouri State University,” Long said.

The basketball championships will be at JQH Arena and Hammons Student Center and football at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.

“We are very excited after 20-plus years to have the MSHSAA football and basketball championships coming back to Springfield and Missouri State,” said MSU Executive Director of JQH Arena & Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Facilities and Operations Keith Boaz. “We look forward to providing first-rate facilities and making the state championship experience a memorable one for the students and participating schools.”

“Missouri State University is thrilled to be selected as the host site for Missouri’s premier high school state championship events,” said Missouri State Director of Athletics Kyle Moats. “This has certainly a collaborative effort between the City of Springfield, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Springfield Sports Commission and the University, and we are proud these events have finally returned to Springfield and the great facilities on our campus. We look forward to serving as the hosts for high school basketball and football fans across the state.”

During the five years the basketball championships are in Springfield, more than 40,000 people will attend the events each year. Attendance at the football event will be about 25,000 people this fall.

“The Springfield Sports Commission and its board of directors are honored and excited to be the host of the state basketball championships,” said Lance Kettering. “Special recognition goes to the staff at Missouri State University for allowing the opportunity to bid on and ultimately host this event in Springfield. The Sports Commission does not control the athletic venues when we are submitting a bid, it’s paramount for organizations to work together to bring championship-level events to Springfield.”

Columbia hosted State Basketball Championship events for boys from 1973 through 1988 and 1992 to present and for girls from 1980 through 1988 and 1992 to present.

Springfield has hosted the State Basketball Championships at the following venues:

– Central High School – 1939, 1943-1945

– McDonald Arena – 1941, 1942, 1947-1950, 1956 and 1964

– Hammons Student Center – 1983, 1985-1991 (Boys & Girls)

The Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis has hosted the football championships since 1996. Springfield last hosted the football event in 1995 at the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex at Missouri State University.

Springfield has hosted football at the following venues:

– John F. Kennedy Stadium in 1968

– Briggs Stadium/Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex 1971 and 1988-1995

MSHSAA is the governing body for high school activities in Missouri with about 580 high schools as members. The organization conducts championship-level activities in 23 activities, including sports and academic events.

— Springfield Sports Commission News Release —

Tewell steps down as Bishop LeBlond boys basketball coach

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BishopLeBlond2St. Joseph, Mo. – Bishop LeBlond High School Principal Jeff Sullivan announced today that the school’s boys basketball coach Tom Tewell has resigned effective immediately. Tewell has led the LB boys team the past three seasons including district championships in 2014 and 2015 and finishes with an overall 42-42 record. Prior to taking on the boys varsity job, he had been an assistant girls coach for six years at LeBlond. He was named the 2013-14 Northwest Missouri Class 3 Coach of the Year.

“I have truly enjoyed coaching basketball at LeBlond these past nine years,” Tewell said. “The students and administration have been a pleasure to work with. Unfortunately, due to the time constraints of operating my own business and because of other family commitments, I feel I don’t have the time necessary to fully dedicate myself to this program and give the position the time and energy it deserves.”

Sullivan said the school was fortunate to have Tewell on staff. “Tom came in and brought the players together. Winning back-to-back district championships is an accomplishment that speaks for itself. We greatly appreciate his service and leadership at LB.”

Sullivan said the search for a new basketball coach will begin immediately.

Former LeBlond coach Steve Vertin to be inducted into MBCA Hall of Fame

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BishopLeBlond2St. Joseph, Mo. – The Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) announced that longtime Missouri and Nebraska high school basketball coach Steve Vertin will be inducted into the MBCA Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 16 in Springfield Missouri.

Vertin was the 2008 St. Joseph Sports Inc., coach of the year, and finished his 13-year LeBlond coaching tenure in 2012 with a 198-126 record. He led the Eagles to three district titles, including a fourth-place Class 2A finish in 2002 and a Class 3 quarterfinal appearance in 2008 where the Eagles lost to Hogan Prep. Vertin’s teams were known for stingy defense running a patented 1-3-1 zone. He has served as an assistant basketball coach at Benton and Savannah High Schools the past four years.

Vertin’s coaching career spans nearly 45 seasons, including successful stints at three Nebraska High Schools prior to arriving at LeBlond. He teaches social studies and is the dean of students at Bishop LeBlond. Vertin is one of 12 inductees this year.

— Bishop LeBlond Press Release —

Mustangs to honor Benton girls basketball during Celebration of Champions

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riggertMustangsST. JOSEPH, Mo. — An undefeated season earned the Benton girls basketball team a state championship and a place in school history, and they’ll get to celebrate the accomplishment again this summer.

The queens of Class 4 basketball in Missouri will be honored during a special pregame ceremony at the St. Joseph Mustangs game on June 4 at Phil Welch Stadium.

The Celebration of Champions is a new feature for the upcoming summer allowing the Mustangs to spotlight outstanding performances by high school athletes in St. Joseph.

“After such an amazing run, we thought it was fitting to bring the team to Phil Welch and recognize them in front of the community,” Mustangs general manager Ky Turner said. “They are great role models for young kids in the crowd, and hopefully that can serve as motivation for future athletes to reach that level one day.”

Benton beat MICDS 41-34 in double overtime in the Class 4 state championship Saturday in Columbia. The 31-0 Cardinals, led by head coach Brett Goodwin, finished with a perfect record for just the second time in program history.

The Mustangs are also planning celebrations for exceptional athletes from Central, Lafayette, Bishop LeBlond and St. Joseph Christian in what will become an annual event.

Single game and season tickets are now on sale. For information on tickets or group outings for 2016, call the Mustangs front office at (816) 279-7856.

— Mustangs Press Release —

Benton defeats MICDS in 2 OTs to win Class 4 State Championship

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BentonClick here to listen to Benton head coach Brett Goodwin talk about the win

The Benton girls’ basketball team won its second state championship in school history Saturday night in Columbia as they defeated MICDS in the Class 4 title game 41-34 in double overtime inside Mizzou Arena.

The Cardinals finish the season with a perfect 31-0 record, which is also the most wins in school history, surpassing their 2007 state title team that went 30-0.

Benton had to deal with a lot of adversity Saturday night as they were without freshman guard Jayde Williams, who was injured in the semifinal game Friday.  Then freshman starting guard Bailey Russell injured her leg in the second quarter and wasn’t able to return.

The game was back-and-forth all night as neither team led by more than five points the entire game until Benton took a nine-point lead in the second overtime.

BHS was down 19-14 at halftime, but they used a 6-0 run to start the second half and the game was tied 23-23 after three quarters.

Both teams struggled to score all night but MICDS used a 5-0 run in the fourth quarter to take a 28-24 lead with about two minutes remaining.  The Cardinals then got a three-pointer from Kylee Williams and one free throw from Daejah Bernard to tie game and send it to overtime.

Each team scored just two points in the first extra period, but then in the second overtime Bernard took over the game.

MICDS scored the first two points of the second OT, but then Bernard made a layup to tie the game and she forced three consecutive turnovers from the Rams’ point guard Rachel Thompson and Benton went on an 8-0 run to pull away and outlast MICDS.  Bernard ended the game with 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and six steals.

Kylee Williams made five threes in the game as she also scored 17 points and they two seniors combined for 34 of the Cards 41 points.

Benton’s defense was the story all season and Saturday night it was fantastic again as they held MICDS to a season-low 34 points.  The Rams were averaging 64 points per game and had been held under 40 just one time all year, and they needed 40 minutes to reach 34.

The Cardinals held MICDS to 31.6 percent (12-38) shooting and the Rams committed 19 turnovers.

Fighting Irish fall to Vashon in Class 4 state title game

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Click to listen to Lafayette head coach Chris Neff on postgameLafayette

The Lafayette boys’ basketball team came up short in their bid for a state championship Saturday in Columbia as they lost the Class 4 title game to Vashon 69-58 inside Mizzou Arena.

The Fighting Irish finish as the state runner-up for the second time in three years as they end the season 28-4.

Lafayette got out to a great start Saturday as they went ahead 17-9 late in the first quarter, but Vashon scored the final four points of the first and then outscored the Irish 21-8 in the second quarter to take a 34-25 lead to the locker room at halftime.

LHS pulled to within six points several times in the third quarter, but could never get any closer as Lafayette struggled all night at the free throw line.

The Fighting Irish finished the game 21-of-42 from the foul line and because of that they were never able to make a serious run at the Wolverines in the fourth quarter.

Vashon wins its 12th state title in school history as Lafayette is still in search of its first since 1976.

Diego Bernard led LHS with 25 points, while Caleb Bennett scored 16.

Lafayette lost just four games all season, and all four teams they lost to when on to play for a state championship in their respective state and class.  Two of the teams won state titles and two teams finished as the runner-up.  It was the fifth all-time appearance in the Final Four for the Fighting Irish and third in the last six seasons.

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