Area teams tackle St. Louis metro foes today in shootout

Southeast Missourian

While the eighth annual Tiger Shootout will once again feature a four-game, one-day format, Central athletic director Terry Kitchen wouldn't mind seeing the event grow into something bigger.

Kitchen said he has tinkered with the idea of expanding the field, but says many things would need to happen for the boys basketball event to grow.

"I think it would be something good to do," he said of the event held today at Central High School. "I could see us having some more teams from the area."

Bringing more teams or adding more days to the event would require greater sponsorship revenue, he said, and that's a key issue that would have to be addressed.

"I would need some help," Kitchen said.

But Kitchen said an expanded tournament could do well with the right amount of fan interest.

"I think it would be something our community would like," he said.

For today's event, three of the area's top large schools -- Central, Jackson and Notre Dame -- will be pitted against St. Louis area opponents. Small school threat Oran will face Fredericktown (6-6)

All three St. Louis-area squads enter the Shootout featuring three double-digit scorers each. Jennings (7-6), which squares off against host Central (9-4), is led by senior forward Mark Stovall, who averages 16.9 points per game. Freshman Sonijay Watts adds 13.8 points, and junior guard Tim Wright averages 11.3 points.

Lindbergh (5-6), which opens the Shootout against Jackson (6-5), is led by senior Brad Barshis. Barshis averages 14 points but has played in only six games. Sophomore Richard Williams averages 10.5 points and senior Mack Caldwell is next with 10. Williams and Caldwell each have appeared in all 11 games for Lindbergh.

Vianney (7-4), a private school that faces Notre Dame (6-3), gets the bulk of its scoring from the inside-outside combo of Brandon Beal and Paul Paradoski. Beal, a 6-foot-5 junior forward, averages 18.5 points and 7.9 rebounds. Paradoski, a 5-10 junior guard, averages 18.2 points. Junior Tom Mulvihill adds 10.5 points for Vianney.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

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