Charleston run to another C3 state title will have Williams' hands all over it

CHARLESTON – There is no shortage of star power on the reining MSHSAA Class 3 boys’ basketball state champion Charleston Blue Jays.

Senior wing Rico Coleman is a dunk machine, while sophomore guard PJ Farmer is being pursued by Missouri, and 6-foot-2 junior Ko’Terrion Owens is often unguardable on the block, and the list goes on. However, every offensive and defensive possession begins with 5-foot-9 senior guard Almareion Williams either handling the ball or pressuring it defensively.

“Almareion is really good,” third-year Blue Jay coach Jamarcus Williams said. “He has the capability to score a lot every night because 7 times out of 10, he is quicker than the person who is guarding him.”

The Blue Jays’ run to defend their state championship will begin on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 Tournament at Saxony Lutheran High School.

Charleston will face the winner of No. 4-seed Valle Catholic (15-10) and No. 5-seed Kelly (12-13), who battle tonight at 8 p.m.

The Warriors and Hawks game will follow No. 2-seed Woodland (20-6) and No. 7-seed Chaffee (10-15) at 5 p.m. and No. 3-seed Saxony Lutheran (17-8) and No. 6-seed Scott City (11-14) at 6:30 p.m.

Regardless of whether Charleston faces Valle Catholic or Kelly, the Blue Jays’ game plan begins with Almareion orchestrating each possession.

“He has the ability to break down the defense and create opportunities for other players,” Coach Williams said, “and he can do that often.”

In a recent win over Class 6 Poplar Bluff, Almareion ran the offense well, as he continually got into the defensive gaps and found open teammates along the baseline.

When he wasn’t doing that, as soon as Coach Williams brought Owens off the bench in the opening quarter, Almareion made sure the big guy was getting touches, which eventually led to the Mules’ post players being in foul trouble.

Almareion not only got three other Charleston players in double figures in that win, but he also scored 17 points on his own.

“He’s a little smaller,” Coach Williams said, “but you have to play up on him because he can shoot and hit the open (3-pointer). But if you get too close, then he breaks you down with his speed and dribbling ability.

“He is good. He is a great player to have out on the floor.”

Charleston has six losses this season, but only one has been by more than five points. Statistically, this year’s team has been slightly better than last year’s group, and Almareion has a lot to do with that.

“He guards the ball really well,” Coach Williams said. “For the most part, we like for (Almareion) to guard the primary ballhandler. His on-the-ball defense is pretty good in the open court.”

As Poplar Bluff battled back in its recent game at Charleston, the Blue Jays (and Almareion) pressured the Mule guards into multiple turnovers in the final quarter, which allowed Charleston to stretch its margin.

“We like to get the guards sped up,” Coach Williams said of his defensive strategy. “We want you to pass it a little sooner than you want to pass it. Make that entry pass further away from the goal than what the coach likes.

“That is what we try to do and Almareion does a great job of executing that for us.”