St. Vincent boys win on Armbruster's shot

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- The school year of firsts continues for St. Vincent -- and in about as dramatic a fashion imaginable.

St. Vincent, which last fall captured its first state football championship, is now headed to the state basketball semifinals for the first time.

Senior guard Alex Armbruster swished a 3-point shot from about 28 feet at the buzzer Saturday night, lifting the Indians past South Pemiscot 57-56 in a Class 2 quarterfinal game at Park Hills Central High School.

The Indians (22-6) will play East Buchanan at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the final four in Columbia.

"It's unbelievable," St. Vincent coach Bruce Valleroy said. "I'm just so proud of these guys. And people don't know this, but a bunch of us were sicker than dogs, including me. We came down with the flu yesterday."

Armbruster, who quarterbacked the Indians to the Class 1 football championship, looked anything but sick on his game-winning shot. The play began after the Bulldogs (23-7) had hit two free throws to go ahead 56-54 with 6 seconds remaining.

Armbruster took the inbound pass under his own basket and took several dribbles before stopping and letting fly from the left side just before the buzzer. The ball didn't even touch the rim as St. Vincent players and fans celebrated on the court.

"I put it up, and at first I hoped it would bank in," Armbruster said. "And then it went straight in."

Asked if he had ever hit a shot like that before in his life, a smiling Armbruster said, "I've never made one like that before, but I've missed a bunch."

Senior forward Jacob DeWilde had a good look at the winning shot as he settled underneath the basket awaiting a possible rebound.

"I got a very good look at it," DeWilde said. "I just stared there for a minute and said, 'Did that actually go in?'"

All of St. Vincent's starters and key reserves played for the championship football team. The Indians figure that had to help them get through Saturday's tense affair.

"I think it takes the big game out of it. It doesn't overwhelm us," Armbruster said.

Added DeWilde: "I think it keeps us calm. We've been through it and we know what it takes in a big game."

Armbruster, the Indians' leading scorer on the season, had 17 points.

DeWilde followed with 13, and senior forward Waylon Richardet added 12.

Anthony Jones, a quick junior guard, poured in 26 points for the Bulldogs, 20 coming in the second half, including 11 in the fourth quarter.

"South Pemiscot is very good, and Jones is so tough off the dribble," Valleroy said.

Despite 24 turnovers caused primarily by South Pemiscot's quickness, the bulkier Indians were able to stay right with the Bulldogs in a game that was close the entire way.

A first half that featured no lead bigger than four points ended with South Pemiscot ahead 23-22.

St. Vincent scored the first nine points of the third quarter -- seven by DeWilde -- to go up 31-23 for the biggest advantage of the night by either team.

South Pemiscot closed the third quarter with a 17-5 run to lead 40-36 entering the final period. After St. Vincent went back ahead 42-40, South Pemiscot appeared to take control, as it led 49-44 with just over three minutes remaining.

But the Indians refused to buckle, and they tied the contest 52-52 on Richardet's follow shot with 52 seconds left.

The Bulldogs went ahead 54-52, but St. Vincent tied it 54-54 on DeWilde's layup with 19 seconds left.

With 6 seconds left, Jones was fouled on a drive into the lane and he calmly nailed both free throws to put the Bulldogs up 56-54 and set the stage for Armbruster's heroics.

"These guys are winners. They've been through this before with football," Valleroy said. "Right now we're just riding the wave."

ST. VINCENT 57, SOUTH PEMISCOT 56

South Pemiscot 13 10 17 16 -- 56

St. Vincent 9 13 14 21 -- 57 SOUTH PEMISCOT (56) -- Zach Clay 8, Chance Rucker 11, Anthony Jones 26, Jessie Brock 11. FG 14, FT 16-19, F 18 (3-pointers: Jones 1. Fouled out: Brock 1).

ST. VINCENT (57) -- Alex Armbruster 17, Danny Rellergert 3, Jacob DeWilde 13, Pat Siegmund 6, Waylon Richardet 12, Ben Buchheit 6. FG 18, FT 15-24, F 13 (3-pointers: Armbruster 1, DeWilde 1. Fouled out: none)