St. Vincent struggles in title contest

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- For such a prized thing as a high school state championship, the two teams battling for the Class 2 boys basketball state championship Saturday at Mizzou Arena seemed dead set on giving it to the other team.

Unfortunately for St. Vincent, its 14.3 field goal percentage trumped Marionville's 9-of-26 performance from the free-throw line in a 35-30 loss.

"When you shot 6-for-42 from the field, you're not going to win many ballgames," St. Vincent coach Bruce Valleroy said.

The Indians shot just eight percent from the field in an atrocious first-half offensive performance that put Marionville ahead 16-9 at the intermission. But like the low-scoring first half of St. Vincent's semifinal victory Friday, seven points seemed like a large gap in a game where points were precious.

"I didn't realize it was getting that big of a lead," St. Vincent senior Alex Armbruster said.

Added St. Vincent senior reserve Luke Guyot: "I always thought we'd start playing our game."

Marionville simply found a way to halt any advances. Even when the Indians were able to make a run, cutting the lead to 17-14 with 3 minutes and 16 seconds left in the third, something seemed to go against them. Marionville scored on a phantom tip -- which likely bounced off a St. Vincent player -- to go ahead 19-14. The Comets entered the fourth quarter up 24-15.

"It was frustrating because the guys worked their tail off to get back within three, then something bad happens," Valleroy said.

St. Vincent closed within five points a couple of times late. Marionville kept the Indians in the game by hitting only 7 of 21 free throws in the fourth quarter.

"We kept battling and battling," Valleroy said. "I thought we had a chance when they kept missing free throws."

Armbruster provided the only offensive production for St. Vincent. Despite hitting just 4 of 18 shots from the field, Armbruster finished with 18 points, including 10 of 13 from the line. Danny Rellergert, St. Vincent's main outside threat, was 0-for-6 from 3-point range and hit just 1 of 13 shots. Jacob DeWilde, who averages double figures in scoring, was 0-for-5 from the field.

St. Vincent's total of 30 points is the second-lowest in a boys state championship game since 1950.

"We just could never get into an offensive flow early in the ballgame," Valleroy said.

Paden Grubbs led Marionville with nine points, including two 3-pointers. Brick Warth had eight points and 10 rebounds.

"When the ball is in Paden's hands, good things happen," Marionville coach Ted Young said.

Marionville was able to get some revenge on the Indians after losing to St. Vincent in the state football playoffs. St. Vincent defeated Marionville 20-14 in the semifinal round en route to the championship.

"It's nice to beat them. It would have sucked for them to beat us twice in a year," Grubbs said. "Revenge is always sweet."

The contest resembled a football game with tons of contact underneath the basket. Both teams had 21 fouls, and there likely were more that could have been called. Waylon Richardet was constantly in the mix, finishing with a game-high 12 rebounds.

"They were the most physical football team and basketball team we faced all year," Armbruster said. "They were unreal."

Added Grubbs: "Through my high school career this is one of the most physical games I've played in."

For St. Vincent, the trip to the final four was the first for the basketball program. It followed the school's first football state championship in the fall.

"Personally, since I like basketball more, this was better than the state run," Armbruster said.

Added Guyot: "To go this far and have such a good team is something I'm proud of."

Valleroy, a Southeast Missouri State graduate in his 12th year as head coach of the Indians, was all smiles despite the loss.

"I felt like I was on their back and they carried me," Valleroy said.

MARIONVILLE 35, ST. VINCENT 30

Marionville 11 5 8 11 -- 35

St. Vincent 3 6 6 15 -- 30

MARIONVILLE (35) -- Paden Grubbs 9, Kelby Parks 5, Larsan Metcalf 2, Blake Setzer 7, Brick Warth 8, Lee Flood 1, Ben Monneyham 3. FG 12, FT 9-26, F 21. (3-pointers: Grubbs 2. Fouled out: Warth)

ST. VINCENT (30) -- Alex Armbruster 18, Danny Rellergert 5, Pat Siegmund 2, Waylon Richardet 5. FG 6, FT 18-30, F 21. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: Rellergert, Richardet)