Blog

2018 Basketball Tournament Wrap-Up

19th Annual State Basketball Tournament

The LSAM State Basketball Championships were held this past weekend in Jefferson City for the 19^th straight year. Overall the weekend was a great success with plenty of great basketball as well as fellowship among brothers and sisters in Christ from across the great state of Missouri.

This year’s tournament featured some familiar teams that are no stranger to the state tournament, as well as some teams who were making their first appearance or had not been to the state tournament for a few years. Child of God from St. Peters and St. Paul from St. Joseph both were making the LSAM Basketball debuts on the boys’ side. While St. Paul, St. Joseph made their first appearance on the girls’ side.

Things got off to a roaring start on Friday night with the first two games at Helias coming down to the wire. In Gym B St. John, Ellisville boys won a thriller over St. Paul’s, Des Peres 25-24. Just down the hall in Gym A, the Green Park Lady Vikings mounted a comeback and forced overtime against Trinity, Jeff City where the Lady Vikings would win 49-45. The following game in Gym A was just as exciting as Child of God won an overtime game against Trinity, Jeff City by hitting a bucket with under 10 seconds left to win 36-35. These three games set the tone for a weekend which had 25 of the total 42 games decided by 10 points or less.

Saturday’s action brought some exciting games and storylines as well in both divisions. In the boys’ quarterfinals Christ Community, Kirkwood (CCLS) defeated St. John, Ellisville 38-22, Zion, St. Charles defeated St. Paul, St. Joseph 33-31 in an exciting game, Immanuel, Perryville defeated Child of God 34-16 and Salem, Black Jack defeated Messiah Weldon Spring 50-36. St. John, Ellisville’s loss set up a father-son coaching match-up with Trinity, Jefferson City in the Consolation quarterfinals. Ryan Dubberke (Trinity JC) edged out his father, Bob Dubberke (St. John Ellisville), by a score of 22-20. To conclude Saturday action Salem, Black Jack defeated Immanuel, Perryville in one semifinal 44-27, while CCLS topped Zion, St. Charles 47-41 in the other semifinal.

Saturday’s action on the girls’ side included quarterfinal wins by Zion, St. Charles over rival Immanuel, St. Charles, and Green Park over St. Paul’s, Concordia. In the other two girls’ quarterfinals Immanuel, Wentzville held off St. John, Ellisville 27-23, while CCLS knocked off Immanuel, Perryville 30-23. The girls’ semifinal games resulted in wins by Zion (51-36 over Green Park) and Wentzville (36-27 over CCLS).

Following Saturday’s on-the-court action, the teams came together for worship Saturday night at Helias. Sam Ziegelbein, teacher from Calvary Lutheran High School, and Caley Gerth, teacher at Trinity Lutheran, led a great service that even included Sam swishing a 3-pointer on his third try, and reminding us to not give up just because things may be tough! Following the church service all the athletes participated in a knock-out competition where one boy and one girl were crowned champions. After fun-spirited competition the two champions were crowned: Mahya Lindesmith from Zion, St. Charles on the girls’ side, and Brennan Garvey from St. Paul, St. Joseph on the boys’ side.

Championship Sunday started with a double overtime game on the boys’ side between St. Paul’s, Des Peres and LSA, Cole Camp. Des Peres came out on top 31-29. The consolation championships from both divisions were match-ups between St. Paul’s, Des Peres and St. Paul, St. Joseph. St. Joseph was victorious in both the boys and girls consolation title games over Des Peres. In 3^rd place game action, CCLS defeated Green Park on the girls’ side, while Zion defeated Perryville on the boys side.

Throughout the weekend of fierce competition, there are moments of good sportsmanship and Christ-like attitudes shown from different individuals, parents, and coaches. LSAM chooses one boys and one girls team to honor each year with a team sportsmanship award. St. Paul, Farmington won the award on the girls side, and St. Paul’s, Concordia won the Russell Peck Sportsmanship award on the boys side.

In the girls championship game Immanuel, Wentzville got off to a great start and led 18-7 at halftime over Zion, St. Charles. The Lady Bobcats of Zion came out the second half closed the Lady Eagles’ lead to 3. Zion found a way in the fourth quarter to overcome the deficit and won the game by a final score of 40-34 in a great game by both sides. The boys’ championship game provided just as much excitement as the girls’ game did. CCLS jumped out to a 16-2 lead over Salem, Black Jack in the first quarter with some sharp shooting. At halftime CCLS led 31-18. In the fourth quarter, Black Jack made a run and cut the led to 41-39 with 2:03 left, but couldn’t close the deficit entirely as CCLS held on to win 44-41.