A battle of two rising powers in Class One boys basketball, each seeking their first state title Saturday, Mar. 14, came down to the heroics of one player.
Junior Brennen Meloy of Bunker turned out a 33-point, ten-rebound performance to thwart Brunswick’s bid for a state title, leading the Bunker Eagles to a 61-54 victory over the Wildcats at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Meloy provided more than half of his team’s offense during the weekend, including another 33 points in Bunker’s semifinal win Friday morning over Faith Christian Academy.
Much of the success which Brunswick enjoyed this year came because of their tenacious defensive pressure which forced Wildcat opponents into making numerous mistakes. On Saturday however, Bunker avoided those miscues as they committed only nine turnovers all day. In addition, the Eagles seemed a step quicker than the Wildcats, coming up with several 50/50 balls and taking advantage of enough second-chance scoring opportunities to serve as one of the differences in the game.
Brunswick led for just a few minutes during the early stages of Saturday’s action. Behind 12-8 late in the opening period, Bunker then tallied the contest’s next seven points to go on top 15-12, never trailing again the rest of the way. The Eagle lead fluctuated between two and eight points throughout the day as they were in front, 30-25 at intermission and also 41-36 heading into the final stanza.
During the last half, the Wildcats made repeated runs at Bunker, getting within three or four points on more than one occasion. However, it was Meloy that bailed the Eagles out with a clutch basket or some key free throws every time. Meloy saved his best for the game’s latter stages, tallying 24 of his 33 points during the final two quarters. Meanwhile, teammate Owen Sanders was the only other Bunker player to reach double figures, mustering 12 points for his efforts. The Eagles earned the state title for themselves in just their first trip ever to the Final Four. The win was Bunker’s 30th of the season while suffering only two losses.
Foul trouble didn’t help Brunswick either on Saturday as first Clay Hayward and later Balston Brown both had to exit the contest for good during the final two minutes of play. Brown led the Wildcats in scoring with 19 points while Hayward tacked on 17 and Drew Jackson chipped in with 15 for the CLAA champions. The loss snapped Brunswick’s 17-game winning streak as their record ended up at 28-4, and four starters set to return next season.
Also Saturday in Missouri high school boys basketball:
Class One 3rd Place: Faith Christian 64, Kingsville 37
Class Two Championship: Eugene 71, Hayti 56
Class Two 3rd Place: Penney 50, Clopton 25
Class Three Championship: Principia 98, Miller Career Academy 34
Class Three 3rd Place: North Platte 61, Mountain View Birch Tree Liberty 57
Class Four Quarterfinals
St Joseph Benton 65, St Michael the Archangel 43
Clayton 77, Dexter 54
Vashon 68, Orchard Farm 53
Logan-Rogersville 73, Nevada 39
Class Five Quarterfinals
Springfield Hillcrest 71, Helias Catholic 57
MICDS 59, Wentzville Holt 47 (2OT)
Raytown South 66, Lincoln College Prep 57
Sikeston 62, St Louis Vianney 60
Class Six Quarterfinals
Cardinal Ritter 81, Marquette 76
Blue Springs South 74, Oak Park 73 (OT)
De Smet Jesuit 77, Francis Howell Central 54
Rockhurst 42, Springfield Kickapoo 29