A Big Stage

Collins and St. Mary's Capitalize Off Foul Trouble  

Yuri Collins showed no mercy with the game on the line.

The St. Mary’s junior guard took advantage of McCluer North's foul trouble to lead the top-seeded Dragons to a 66-59 win over a gritty Stars team in the quarterfinals of the Coaches vs. Cancer Boys Basketball Holiday Tournament at St. Louis Community College - Meramec on Thursday night.

St. Mary’s (10-0), No. 1 in the STLhighschoolsports small school rankings, will play fourth-seeded and No. 10 large school Kirkwood in the semifinals on Friday night.

The turning point came when North guard Mekai Ray picked up his fourth foul with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. Ray went to the bench with the upset-minded Stars leading 43-35.

“Once he went out, they had no one else who wanted to bring the ball up the court,” Collins said.

It played into St. Mary’s hands as the Dragons’ pressure defense forced 21 total turnovers, including 14 in the second half. The turnovers created powered a 14-1 run sparked by a Miles Jones power drive and Antonio Burks trey to cut North’s lead to one with 56 seconds left in the third.

Lavelle Harris gave the Dragons the lead by stealing a North inbound pass and laying it in. Donavanne Austin followed with a 3-pointer as St. Mary’s extended its lead to 49-46 heading into the fourth quarter.

“At the end of the third quarter we started making that push,” St. Mary’s coach Bryan Turner said. “We got a couple of steals off our pressure and that gave us some easy baskets. Once we did that, the guys got some confidence and realized that defense was going to win it for us.”

Collins took over in the fourth, scoring nine of his 13 points. When he wasn’t finishing at the hoop, he was dishing to Yahuza Rasas and Harris for easy lay-ups.

“He made plays,” Turner said of Collins. “He’s the type of kid with a high basketball IQ and he gets us into a lot of great situations and it doesn’t always have to be scoring.”

North took a 17-14 lead at the end of the first quarter behind 14 combined points from A’Tavian Butler and Patrick Evans.

A Sylvon Mosley-Mull bucket extended the Stars’ lead to 26-19 midway through the second quarter.

Jones ignited a 6-0 St. Mary’s run with a dunk. Burks followed with a steal and a bucket to cut North’s lead to 26-25.

Rasas gave the Dragons a 29-28 lead with a reverse layup, but Aaron Daniels answered with a basket and two free throws to give North a 32-29 halftime lead.

After St. Mary’s evened the game at 35-35 early in the third quarter, North responded with an 8-0 run powered by its ball-hawking defense. Butler had a layup and Mosley-Mull had a put-back during the salvo as the Stars jumped to a 43-35 advantage.

“We always talk about our three P’s – poise, pride and pressure,” Collins said. “The 10-0 record is the pressure so we’ve got to play with poise and do what we do.”

Burks led St. Mary’s with 14 points. Rasas scored 12 and Jones added 11 points.

Butler scored a game-high 18 points for North (5-5), the tourney’s nine seed. Evans scored 10 points and Ray and Mosley-Mull each scored nine points.

“St. Mary’s, obviously defensively they pressure everybody,” North coach Trevor Laney said. “We had to be able to handle the ball. We had 21 turnovers.” - by Joe Harris of the St. Louis Post Dispatch

A Statement Made

Short-handed St.Marys Blitzes CBC as Five Players Score in Double figures

Justin Tatum never sits on his bench voluntarily. The CBC basketball coach prefers to stalk the sideline. All the easier to communicate, often loudly, with his team. His seat is often open for four quarters.

It was not Friday night.

Tatum sat for the duration of the mercy-rule shortened fourth quarter as St. Mary's blew past CBC 88-62 at a rocking St. Mary's. It's the second consecutive season the Dragons have bested the Cadets.

The No. 1 small school in the STLhighschoolsports.com rankings, St. Mary's (7-0) blitzed the Cadets from the first minute until the last. Without the services of 6-foot-7 post Yahuza Rasas, who was suspended after receiving two technical fouls against Soldan on Dec. 1, the Dragons came out with a smaller lineup that pushed the pace of the game into a frenzy.

CBC scored first when senior point guard Jai Love dropped in a pair of free throws. On the next possession, St. Mary's senior guard Tony Burks dropped in a 3-pointer. The Cadets never led again.

It was 26-15 after the first quarter and the Dragons pushed it 51-36 at halftime.

The points came from all over as St. Mary's overwhelmed CBC (2-3, No. 5 large school).

“We just all came together before and said we needed to take care of business,” senior guard Dominic Mitchell said. “We played together as a team, nobody was playing selfish, we swung the ball and it started on defense.”

Mitchell scored 11 points and had five steals. He and senior guard Miles Jones were the catalysts who sparked the Dragons throughout the night.

“I challenged him and Miles, you have to do some of the nastiness like diving on the floor, boxing out, grabbing rebounds,” St. Mary's coach Bryan Turner said. “Dominic just accepted the challenge tremendously.”

Jones had 22 points and buried three 3-pointers, two of which he hit in the midst of a 13-2 run to start the third quarter that pushed the Dragons' lead to 64-38. Jones said not having Rasas motivated St. Mary's.

“It made us want to play harder, down a man,” Jones said. “It's one less man who's going to play hard so we had to come back harder."

It meant someone else would have a chance to make an impact.

There were plenty of those.

Junior point guard Yuri Collins scored 14 points and handed out five assists. He broke CBC's defense and penetrated to the basket routinely.

Senior guard Donavanne Austin had 17 points and three rebounds. Burks had 10 points. All five starters hit double figures. Seven players had at least one assist.

“They shared the ball well,” Turner said. “We can't get stagnant with everyone looking for their points. Once we start sharing it everybody on the defense is looking for who they have to stop next.”

CBC was led by sophomore guard Caleb Love, who had 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Sophomore post Davion Bradford had eight points and five rebounds.

“We wanted to protect the ball and beat them on the boards. They are aggressive and smart. We have none of that in us,” Tatum said. “We didn't match nothing they had out there. They were the better team from they started to warm up until they finished the game. We had nothing for them.”

Not having Rasas might have played favorably for the Dragons. A smaller lineup might sacrifice some rebounding, but the pace they play with makes opponents miserable.

“I think it's speed,” Turner said. “I just had a feeling if he was going to go big we were going to go small and pretty much run them out of the gym. That's our style.”

That's what Tatum feared. He wanted to slow the game, win the game on the glass and play with an edge in a raucous environment.

“We did none of that,” Tatum said. “They did what they're supposed to do, which is kick our butts in their house.” By David Kvidahl of the St. Louis Post Dispatch

Dealing with our First Taste ofAdversity

ST. MARY'S WINS BUT LOSES KEY PIECE

Bryan Turner wanted St. Mary's to get out of its comfort zone this season. The Dragons did just that Friday at Soldan. The No. 1 small school, St. Mary's won 80-68, but there was drama in the gym.

Senior post Yahuza Rasas was hit with back-to-back technical fouls and ejected in the third quarter for hanging on the rim after a vicious dunk and taunting. Any player or coach ejected during a game is automatically suspended for the next game.

The Dragons' next one is a doozy. St. Mary's (6-0) hosts No. 5 large school CBC (2-2) at 7 p.m. Friday

Turner said St. Mary's has appealed the suspension through the Missouri State High School Activities Association and hopes to hear back prior to Friday's showdown with the Cadets.

“We're going through MSHSAA to see about that,” Turner said. “We sent in a video to show why he shouldn't have been tossed.”

The 6-foot-7 Rasas is averaging 13 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks per game.

Junior point guard Yuri Collins had a strong night in his second game back from a shoulder injury. He scored 17 points, grabbed six rebounds and handed out 10 assists.

The atmosphere at Soldan was what Turner wanted his team to experience. The crowd was intense and there were things that affected the game that the Dragons couldn't control. At one point, the scoreboard was unplugged. Neither team was happy with how the game was called by the officials. There was ample adversity to overcome.

“We have to keep our composure when things are not going our way,” Turner said. “I feel like my guys kind of fell victim to that.”

St. Mary's hosts CBC on Friday followed by home dates with Northwest Academy and Borgia before taking part in the Coaches vs. Cancer Holiday Tournament. - By David Kvidahl of the St. Louis Post Dispatch

Very High Expectations for the Southside

St. Mary's Sets Sights on State Run

This is the year of the Dragons.

The St. Mary's basketball team spent three seasons building toward this winter. Now it's time to see if it has enough to make a run at the ring.

The No. 1 small school in the STLhighschoolsports.com rankings, St. Mary's returns 10 players who saw significant varsity time last season and nine of them are seniors. The lone underclassman is junior point guard Yuri Collins, who with every sweet dime adds to his school record for most career assists.

St. Mary's is long, athletic, deep, experienced and motivated.

Actually motivated might not be strong enough. They're mad.

Really mad.

St. Mary's went 24-4 last season. It won its first district title since 2009. It grabbed the championship of a brutal field at the Coaches vs. Cancer Holiday Tournament. It was a season to remember when it ended.

It was hard to forget how it ended.

The Dragons were beaten 72-68 in overtime by Vashon in a Class 4 sectional. It was the toughest game the Wolverines had in the playoffs as they went on to repeat as Class 4 champions. It was the third consecutive year Vashon eliminated St. Mary's.

And they've heard about it ever since.

“We talked about it and we're over it,” senior guard Tony Burks said. “Hopefully we'll get to see them again.”

Burks led the Dragons in scoring last year. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard poured in 14 points a night. The only other player to average double figures in points was 6-7 senior post Yahuza Rasas, who chipped in 13 points and 8 rebounds a game.

St. Mary's gets contributions from all over the court and that's the beauty of how its constructed. Collins distributes the ball with poise and precision. He averaged 7 assists and 9 points per game as a sophomore.

Senior forward Dominic Mitchell (6-5) put up 7 points per game as a junior. In his first five games this season, he's been good for 17 points. Guard Miles Jones (6-5) scored 8 points per game as a junior. Through five games this season, he's averaging 12.

The Dragons have so many weapons it'll be hard to stop all of them on any given night.

“We have different lineups we can throw out there,” St. Mary's coach Bryan Turner said. “We have a speedy lineup to pressure the ball. We have a long lineup, we have what I call an IQ lineup. It's a nice luxury.”

The Dragons have plenty of bodies and will use all of them. Last season there were times they substituted like a hockey team, changing its lines with five guys on and five guys off. They like to play an aggressive, pressing style that puts opposing guards in a trick box that creates turnovers and easy transition baskets. It's a miserable way to spend an evening if you're going against it.

“Everybody knows us. We come to play hard and trap,” Burks said. “We're going to grind you, make you throw it away.”

St. Mary's has been on a mission since last season ended. The Dragons crushed their offseason workouts. They went undefeated in the fall league during football season. They rolled to the tournament championship at the Alton Tip-Off Classic last week without Collins, who was nursing a shoulder injury. He has since returned to action and is expected to be back to 100 percent soon.

All of it has been fueled by their near-misses the last two years.

“I'll never forget the feeling in the locker room after losing to Vashon. We all have that in our back,” Mitchell said. “We have to prove to ourselves, our teammates and our coaches that we can make it all the way this year.”

Turner led St. Mary's through its team camp in the summer and open gyms. There were days the Dragons' offseason conditioning was running through South City.

“I've got that Rocky mentality,” Turner said. “You have to be in the community.”

An assistant at St. Mary's the last three years under Kelvin Lee, Turner moved into the lead job after Lee departed in the offseason. Lee now is coaching at University City.

After stints as the head coach at Beaumont and Gateway STEM, Turner understands how special this team and its opportunity can be.

“These guys have been through the fire. They've been model guys for the program for four years,” Turner said. “I just hope these guys can go out with something special and bring something special to the school.”- By David Kvidahl of the St. Louis Post Dispatch

The Legacy Begins....

St. Mary's Races Past Althoff in Alton Tip Off Classic

St. Mary's senior guard Miles Jones said his team likes to play fast.

"Just get it and go," Jones said.

That may have been an understatement.

St. Mary's flew up and down the court with reckless abandon Tuesday on the way to an 89-38 win over Althoff in the Alton Tip-Off Classic at Alton High.

"We have a lot of experienced guys and we want to get those guys playing time," St. Mary's coach Bryan Turner said. "The best way to get them playing time is having a fast-pace game. We have guys who are picking up full court, high energy, high octane-type defense. You go as hard as you can, ask for a blow, and then come right back out there."

St. Mary's (1-0), the defending Class 4 District 3 champions, set the tempo from the get-go. The Dragons picked up full court pressure and forced Althoff (0-1) to play at a much quicker pace.

"They look like a group that has been playing together for four years and we look like a team that has been playing together for 13 practices," Althoff coach Greg Leib said. "No excuses though. They came out and played their game and we didn't play ours and that's where we're at with the scoreboard."

St. Mary's limited Althoff to just six baskets in the first half.

"We want to press the whole game because we have a deep bench," Jones said. "If anybody is tired, just ask for a breather."

But that kind of intense, nearly constant pressure at breakneck speed finally caught up to Althoff in the third quarter.

St. Mary's forced 10 turnovers on the way to a 28-12 advantage.

"You tell guys that you should let your defense dictate your offense," Turner said. "That's what we're trying to do."

St. Mary's was playing without standout point guard Yuri Collins, who is on his way back from injury. But the Dragons offense was in midseason form. They shot nearly 60 percent from the field. Jones led the way with 21 points. 

"All these guys are veterans, experienced and they love basketball," Turner said. "They're hard-working kids who have been in the gym since last year and it's just a next man up situation."

Althoff turned the ball over 29 times against St. Mary's full-court press.

Still, Leib sees the contest as a learning experience for his young group.

"They do such a nice job of rotating and that was a good experience for us," Leib said. "If we see that kind of press again, we'll be just that much better for it. That's the process of it. Basketball is a long season and it's a long way from now until March."

St. Mary's will play Carbondale (0-1) on Wednesday. Althoff takes on Carnhan (1-0). - By Paul Halfcare of the St. Louis Post Dispatch

Press Conference Introduction

St. Mary's Tabs Bryan Turner as Next Basketball Coach

Bryan Turner moved one seat down the bench.

But what a difference it makes.

After three years as an assistant, Turner was introduced Tuesday as the new St. Mary's basketball coach.

Turner takes over after former coach Kelvin Lee and the administration of St. Mary's “mutually agreed,” according to the school's news release, to end their three-year relationship in April.

Turner, 35, came in to St. Mary's with Lee as an assistant after he was the boys basketball coach at Beaumont and the coach and athletics director at Gateway STEM. He graduated Beaumont in 2000 as its all-time leading scorer and then went on to a four-year career at SIU Carbondale, where he played for Bruce Weber and Matt Painter.

After two stints as a head coach, Turner said he enjoyed his time as an assistant coach with Lee because it allowed him more time to spend with those who mean the most to him.

“My son is 5. Just doing so much with a young family and trying to juggle all of that, I can't go to the kids and say we're going to be about family and not be there for my family,” Turner said. “I got to take a back seat and evaluate some things. I got to come over and just coach.”

With Lee's departure, St. Mary's wanted someone it felt wanted to be with the program and whose values aligned with the school.

Turner was that man.

“Coach Turner wants to be a Dragon with you guys,” St. Mary's president Mike Englad said to the players.

Turner remaining with the Dragons ensures continuity as one of the most talented teams in St. Mary's history appears primed for a record-breaking season. Last season the Dragons were 25-4 and lost in overtime of a Class 4 sectional to eventual champion Vashon. During Lee's tenure, the Dragons went 60-23. The 2015-16 season ended with a district runner-up trophy, once again at the hands of Vashon.

Before Turner was introduced, St. Mary's athletics director Tony Dattoli and England recognized three underclassmen for milestones achieved during the past season. Junior guard Tony Burks and junior forward Yahuza Rasas both were presented with honorary basketballs commemorating their membership in the 1,000-point club.

Sophomore point guard Yuri Collins was given a similar ball that recognized him as the program's all-time assists leader.

All three are crucial parts of St. Mary's future. It was a shock for the team when Lee told them he would not return. But they are excited to see what they can achieve with Turner.

“It was tough. We didn't expect it. Coach Lee was telling us he had to make decisions for him and his family. We appreciate everything he's done for us,” Burks said. “We're used to Coach Turner. Nothing should change much. We'll hop on the train Coach Lee left us on and keep it running and keep going forward.”

Added Rasas, “There's no one else I'd rather have.”

St. Mary's expects it will return 11 varsity players next winter with healthy additions from its junior varsity roster. After coming so close to dethroning Vashon this past season, a lot of the conversation about next winter is whether or not the Dragons can find their way past the powerhouse Wolverines.

Turner refuses to focus on that.

“My main thing is trying to get to these guys, it's not about beating Vashon. I'd hate to get to that point next year, that same game, beat a Vashon and then lose to a Sikeston. We have to try and improve every single day,” Turner said. “We've proved that we can play with anybody around the area. It's up to these guys to constantly believe and stick to the game plan.”

Turner couldn't say enough about how many hours this group puts in the gym.

The work ethic combined with their talents and a coach that knows them well have St. Mary's on the cusp of something truly special.

“It's going to be a great season,” Rasas said. “We're going to give as much as we can.” - By David Kvidahl of the Post Dispatch