Gramps Braggin Rights Missouri Boys Class Four ratings - 3/20/2022

Updated 3/24/2022 

The Vashon - Father Tolton Catholic game was about as good as they get for a state championship game.  Vashon built a 12 or 13 point lead just after the start of the second half but Tolton came roaring back with Jevon Porter carrying the Trailblazers on his back.  Porter ended up with some 29 points and was nearly unstoppable slipping his defender and getting the lob pass for jams and layins.  

But the young Vashon squad was not panicked when Tolton went up 44-41, as they came back strong, with Kennard Davis and Cameron  Stovall going to the bucket and also drawing fouls inside on Porter and Evons Appolon.  Then the kids took over, with freshman guards Mason Mosely hitting the treys and Christian Williams going 3 for 4 from the line in pressure-packed one-and-one situations.  The Wolverines, despite their youth, fought back and did not fold, going back up by five and then eight to finish off the indomitable Tolton squad.

The crazy part of Vashon's state title is that this was not a team like past teams, loaded with experience.  This team only has a couple of seniors and the group did not get a lot of playing time last year with covid limiting their schedule and travel plans.  So, with the fifth title in seven years, expect even better things out of this primarily junior, sophomore and freshman led squad.

Tolton was not expected to be here but they scrapped and fought and upset Blair Oaks in the district and barely edged upstart Pembroke Hill in the semi-final.  Blair Oaks had been my #2 team all season and they are still ranked #3 behind Vashon and Tolton.

Besides Tolton, Vashon's biggest challenge might have been the New Madrid County Central team which kept it close until Vashon pulled away by nine.

Pembroke Hill hadn't been on my radar even though they were 19-4 coming into the tournament.  They finished a respectable 21-6 with two of those losses in the final two games.  Pembroke Hill moved up from #10 or 11 to #6 behind MICDS in the final rankings, based on their fourth-place state finish.

Here are the links to all of the final Missouri boys and girls basketball ratings:

Boys   All Boys Teams (by rank)  All Boys Teams (alphabetical)

Class One    Class Two    Class Three    Class Four    Class Five    Class Six

Girls   All Girls Teams (by rank)  All Girls Teams (alphabetical)

Class One    Class Two    Class Three    Class Four    Class Five    Class Six

Here are my Missouri Boys Class Four ratings:




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