The Jefferson County Activities Association large-schools boys basketball championship will be decided Saturday night in Hillsboro.
The game between the Hawks and Festus was rescheduled after bad weather last month forced its postponement. Hillsboro has an overall record of 15-4 and is 2-0 in the conference. The Hawks have won the last four large-schools titles and haven’t lost a conference game since 2015. The Tigers are 3-0 in the JCAA, are a game below .500 at 9-10, but have won five of their last seven games.
“We’re excited about it,” Festus head coach Jason Therrell said. “We get to play at their gym where they always play well. It’s a huge game.”
This is the first meeting this season between Festus and Hillsboro. The Hawks beat the Tigers three times the last two seasons, including in the semifinals of the Class 4 District 3 tournament. Hillsboro has a seven-game winning streak against Festus and hasn’t lost to the Tigers since December, 2015.
The emergence of freshman Arhmad Branch into the starting guard position gives Festus two underclassmen in their backcourt. Sophomore Cole Rickermann is a veteran now having played in 46 games his first two seasons. Rickermann leads the Tigers with 31 3-point baskets and scorched De Soto for a career-high 37 points on Jan. 24. Branch worked his way into the starting lineup in January and has played so well, he looks to stay up as a starter.
Neither of the two Festus seniors – Austin Coale or Jacob Raye – are starters. Sophomore DaMarion Anderson might be the most talented player on the Tigers. Anderson is shooting right at 50 percent from the field, mainly because of his ability to reach the rim and shoot, and averages 13.7 points per game. Junior Collin Reando has proven he’s much more than a good baseball player as he leads Festus in scoring (14.1 points) and assists (3.4) per game.
“If you look at our record, we’re 9-10, and I’m happy where our team is at and where we’re headed,” Therrell said. “We have a young team altogether. We’re bringing everyone back (next season) and going to get even better.”
Senior Evan Worley (6-7) is five inches taller than anyone on the Tigers. Worley’s height doesn’t mean he’s the physical presence inside Hillsboro fans got used to with Gaven Pinkley and Michael Brewer, two of the most talented county players on the hardwood in years. All three Hillsboro forwards have been capable of making 3-point baskets.
Worley has made 15 this season, and he’s one of three Hawks with Mark Moore and twin brother, Ethan Worley, averaging 13 points per game.
“I don’t know if any team can replace those two (Brewer and Pinkley) players,” Therrell said. “Evan’s a really good player. They (Hawks) run the floor so well. They kill people in transition. If you don’t get back and get a hand up, they will knock down the shots on you.”