The creaking rims told the whole story.
After being pounded for two hours from a variety of windmills, follow-up jams, and gravity-defying alley oops, Washington University may want to check out some new backboard support units.
The River War, a high school all-star festivity between Missouri and Illinois, invaded the WU Field House on Saturday night. The games showcased some of the top boys and girls players in the region and provided highlight-reel entertainment for a packed house.
“One word-excellent,” said point guard Luke Rogers of Chicago’s Von Stueben High of the experience. “We heard coming in that they were underestimating us, and when they realized it was too late.”
Illinois held off a late run by their Missouri counterparts to claim a 106-98 victory, but the statistics come up far short in describing this contest. After all, the turntables in the corner of the gym by Coach Mark Edwards’ office and the backboard getting turned sideways during “lay-up” drills proved only an appetizer of what was to come.
There was Jamal Moore of Moberly High School soaring down the lane for a two-handed visit to Dunkingham Palace.
And James White of Belleville East using the basket as an anger management tool in savagely throwing down a nifty little lob pass.
Fundamentally, the game hardly resembled a patient, ball-movement Ivy League style of play. Spectators jumped out of their seats in disbelief on numerous occasions at deadly crossover dribbles and no-look wrap around passes.
But amid the razzle-dazzle and showtime it was not all smiles and laughter.
Players came to show-up their peers and the intensity levels ran high. With bragging rights at stake and high school pride in full effect, no one wanted to leave a bad impression.
“It’s fun, but it’s serious too,” said Nick Kern of Vashon, a 6’7″ small forward who is set to play for St. Louis University next year. “You gotta represent your city.”
Additionally, the game gave players the opportunity to play on a collegiate court in front of friends, family, and more than a few talent spies.
The same field house usually inhabited by the Bears shifted its identity to become a reward of sorts for long nights shooting free throws and valiant efforts during pressure-packed regular seasons. Not surprisingly, all parties involved seemed proud of their roots.
“It’s actually not a huge rivalry, but it’s getting bigger,” said David Harper of Chicago Manley. “I think this game is going to get it going a little bit.”
Indeed, below the banners of UAA schools, a raucous environment materialized the likes of which WU rarely sees.
After trailing 52-40 at the half, and by as much as 25 in the second stanza, the Show Me State boys nearly pulled off an improbable comeback.
With the crowd urging them on, the Missouri all-stars closed to within four points on a long-range three pointer by Vashon sensation Jimmy McKinney. But Illinois managed to weather the storm by hitting their free throws in the end, and emerged with both the trophy and the bragging rights.
While many of the players will take their game to next level arenas in the near future, the outcome left a sour taste in the mouth of the Missourians.
“They got it this time,” said Kern with a shrug. “We played with a lot of them all summer so we really know each other pretty well.”
Among those who specifically stood out under the bright lights and among the deep, star-studded rosters were Vashon teammates McKinney and Kern, big Ted Morris of Chaminade High, and a trio of lightning fast guards from the Land of Lincoln.
Harper, who will attend Seton Hall University in the fall, along with Rogers and Lance Marcum of Centralia sliced through the Missouri defense at will with dazzling fastbreak moves to set up easy hoops for both teammates and themselves.
The stellar moves were greeted wildly as the volume rose steadily as Saturday night wore on.
The game, coordinated by Showtyme Basketball, looks to become an annual affair between the two states. Although few WU students paid the ten-dollar admission fee to attend, off-campus awareness and promotion drew people from around the metro area. The community flavor of the event gave the campus a much-needed shot of locality.
Whether or not WU stays on as the host venue remains to be seen, but based on the enthusiasm and excitement generated by the game, the organizers had to be pleased.
Everyone, that is, except for the administrators who must now attend to the battered backboards.
Really, the rims had not suffered this much abuse since the last time that Brandeis shot the ball against WU. Good thing that seven months still remain before the start of next season.
Contact Dan at [email protected]