Class 4 Semifinal thoughts ST. CHARLES VS. BOLIVAR

[MOsportsStaff]

5:10 Thursday in Columbia

Both teams are 26-4.

St. Charles defeated Miller Career 62-52, Moberly 60-56 to reach semifinals.
Senior PG Chase Morfeld avg. 14 ppg and has dished 131 assists. Senior Casey Teson is a Division I commit
to Eastern Illinois. Teson averages 20.5 ppg, he has connected on 41% from beyond 3 pt line (71/172).


Bolivar defeated Kearney 52-44, Raytown South 64-52 to advance in the MSHSAA playoffs.
Liberators enter on a 20 game winning streak. Four starters average double figures led by 6-5 sophomore
Brandon Emmert who scored 18 per contest.

your thoughts?

 

[metro-dude]

The Pirates are favored because of their strong schedule and believing

The St. Charles Pirates are a difficult high school basketball team to judge. The Pirates do not have a big lengthy team but play a strong fundamentally sound game including the little things it takes to win. They have two 4 year starters in Chase Morfeld and Casey Teason plus Brice Wiggs 6' 4" who gets it done on the inside. The Pirates have played a very tough schedule including 2 big wins over class 5 final four Rep St. Louis University High. They won a strong MICDS Christmas Tournament and a strong Washington Tournament plus shootout games. Their 4 loses were to Nixa 62-65, Jennings 61-66, Poplar Bluff 59-67 and SCW 38-51.

I believe the Pirates should be a favorite to defeat Boliver if you believe playing a strong non league, big shootout games and Tournaments schedule. One thing for sure when the two teams are warming up before tip off, The Pirates can say, " We have played stronger teams then Bolivar " but they must be good or they would not be here in the class 4 semi-finals. The believing could start during warm ups for the Pirates and " believing " is a big part of winning a state championship.



This post was edited on 3/18 12:27 PM by metro-dude

 

[MOsportsStaff]

Re: The Pirates are favored because of their strong schedule and believing

so Bolivar who has won 20 in a row doesn't "believe"?

 

[metro-dude]

Re: The Pirates are favored but only by a few

Who are the 5 biggest win for Bolivar? Bolivar might get their hopes up during warm ups when they see Teason, Morfeld and Wiggs but it could be short lived after tip off.


After viewing Max-Prep----The Bolivar Liberators are on a major roll. It looks like Ozark 17-7, West Plains 9-9, Raytown South and Logan-Rodgersville 7-11 are their biggest wins. Bolivar lost to a good Kickapoo team 61-62 which shows the capabilities of the Liberators.
This post was edited on 3/18 2:18 PM by metro-dude

 

[wahoolives]

Re: The Pirates are favored because of their strong schedule and believing

I am not a fan of either team but for what its worth the only common opponent is Rogersville who St. Charles beat by 5 in double overtime and Bolivar lost to by 2 and beat by 8. I don't doubt that St. Charles has played a tough schedule but if you have won 22 games and are in the Final Four in class 4 you have played some good people yourself. Bolivar's losses are Hillcrest, Rolla, Ozark and Rogersville the last two who they then beat later in the year.

 

[msubearssuperfan1]

Re: The Pirates are favored but only by a few


Bolivar didn't play Kickapoo.



Bolivar Liberators (26-4)

Dec. 1-6 @ Republic Tourney

Vs. Rolla, Lost 65-71

Vs. Logan-Rogersville, Lost 58-60

Vs. Carl Junction, Won 51-49

Dec. 9 Vs. Hillcrest, Lost 66-68 (2OT)

Dec. 12 @ Warrensburg, Won 67-47

Dec. 18 Vs. Lebanon, Won 60-45

Dec. 26-30 @ Blue & Gold Tourney

Vs. Morrisville, Won 63-39

Vs. Glendale, Won 44-41 (down 31-41 with 3 mins. left)

Vs. West Plains, Won 49-34

Vs. Ozark, Lost 54-59

Jan. 6 @ Aurora, Won 60-46

Jan. 9 Vs. Republic, Won 67-42

Jan. 13 @ Marshfield, Won 66-63

Jan. 16 Vs. Hollister, Won 58-54

Jan. 20 Vs. Camdenton, Won 75-66

Jan. 23 @ Willard, Won 56-44

Jan. 28-31 hosting Bolivar Tourney

Vs. Clever, Won 64-46

Vs. Odessa, Won 57-39

Vs. West Plains, Won 51-46

Feb. 7 @ Pleasant Hill, Won 69-50

Feb. 10 Vs. Springfield Catholic, Won 61-29

Feb. 13 Vs. Springfield Central, Won 66-47

Feb. 17 Vs. Buffalo, Won 84-31

Feb. 23 @ Logan-Rogersville, Won 73-65

Feb. 24 @ Reeds Spring, Won 69-51

Feb. 26 @ Ozark, Won 80-76

March 5 Vs. Pleasant Hill (District), Won 81-41

March 7 Vs. Harrisonville (District), Won 44-40

March 10 Vs. Raytown South (Sectional), Won 64-52

March 14 Vs. Kearney (Quarterfinal), Won 52-44

 

[mowesten]

Re: The Pirates are favored because of their strong schedule and believing

I've seen both teams play multiple times, and it's a pretty even match-up if you ask me. Bolivar plays really well together, pass the ball incredibly well, and are a tough, hard-nosed team.

I saw St. Charles play both games at Glendale earlier this year and they are a good team, but, they're not a jauggernaut by any stretch. They will have the best player on the floor in Teson, and they have probably played a little tougher schedule, but if they don't play well, Bolivar will beat them.

To be honest, any of the four teams in Class 4 could win the whole thing.