Webster Groves adds school’s 5th state title with win over Helias Catholic
By Cody Thorn I Photos by Cheap Seats Photography
SPRINGFIELD — Playing at a public-school powerhouse, Matthew Enright knew the history on the hardwood at Webster Groves.
Multiple trips to the postseason, most years racking up 20 or more wins and seven state trophies.
The school’s eighth trip to the Missouri Show-Me Showdown turned into state title No. 5 with a commanding 72-53 win over Helias Catholic on Saturday afternoon at JQH Arena.
Enright, the Statesmen’s senior point guard, scored 11 points in a balanced attack as Webster Groves built a 39-11 lead in the second half.
That set the stage for the school to win the third state title in a six-year span, following back-to-back crowns in 2017 and 2018.
“It's been something we've talked about, dreamed about ever since we're all little kids,” Enright said. “I mean it's something we walk in Roberts (Gym). Every day we see those pictures on the wall and we really have always wanted to be a part of that .. it is surreal that actually is true now.”
The title is the first for coach Justin Mathes, who replaced Hall of Fame coach Jay Blossom three years ago. He is the third coach in the school history to win a title. and he did so against his former high school coach.
The 2009 Helias graduate played for Crusaders' coach Joe Rothweiler during his senior season, which was Rothweiler’s first year at the Jefferson City private school.
“I coached him so you know, we go way back,” Rothweiler said. “Justin was a senior on the final four team. He was like these guys here when he scrapped and fought and you see is how he scrapped some fights on the sideline now. He's a very emotional coach, and I'm really proud of him. He's a fantastic coach who stepped into a position where there was a lot of pressure on him because he was following up a Hall of Fame coach and a lot of people didn't think he would last and he's showed them otherwise. And that's the type of kid he is.”
Helias took third place in 2009, which was the program’s best finish until this runner-up finish.
Webster Groves (24-8) had a 15-point lead midway through the second quarter, shooting nearly 50 percent from the field. Meanwhile, the Crusaders (18-14) were 5-for-23 in the first half and was only 1 of 13 from the 3-point line.
At halftime, Webster Groves' 6-foot-4 post, Iziah Purvey, had 15 points and Helias had 11.
The Crusaders got on track in the second half, scoring 15 points in the third quarter. In the fourth, both teams scored 27. Helias trimmed a 28-point deficit down to 14 in the fourth quarter.
“They never quit,” Rothweiler said. “They never quit when we were 9-13. They never quit when we're down six last night, I believe, in the fourth quarter. They just had the will. And today they didn't quit either. They just ran into a buzzsaw of Webster Groves and they played a phenomenal game and you got to give them credit for that.”
Webster Groves had four in double figures, led by 19 from Purvey. Jalen Purvey had 12, followed by Enright’s 11 and CJ Lang had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Desmond White scored a game-high 27 points for Helias, after being held to four points in the first half.
Third-place game
Cardinal Ritter 53, Springfield Catholic 51
The only basket Clayton Jackson made was an important one.
The sophomore guard grabbed a rebound with a second left and then fired up a jumper from the free-throw line that won it for Cardinal Ritter.
Prior to the last-second heroics, Jackson was 0-for-6 from the field. The basket broke the seventh tie of the contest, which happened when teammate Kristian Davis hit a 3-pointer with 1:12 to play. The basket by Jackson was the first time the Lions (21-10) led since the 6-minute mark in the first quarter.
Robert Lewis had a double-double for Cardinal Ritter with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Braxton Stacker had 12 and Davis finished with 10.
This is the 11th trophy for the Lions and third straight under the guidance of coach Ryan Johnson.
Zach Howell went 11-for-13 from the free-throw line and led the Fightin’ Irish with 23 points.
Liam O’Reilly scored 16 and Ty Lyon added 10 for Catholic (24-8).
