Bluejays fall short

COLUMBIA - The Charleston Bluejays had more size and strength, but it was Lutheran North's "Little Giant" that dealt the biggest blow in Saturday's Class 3 MSHSAA championship game at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

The Crusaders' 5-foot-7 inch sophomore, LaRico Martin, scored a season-

high 28 points in leading Lutheran North to a 72-63 win against the Bluejays.

"LaRico has 'Little Giant' on the back of his T-shirt and he plays that way," said Lutheran North coach Brent Rueter. "He's not afraid of anything. He kept taking it to the hole and taking it to them. He's got that fire in him."

Martin, who averaged 8.1 points and never scored more than 17 in a game, knocked down three 3-pointers and was 11-of-12 from the free throw line.

Charleston's Ashton Farmer fights for a rebound.

Charleston's Ashton Farmer fights for a rebound.

"I didn't see that in him Thursday," said Charleston coach Danny Farmer. "I thought he played a super game. He hit some good shots, some contested shots, made a lot of free throws. He just played an exceptional game."

But it wasn't just Martin.

The Crusaders (22-10) also got a big game out of sophomore forward Rolandis Woodland, a 6-4 jumping-jack who scored 16 points with five rebounds, three steals and three assists.

"Rolandis and Rico are just special sophomores," said Rueter. "Rolandis rebounds for us, plays defense, and he can take people off the dribble and post up."

The Crusaders' defense on the Bluejays, particularly 6-6 senior Ashton Farmer, forced them into 20 turnovers.

Charleston's Jamarcus Williams drives down the court.

Charleston's Jamarcus Williams drives down the court.

Farmer scored a team-high 17 points on only eight shot attempts and he had seven turnovers.

"We preach team defense, and our guards did a nice job sagging in the lane. We had two guys guarding him, trying to wear him down," said Rueter of Farmer. "You just can't play behind somebody that good. You've got to deny him the ball. Usually when he gets it he scores, so we just tried to keep him from getting it."

The Bluejays (22-10) controlled the game in the early going as they led by as much as six points in the first quarter and held a 13-9 lead heading into the second.

Charleston led 15-9 after a Shawn Sherrell basket only to see Lutheran North go on an 8-0 run, including two 3-pointers by Martin.

The Crusaders took the momentum into halftime after a Jeff Leslie shot just before the buzzer gave them a 28-24 advantage.

Lutheran North never relinquished the lead in the second half.

Charleston got as close as three points after a Justin Clark 3-pointer in the early part of the third quarter.

But the Crusaders responded to extend the lead to double figures, leading by as much as 49-37 following a technical foul with 1:04 left in the period.

It was one of four technicals the Bluejays received in the game.

"We lost our composure, which worked in Lutheran North's advantage," said Farmer.

"I also think the official had a chip on his shoulder. If you're going to officiate the game, then you should take whatever the coach says, and you shouldn't take it personal. If you're going to put the uniform on and call yourself an official, you certainly shouldn't determine the outcome of the game."

Sherrell knocked down a 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer to stop the bleeding momentarily, cutting the lead to 49-41.

Charleston got as close as 49-45 on two Myron Pettigrew free throws with 6:

37 left in the game but they wouldn't get any closer.

Lutheran North was able to push the lead back to double figures the rest of the way.

Farmer fouled out of the game when he received a technical for slapping the backboard following a slam dunk.

The Crusaders hit both free throws and scored again to make it 68-52.

"There's not enough consistency on technical fouls -- I see kids throw the ball down a lot and slap the backboard and it's not technical fouls," said coach Farmer. "I think officials come up here in front of the Missouri High School Activities Association, they feel they should call every little thing."

With Ashton Farmer fouled out, the Bluejays had no other choice but to fire away from 3-point range.

Josh Thompson hit a 3-pointer with 1:56 left and then Sherrell made back-

to-back treys to cut the lead to 70-63 with 58 seconds left.

But the Bluejays couldn't score again as the Crusaders celebrated their second state championship in four years. They won the Class 2A championship in 2002.

"We made some bad decisions," said coach Farmer. "They didn't show us anything we hadn't seen before. They played a very aggressive defensive game and it caused us some problems. They did what teams normally do, triple-team and double-team Ashton."

Sherrell finished with 15 points and five assists. Sophomore forward Jamarcus Williams tallied 13 points and five rebounds. Thompson scored eight points with six rebounds.

The Crusaders also got double figure scoring from Leslie (11 points) and Mike Woods (10 points).

Lutheran North started the season 7-7 but heated up after Christmas.

"I want our kids to play at least two sports," said Rueter, explaining his team's slow start. "I don't want them to play one sport because I think that hurts their chances of finding out what sport they're best at and maybe miss out on a scholarship in another sport.

"Because we do that -- and our football program is very good -- we're behind everybody else for two weeks. Our timing is off and it takes a while. I think football makes them tough and gives them other opportunities. When we were 7-7, that's the kind of start that we expect."

Charleston was denied its 10th state championship and were sent home without the top prize for the third year in a row. They took third in 2003 and 2004.

The Bluejays also started the season slow at 5-7.

Similar to Lutheran North, Charleston has a team full of football players. But a rugged early-season schedule also contributed to the slow start.

"We weren't even supposed to be up here, so we feel like we've accomplished something," said coach Farmer.

"We've been up here three years in a row, and you've got some teams that have never been. So we feel like a winner."

Ashton Farmer finishes his career in a Bluejay uniform with four district championships and three final four appearances. He has signed to play at Arkansas State University next season.

Charleston returns several key components for next year, including four starters.

"If we work hard enough I think we can be right back up here next year," said coach Farmer.