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Charleston vs. Centralia
COLUMBIA - In last year's Class 3 semifinal game, the Charleston Bluejays found themselves matched up against Ash Grove, school more know for its prowess in football than on the hardcourt.
But as the Bluejays found out, the Pirates could play some ball too as they knocked off Charleston 79-67.
The Bluejays are hoping there won't be a repeat of history this time.
Although it isn't Ash Grove this time, Charleston will again have its mettle tested against a football powerhouse that rolled to a state championship this season when they take on Centralia tomorrow at 12:25 p.m. in a Class 3 semifinal game at the Hearnes Center in Columbia.
The Panthers (27-2) are currently ranked No. 1 in the state, taking over the top spot that Charleston held for most of the season until the end of February.
The Bluejays (26-3) are ranked third in the state.
After last year's upset loss, Charleston head coach Danny Farmer is hoping that his team doesn't get caught off guard.
"The approach of this game is just the way it should be," said Farmer. "Our guys are going in there to win state. We're taking Centralia really serious. I think they're going to get a good game from us."
Centralia's roster is filled with seniors. In fact, all 12 of the players on the team are seniors. And all but three of them played on the state championship football team.
"I know they're real big," said Farmer. "They've got 6-6, 6-4, 6-5. Big guys that weight 250 and 260. They won that state championship in football. I think we're going to have a game team. They're going to be real tough. The question will be if they can handle our quickness and if we can keep them off the offensive boards. They killed Cardinal Ritter on the boards."
Centralia defeated the defending champion Cardinal Ritter 56-50 in the quarterfinal round. While last year's ultra-quick Ritter team went undefeated, Farmer doesn't think it's a fair to compare this year's Ritter team to his.
"I don't think this year's Cardinal Ritter team is as quick as we are," said Farmer. "I think we have the depth with the addition of the B-teamers that moved up. With those guys as big as they are and as tall as they are, I can't see them being that quick. But I know they're a veteran team and that's my concern. If we can spread them out and get them moving, that can be to our advantage. If they sit in a zone and we're hitting our outside shots, we're going to be okay."
Centralia is led by 6-foot-5, 200-pound Adam Hinspeter, a record-setting quarterback in football, but a versatile guard in basketball that averages 16.5 points per game. He's hit 47 3-pointers, averages 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
Joining Hinspeter in double figures is 6-5, 225-pound forward Grant Rosenfelder off the bench and 6-4, 200-pound starting forward Chad Thall who both chip in with 10.1 and 11.1 points respectively.
Forward Travis Kinkade (6-3, 220 pounds) and guards Michael Rodgers (5-10, 150) and Justin Armontrout (5-11, 165) round out the starting lineup.
Charleston is led in scoring by 5-foot-7 point guard Marcus Biles at 15.9 points per game and 5.5 assists on average.
Six-foot-six junior Ashton Farmer averages 15.4 points and six rebounds per outing. Senior Joshua Strayhorn also averages double figures at 13.1 points.
Senior guard Trentez Lane and 6-4 freshman forward Jamarcus Williams round out the starting lineup.
The Bluejays have also gotten a boost out of freshmen Shawn Sherrell and Justin Clark in recent games.
One area of weakness for both teams is free throw shooting. Centralia hits just 59 percent as a team compared to Charleston's 53 percent.
Hinspeter is tops on his team at 70 percent. Farmer leads the Bluejays at 60 percent.
Centralia owes its two losses to Jefferson City, a Class 5 semifinal team, and Harrisburg. The Panthers are riding an 18-game winning streak.
Charleston's three losses came to Class 5 Jackson, Class 5 champion Poplar Bluff and Portageville.
"My biggest concern is if we're on," said Farmer. "I don't think Centralia is better than Poplar Bluff. If we're on we're going to be okay."