When Dalen Hutchinson’s potential game-winning 3-point attempt drew only front rim, sending Thursday’s Class 1 semifinal between Walnut Grove and Gideon into overtime, Darin Meinders didn’t have to say much to get his team refocused.
In fact, he barely said anything at all…
His Tigers responded by scoring the first five points of the extra session, outscoring Gideon 8-3 in the final four minutes, to send Walnut Grove to its first state championship game since 1988 with a 59-54 win over Gideon at the Hearnes Center.
“They said it was over,” said Coach Meinders. “They had that shot and I thought it was in, but when that missed, they said they were taking over right now; that was their mindset. I didn’t even get to talk. They jumped in and said I didn’t need to say anything and that it was over. Sometimes the best coaching is getting out of the way of great players.”
Walnut Grove’s overtime spurt came at the hands of its best players; senior Dallas Meinders and sophomore Logan Thomazin.
Meinders slashed through the Gideon defense, finishing over the top of 6-foot-5 center Kason Lawrence for a conventional 3-point play attempt, capped with a scream and flex. He would miss the free throw, but that drive set the tone for the Tigers in OT.
Just two possessions later it was Thomazin’s turn.
Usually known for his limitless range, Thomazin gutted the Gideon defense for an and-1, prompting Meinders, Thomazin and the entire lineup to exchange chest bumps.
Thomazin finished with a game-high 29 points, while Meinders added 13, all of which came after halftime.
Meinders came in averaging nearly 17 PPG, but was held scoreless in the game’s first 16 minutes.
“Sometimes you get into a game like this on the big floor and you try to do things that aren’t normal,” said Coach Meinders. “We were out of position a lot in the first half and I think that’s because we were trying to make things happen instead of letting them come. I think our one senior was trying to do a little too much and we had to have a discussion.”
In fact, it seemed as if Gideon was getting ready to run away with the game early.
Cory Countryman scored the first bucket of the game just seven seconds in for Walnut Grove, but Gideon scored the next 11, using just two minutes of game action to grab an 11-2 lead.
From there Thomazin took over with an absolute shooting clinic, going 4-for-5 from 3 in the quarter’s final 4:17 to give Walnut Grove a 17-15 lead and nearly single-handedly keeping the Tigers in it from an offensive standpoint.
He finished 5-for-10 from deep, bringing his season total to 139.
“I thought those 3s he hit were good shots; it’s not like we were playing bad defense and backing away,” said Gideon coach Keenan Buchanan. “He hit three great shots to start that run and he came out and stepped it up. I knew he was a good shooter, but I didn’t think he could shoot the jumper like that from three. It kind of surprised me a bit.”
From there it was mostly back-and-forth, with 14 ties and 10 changes over the next three quarters.
Gideon tried to pull away late in the third, grabbing a 35-28 lead before a 9-2 run to end the quarter, capped by a Thomazin layup, tied it up entering the fourth.
Usually known for its ability to score seemingly at will (Walnut Grove came in averaging a Final Four-high 74.7 PPG), it was the Tigers’ ability to get successive stops that helped keep them in a game in which they scored less than 60 points for just the fourth time all season.
Walnut Grove shot just 40% from the field and was outrebounded by 10 (39-29), but held Gideon to just two field goals over the game’s final 4:30 of regulation.
“What was lost in everything was our play down the stretch; we got a ton of stops in a row,” said Coach Meinders. “Hunter and Jaron were playing with four fouls and did a great job. The last five possessions we got stops and it was a total group effort. These kids understand their roles and they accept it; it’s all about winning with them.”
Gideon senior Kason Lawrence finished with a monster night with 20 points and 15 rebounds, but scored just two points in the final eight minutes of game action, including overtime.
For Dallas Meinders the opportunity to play the final game of his high school career in the state championship, for his dad, is one that he’s always imagined.
On Saturday the Tigers will take on Class 1 No. 1 and undefeated Stanberry, a 52-44 winner of Glasgow on Thursday evening.
A script that not even Disney could draw up.
“This means everything; this has been my dream since I was a little kid and I watched him win a state championship with the girls when we were back at Walnut Grove,” said Dallas Meinders. It’s been my dream ever since I was little. It’s amazing to have the chance and get to go against undefeated Stanberry and we’re just excited for that chance.”
Stanberry and Walnut Grove will tipoff in the nightcap on Saturday, 8:10 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.
Walnut Grove 59, Gideon 54 F/OT
Gideon 15-10-12-14-3 – 54
Walnut Grove 17-8-12-14-8 – 59
Gideon (26-5) – Lawrence 20, Hutchinson 18, Earnheart 11, Redden 3, Pickard 2.
Walnut Grove (30-2) – Thomazin 29, Meinders 13, Countryman 4, Melton 4, K. Keith 3, R. Keith 2, Gilkey 2, Dishman 2.
