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The Bolivar Liberators always know what they want.
Put the ball in the hands of Conley Garrison and Brandon Emmert. A lot. When the opportunity arises, kick it out to sharpshooters Ian Jones and Connor Sechler for open looks.
Oh, and E.A.T. Always E.A.T.
Garrison and Emmert led an efficient Bolivar offense in Saturday’s Class 4 semifinals, combining for 46 points and 20 rebounds as the Liberators defeated Parkway Central 63-41.
PHOTOS: BOLIVAR VS. PARKWAY CENTRAL
“We thrive on taking good shots,” Emmert said. We don’t just swing it around, swing it around and then someone just chucks up a 3. We get a kick-out 3, a drive… we do all the little things right.”
Bolivar (27-4 overall) meets Class 4 top-ranked Vashon (26-3 overall) at 2:40 p.m. Saturday, with a state championship on the line. The Liberators last brought home state gold in boys’ basketball in 1960. Vashon is the defending Class 4 champion and is credited with nine MSHSAA state titles overall.
“We want one,” said Garrison, whose sister Casey won state as a Liberator in 2008 before a four-year playing career at Missouri State University. “The (Bolivar) girls have us by one (in state championships), so I want one.”
Garrison had 22 points, a game-high 11 rebounds and added four rebounds.
Bolivar shot just under 60 percent from the field, making 22 of 37 field goal attempts, including a 15-for-24 effort in the first half.
The Liberators practiced what they preach with their motto of E.A.T., which stands for effort, attitude and (being a great) teammate.
“Those things are getting us to where we want to be,” said Emmert, who scored 24 and pulled down nine rebounds.
Bolivar jumped on Parkway Central early, leading 23-10 after the first quarter before taking a 34-25 lead into the halftime break. Entering the game, the Colts (23-9 overall) had yielded fewer than 60 points in 13 of their previous 15 games.
“The kids really did a nice job of getting the start they wanted,” Hoegh said. “Scoring 23 points in the first quarter was a direct result of us being able to get catches.”
Bolivar limited Parkway Central’s leading scorer, Deandre Campbell, to 16 points on 6-for-18 shooting. Parkway Central shot 17-for-53 from the field overall and only made 3 of 17 3-point attempts.
“On the defensive end, we did a nice job of getting into gaps on (Campbell) who’s just a really great basketball player,” Hoegh said. “I can’t say enough about the team defense we played.”
When Parkway Central focused too heavily on Emmert, the ball found its way to shooters Jones and Sechler on the perimeter. Sechler made two of his three 3-point attempts, and Jones was 50 percent (1-for-2) from behind the perimeter.
“Having Ian and Conner, it spaces the floor even more for Conley, who’s blessed to have the ability to get in to the paint and cause havoc, and then, of course, Brandon,” Hoegh said. “We have two guys with some exceptional skills who allow them to draw two defenders. Then you have two guys out on the perimeter, Ian and Connor, who are tremendous shooters.”
Emmert and Garrison made 17 of their combined 27 field goal attempts. Bolivar also out-rebounded Parkway Central, 34-23.
It’s the nature of the job for a group that has embraced the phrase “Polk County Grind,” during its postseason run.
“It’s doing the stuff when you don’t want to do it, doing it anyway and doing it the best you can,” Garrison said.
Bolivar 63, Parkway Central 41
Bolivar 23 11 17 12 — 63
Parkway Central 10 15 7 9 — 41
Bolivar – Brandon Emmert 24, Conley Garrison 22, Conner Sechler 6, Corey Spindler 6, Ian Jones 3, Hunter Jones 2
Parkway Central – Deandre Campbell 16, D’arius Ramsey 5, Cory Rice 5, Devion Harris 4, Art Green 4, Jayden Littlejohn 3, Nate Moore 2, Devin Rice 2
