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By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
BOLIVAR, Mo. – Weeks from now, when they hit the gym and turn their attention to next season, junior Luke Vandersnick figures and the Rogersville High School boys basketball team will have ample fuel.
Certainly, there is momentum and positives to build on. But, first, it will be taking learning and overcoming the sting of their season finale.
“They just tore into us,” Vandersnick said of the high-flying offense and in-your-face-defense of the Grandview Bulldogs, whose bevy of NCAA Division I talents led the way to an 81-46 victory in a Class 4 quarterfinal Saturday at the Meyer Center.
Grandview junior Deandre Sorrells finished with a career-high 31 points, hitting eight of the Bulldogs’ 14 3-pointers on a day when they showcased their talent.
For instance, Northwestern University coach Chris Collins parachuted in to see a signee, 6-foot-4 senior Jordan Lathon, who scored 11 points. But the Bulldogs also came at Rogersville with height and more such as Air Force academy commit Mason Taylor and Kansas State football recruit Cartez Crook-Jones.
Grandview opened on an 11-2 run and shucked aside Rogersville after the Wildcats rallied to forge a 16-16 tie before the end of the first quarter.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
From there, Sorrell’s next 3 kick-started an 18-2 run that positioned Grandview to a 34-18 advantage with 3:02 left before halftime.
It was a deficit too much to overcome on a day when Grandview fed off its full-court pressure defense.
“We pressed and it got our energy going at the beginning of the game,” Sorrells said, emphasizing that Rogersville’s first-quarter rally didn’t wake up Grandview. “It’s a game of runs. When they came back, we just had to match their intensity.”
Said Vandersnick, “They were just too quick, too athletic. And they shot the ball really well.”
Rogersville coach John Schaefer attempted a series of timeouts to blunt Grandview’s momentum, but the strategy wasn’t enough.
“I thought we competed and had a great first quarter and had a good game plan, but their strength and quickness wears on you,” Schaefer said. “If they shoot it like that, they are going to be state champions. When you make 14 3s in a game and almost effortless … and we guard pretty well and try to guard the perimeter.”
The game ended Rogersville’s season at 24-6, but the Wildcats reached the quarterfinals by grinding through the season.
In the district championship, they won by making only one field goal in the second half. In the sectional this past week, it took a pair of free throws with no time on the clock to advance.
Cody Blevins scored a team-high 11 points while Vandersnick finished with eight points and senior Andrew Scott scored nine. Schaefer hopes the returning players take heed of Saturday.
“Getting to witness this and see this and the quickness and what it takes to get to the Final Four, it’s not at all easy,” Schaefer said.
“This was an unbelievable season. I know our whole community was proud of us,” Vandersnick said. “It was a great season – great improvement. You’ve got to thank the seniors doing what they do and having great attitudes and leading us.”
