ROGERSVILLE, Mo. — If you have business to do in Rogersville, you better get it done before Friday because the whole town will be shutdown.
“We’re so excited to get there,” Rogersville senior Luke Vandersnick said about playing in the Class-4 State Final Four.
For the first time since 1984, the Wildcat boys’ team is heading to state; granted it’s just a 20-minute drive to the Missouri State campus.
“This has been a goal,” Rogersville boys coach John Schaefer said, “we check off another one.”
At 24-5, the Wildcats are led by the Big-8 East and Class-4, District-11 player of the year, Luke Vandersnick. The senior is averaging roughly 20-points and 10-rebounds per game.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” Vandersnick said about reaching state, “playing varsity since freshman year – its something I’ve wanted to accomplish.”
For Luke, its been four years in the making. But for the Rogersville girls team – its been a little longer. This weekend, the Wildcats’ girls team will be making the program’s first appearance in school history to the state final four.
“This is something everybody wants to be in,” girls head coach Denny McHenry said. “This is my first time in 30-years of coaching… I don’t know what to say.”
McHenry’s ladies have outscored their opponents this postseason 41-33; winning the close, low scoring games as well as running the opposition out of the gym.
“These are the fun games,” senior Maci McHenry said, “and this is why we go into practice.”
Maci is head coach Denny’s youngest child. And now a senior, she now holds bragging rights over her brothers thanks to this Final Four berth.
“I went to my brothers (after the quarterfinal win) and they said ‘yes! The fifth one! We finally did it with her!”
“I know it’s selfish,” Maci continued, “but I wanted it to be me and I wouldn’t want any other coach or have it any other way.”
To which Maci’s dad added, “my sons, they wouldn’t want it any other way either.”
The Rogersville girls team plays its Class-4 Semifinal on Friday at 5:15 against Lincoln College Prep.
The Wildcat boys team has its Class-4 Semifinal also on Friday with a 1:45 tip against Grandview.
