By Chris Parker
Parkview boys basketball is heading back to the final four for the first time since 1981 after beating Helias Catholic 63-50 on Friday.
The Vikings got down 7-0 to start the game, forcing head coach Jack Simpson to call a timeout.
His team responded and leaned on the experience from losing in overtime in this same round last season.
“Five of the seven guys that we play this year played in that (quarterfinal) game last year. The biggest thing we learned was poise. We talked that it wasn’t a 30-minute game or a 28-minute game. We have to be poised regardless of what was going on,” Simpson said. “We were just poised. We were poised the whole game we were able to make plays at the end.”
Parkview began attacking Helias Catholic’s zone more effectively and taking care of the ball. That helped the Vikings cut the Crusader lead to three, 13-10, after one quarter.
Parkview climbed into the lead at 28-24 at the half on the strength of shooting 70% from the field for the opening two quarters.
The lead grew by one to end the third quarter and Parkview closed it out in the fourth.
Dassiah Green scored 28 points to lead Parkview.
“He (Green) played like a man,” Simpson said. “We knew he was capable of doing that. He just did a great job of getting to the middle of the zone and making great decisions. He played tremendously and led us with his aggressiveness. He was aggressive for 32 minutes.”
Parkview now gets four more days of practice before playing the Class 5 state semifinal round at 8 pm next Wednesday.
“These seniors have done so much for me. They have been with me for three years. To get to coach these guys for six more days is special. I am just going to enjoy the next five days with them and love on them and care for them and enjoy every moment from the practices to the shootarounds to the games next Wednesday and Thursday. We are just going to take it all in. This is what you work for.”
Parkview (19-11) faces Summit Christian Academy (26-4) in the Class 5 semifinal round at 8 pm on Wednesday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
