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By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
It was Logan Thomazin being Logan Thomazin.
After tying Missouri’s career 3-point record in last year’s state Class 1 state championship – and waiting seven months – it took Walnut Grove’s all-time scoring leader just one minute into the first game of his senior year to take sole possession of the record on yet another deep triple.
“It’s such an honor,” said Thomazin. “I have to be give all the credit to my teammates because of how often they get me open and how often they look for me. They get me wide open looks and that makes it easy.”
Thomazin finished with 22 points, including four 3s, helping lead Walnut Grove to a 75-60 road win over Verona on Tuesday night. It marked the Tigers first game in defense of their state title, but they certainly got all they wanted from Verona early.
A Verona score early in the second quarter cut Walnut Grove’s lead to one, 16-15, before the Tigers responded with an 8-0 run. Walnut Grove was able to expand its lead to 20 points in the third quarter and remain comfortably ahead, but it wasn’t always pretty.
“This is a tough place to come and play and Brad does a good job with his kids,” said Walnut Grove coach Darin Meinders. “We know every night we’re going to get our opponents best shot but we’ve got to get better and play better. If we play like this next week it could be a long week.
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“The thing about these kids is they rise to the occasion. I have no doubt where we’ll get to. This is good, we enjoy going on the road and playing in hostile environments because it makes you stronger when March comes.”
Helping Walnut Grove pull away was a big night from senior point guard Hunter Gilkey, who scored 16 of his team-high 24 points in the second and third quarters where Grove outscored Verona 42-27.
Gilkey shot 21 free throws, largely because Verona struggled to defend him when not fouling the all-state guard.
“He has such a competitive drive and his motor never stops,” said Meinders. “He’s also so good at reading where the ball is going off the rim and just has a knack for getting to the ball. He’s just a winner and he’s going to do whatever it takes to win. He’s the kind of kid every coach wants to have.”
Ryan Keith added 15 for the Tigers. Verona was led by Caleb Hillhouse’s 25 points. Eddie Gutierrez added 22.
Meinders has now coached the most prolific 3-point shooters in Missouri history with Thomazin joining former Chadwick standout Maddie Hursh as the state’s all-time 3-point leaders. Hursh played under Meinders for three seasons.
He jokes that he’s clearly the best at developing shooters, but Meinders isn’t afraid to acknowledge just how special it is to have a gift like Thomazin and Hursh.
“They’ve had good support systems and people in their lives that got them in the gym early and helped them develop,” said Meinders. “I just tried to put them in spots where they could be successful.
“I’ve never had anyone shoot the ball the way that Logan does, he’s just a natural. Baseball is his sport, but he’s just a pure shooter. I’ve been blessed with some shooters. It’s pure and he has a quick release. If he would’ve dedicated his summers to basketball there’s no telling what he would’ve been.”
Walnut Grove has embraced the target on its back and countered it with the toughest schedule in program history, which includes regular season games with Class 4 Rogersville and Class 5 Carthage, as well as the Nixa Invitational Tournament.
The Tigers now have a week off, awaiting the Clever Tournament where they’ll open with defending Class 2 runner-up Crane. Of the tournament’s eight teams, two went to the Final Four, four were district champions and seven played for district championships.
Walnut Grove 75, Verona 60
Walnut Grove 16-22-20-17 – 75
Verona 13-11-16-20 – 60
Walnut Grove – Gilkey 24, Thomazin 22, Keith 15, Melton 7, Meinders 5, Countryman 2.
Verona – Hillhouse 25, Gutierrez 22, Pinkly 7, Valdez 4, Werner 2.
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