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Hazelwood West Holds Off Parkway Central For District Semifinal Win

Darris Smith pours in a career-high 32 points as Wildcats advance to district championship game play.

CREVE COEUR-- varsity boys basketball coach Cary Lewis will tell anyone who will listen that his star guard Darris Smith needs to shoot the ball more.

Lewis admits he becomes fustrated with Smith sometimes, because he doesn’t shoot the ball enough.

Well, the coach got what he wanted Wednesday night, when the Wildcats took on Parkway Central High in a district semifinal game at De Smet High, as Smith took a bunch of shots and scored a bunch of points, a career-high 32 points to be exact, in a 64-56 win over the Colts.

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“When (Darris) gets hot, maybe (Chaminade Prep star) Brad Beal is the only one that can shoot with him,” Lewis said. “He locked it in. And really, I wish he would shoot it even more.”

Smith, a 6’2 senior who signed to play at Lindenwood University in St. Charles next season, put on quite a show Wednesday night.

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In the first half, Smith, one of the top three-point shooters in the area and the Suburban North Conference leader in three-point shooting, hit three deep balls from beyond the arc and scored 14 points, nearly outscoring the entire Parkway Central team, which only had 15 points at halftime.

In the second half, Smith was even better, tossing in 18 points, including two more three-pointers, and a series of clutch mid-range jumpers that kept Hazelwood West in control.

“He’s a helluva player,” Lewis said. “I’m blessed to be able to coach that kid.”

And the Wildcats were blessed to have him on the roster. Especially in the fourth quarter, when Parkway Central rallied from a 20-point third quarter deficit to get within three points with three minutes left in the game.

Parkway Central had closed the third quarter with a 15-3 run, then with their boisterous student body crowd in a frenzy, opened the fourth with 14-8 burst that made the score 52-49 with 3:10 left in the game.

“I blame myself for that,” Lewis said. “I put in some guys to get them some minutes and see how they could handle the pressure.

"They didn’t handle it very well, and Parkway Central got going a little bit.”

The Colts, buoyed by their very loud and energetic fans, seemed poised for a comeback. But West’s Smith refused to let it happen.

First, he very coolly drove the lane and knocked down a 12-foot runner in traffic. Then, moments later, after a Central turnover, he drew a foul and banged in two free throws that quieted the crowd, and gave the Wildcats a 56-49 lead with 2:26 left.

With the season on the line though, the Colts wouldn’t go away. Senior Elliot Rosen drained a 23-foot three-pointer, and junior teammate Zach Biggs added two short buckets against swarming defense that made the score 58-56 with 58 seconds left on the clock.

But that was as close as Central would get, as West senior Landers Riddle made four free throws in the final 44 seconds, and Smith added two free throws with two ticks left that sealed the final outcome, which happened to be West’s third victory over Central this season.

“It’s hard to beat a team three times (in one year),” Lewis said. “That’s a good ballclub. We respect how they play.”

Wednesday’s victory means Hazelwood West (18-8) will face a stiffer challenge in Saturday’s district championship game. The Wildcats will be taking on top-seeded De Smet (21-5), which features one of the biggest and best frontcourts in the area, led by 6’8 sophomore Nolan Berry and 6’6 senior Teddy Corwin.

West only has one player taller than 6’3, but Lewis said he has a plan to help his little guys matchup with De Smet’s big boy lineup.

“It’s a secret though,” Lewis said. “I can’t tell you what we’re going to do Saturday, but the kids are going to be ready.

"We came to districts to win it, not just to put on a good show.”

The district championship stage is set for Saturday at De Smet. Tipoff that evening is 4 p.m.

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