Boys basketball: St. Marys topples Napoleon to advance in Division II

ADA — In the Division II district semifinal against Wauseon on Wednesday night, St. Marys showed the could win without big man Austin Parks as a major contributor. In the district final Saturday night against Napoleon, the Roughrider senior was a big factor and helped guide St. Marys to the 61-53 victory.

St. Marys (18-7) advances to the regional final to take on Huron at Bowling Green State University at 7 p.m. Thursday. Napoleon ends its season with a 12-14 mark.

This marks the first time in 17 years St. Marys has been to the regionals.

“We knew going it was going be a very physical game,” St. Marys head coach Dan Hegemeier said. “Holy Cow. I don’t know if I have ever played a team with that many kids that were so physically toned up that could shoot it. But we had a game plan that we wanted to get the ball inside.

“I think Austin was disappointed in the last game. He was out on a mission today and he showed what kind of player he is.”

Parks pumped in a game high 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds to spearhead the Riders to the win. The Ohio State bound post was 11 of 12 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free throw line. Eighteen of Parks’ points came in the second half. He also had five assists and two blocked shots.

“I thought we did a good job in the first half but in the second half we let him get to his baseline move,” Napoleon head coach Chad Bostelman said. “He is good on either block and getting to the baseline and we try double team from the top and we couldn’t keep him from turning that way and getting there. He is a beast.”

“The first stat I looked at was his assist and he had five and it seemed he had more because even in the first half he wasn’t scoring and contributed to a lot of what they were doing. He is good. He is really good.”

Rider teammate Gavin Reineke added 17 points and was instrumental in St. Marys getting the early lead by hitting a trio of treys in the first quarter to give St. Marys an early 16-11 lead.

Hegemeier said that was a key part of the Roughriders gaining the early momentum.

“Gavin Reiniecke is from New Knoxville and I am from New Knoxville and we go at all the time,” Hegemeier said. “I tell him sometimes that I could just smack him but I just got to love him. He had a hell of a game tonight and did a great job.”

Reinecke praised his team and said they provide confidence for him.

“I just want to do better and score and help my team win so that is just is my mentality going into every game,” Reinecke said. “With him scoring 26 or whatever he had that is a really big for us and when we are hitting from the outside no one can us.”

Then Park took over in the second quarter. After scoring two points in the first eight minutes, Parks began to assert himself when he but in a monster dunk after being pushed around for the first period and it seemed to spark him and the rest of the Roughriders.”

By halftime, St. Marys led 25-29.

Park said he used to being rough up all season.

“I am used to it by now,” Parks said. “Every single game they send two or three guys after me so I am getting hit from all over so I was ready for it. You have to fight through.”

Hegemeier added, “He showed a lot of character of what kind of man he is because he just keeps playing Some guys would lose their cool and want to fight back. Austin just stays them same and keeps playing. There is a lot of time our trainer has to wipe a lot of blood of him and that is usually about every game. He has really matured as a young man and got better and showed what type of character he had.

The Roughriders stayed ahead for much of the third period but the Wildcats gained a little momentum and closed the gap to 31-30 at the 3:52 mark. But back the comeback was quelled when St. Marys countered with 13-4 run to close out the third quarter to secure a 43-31 lead with eight minutes remaining.

St. Marys’ Austin Parks puts up a shot against Napoleon’s Caden Kruse, left, and Drew Grant during Saturday night’s Division II district final at the ONU Sports Center. See more high school basketball photos at LimaScores.com.

St. Mary’s Jace Turner puts up a shot against Napoleon’s Clayton Behnfeldt during Saturday night’s Division II district final at the ONU Sports Center.

St. Marys’ Kyle Steininger puts up a shot against Napoleon’s Kaleb Woods during Saturday night’s Division II district final at the ONU Sports Center.

St. Mary’s Gavin Reineke puts up a shot during Saturday night’s Division II district final against Napoleon at the ONU Sports Center.

Reach Jose Nogueras at 567-242-0468.