McCluer North Makes It 13 In A Row With Win Over Cardinal Ritter

Every so often, when he deems it necessary to remind his team of the meaning of big games and of what prize is at stake at the end of the season, will break out his championship rings and wear them on the sidelines during said big game.

Reed, a two-time state championship winner—in 2007 and 2011—and last year’s Missouri State Coach of the Year, has a trio of gorgeous championship bling that he broke out for the Stars’ Monday afternoon Martin Luther King Shootout game against host team Cardinal Ritter.

“Sometimes I just bring them out so the kids know what’s at stake,” Reed said. “Today was a big game, and it felt like the right day for it—not every day, but today was the right day.”

Well, Reed’s “bling-bling” ploy worked like a charm in front of an overflowing crowd at the Cardinal Ritter gym. Thanks to a spectacular fourth quarter defensive performance, the Stars turned a close ballgame into a dominating 68-50 win over the Lions.

“That was a real good win,” Reed said. “I thought we played really good defense most of the game. (Ritter’s) got a great player over there, and he can definitely score the ball. But we got up and interrupted them. We took them out of their comfort zone.”

The great player Reed was speaking of was Ritter senior Cameron Biedscheid, a 6-foot-7-inch scoring machine, who leads the area in that category this year, and has committed to play at the University of Notre Dame next year.

But on Monday, McCluer North held Biedscheid in check for the most part, limiting him to 20 points, including just three baskets in the second half, in what proved to be a runaway victory for the Stars.

“I thought we did a good job on him,” Reed said. “He had to work for everything he got.”

Biedscheid hit a clutch 3-pointer with 6:28 left and another about four minutes later for his only points of the fourth quarter.

But in between, North outscored Ritter 17-0, to go up 62-41 and turned the game into a blowout.   

North senior Galen Brown was the true star of Monday’s game.  

He had 20 points to lead his team in scoring, but he also had a dynamite night on defense as the primary defender responsible for keeping Ritter’s Biedscheid from finding any of his usual scoring chances.

“He had a great game,” Reed said. “All our guys played great. It was a real good win.”

Fellow North seniors Byron Ray (14 points) and Jordon Granger (12 points) also topped double digits as the Stars moved to 15-1 on the season, while also rising to the No. 2 spot in this week’s Large School Top 10 rankings poll.

“I didn’t think we’d be this good,” Reed said, of his . “I knew we’d have a good team, but 15-1 is unbelievable.

“And I’m going to have to give myself a little credit. Look at our record over the last 15 years, and even when we’re not great, we’re always pretty good. And there’s been one constant for that—Randy Reed. I’ve been here, and I think I do a good job.”

The Stars will be back in action Friday, when they host Vashon High School in a non-conference game at 6 p.m.

Then on Jan. 23, North will host the matchup all of Florissant is anticipating, a No. 2 versus No. 5 showdown between district rivals McCluer North and .

Tipoff that night is set for 5:30 p.m.