Young's Heroics Carry McCluer North to State Championship Game

McCluer North High School senior B.J. Young is establishing himself as "Mr. March".

The Stars guard had a game for the ages, scoring 27 second-half points in a Class 5 quarterfinal victory over Chaminade High School this past Saturday at the University of Missouri at St. Louis.

His encore was just as special as Young scored 19 points in the fourth quarter in leading McCluer North to a 62-59 come-from-behind victory over Lee's Summit North in the Class 5 semifinals Friday at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

The Stars will aim for their second state championship in the past five years when they face Troy on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. Troy defeated Columbia-Rock Bridge in the other semifinal, 57-45.

"Basketball is a game of runs, and it is nice to have a guy like B.J. on your side," McCluer North center Jordan Granger said.

The Stars led for less than two minutes of the game, but led when it counted thanks in part to four free throws by Young in the game's final 12 seconds.

"We had to fight behind the entire game, but I told the guys that we will not lose this game," Young said. "We won the game in the fourth quarter. I knew I had to come through for the team."

McCluer North coach Randy Reed has seen Young's heroics not only in March but in other months this season.

"This was typical B.J.," Reed said. "He is one of those players who can take over a game. He played some big-time ball down the stretch."

It took Reed just 79 seconds to call his first timeout of the game as Lee's Summit North scored the first eight points of the game.

"I was fearful of a Chaminade hangover, and we really came out sluggishly tonight," Reed said. "They play a different style of game in Kansas City, and Lee's Summit North came out focused and ready to play. And we don't see guys who are 6-foot-10 and 6-foot-8. They were a tough matchup."

The Broncos had a double digit lead less than four minutes into the game and led 32-26 at halftime.

Lee's Summit North began the second half much as it had the first, scoring the first six points to regain a double digit lead.

Things looked bleak for the North Stars late in the third quarter. They trailed by 12 points.

Young, who did not score a point in the third quarter, was on the bench with foul trouble. And the Broncos were in the bonus for the entire fourth quarter.

But Young returned to the game to start the fourth quarter and then did his "Mr. March" thing with another amazing performance.

It started with a follow-up dunk with 6:37 to play in the game.

"We needed to get energy anywhere we could, and that was a perfect opportunity," Young said.

Young scored the next nine points for the Stars. Damion Clemons hit a jumper, but Young came back to score on a layup with 1:59 to play to give McCluer North its first lead of the game. The lead would change six times in the final two minutes with Young scoring the final four points of the game, all from the free-throw line.

Young finished the game with 30 points to lead McCluer North, which improved to 28-4. Akintoye Okunrinboye added 12 and Granger had 10.

David Kravish, a 6'10" post player who is headed to the University of California, had 16 points to lead four Broncos in double figures. Kenny Perry, Will Harrington and Anthony Eller all for 10 for Lee's Summit North, which finishes at 21-7.