Off of the Sidelines

B.J. Young Continues Road to Arkansas

After a coaching change at the University of Arkansas, the McCluer North senior decides to honor commitment.

The emotional ride that McCluer North guard B.J. Young took this past basketball season is one that most young athletes will never encounter. There were more ups and downs in his senior season than lead changes in a typical Suburban North Conference game. After some turmoil, soul searching and finally a state championship, Young ended his prep career by making the smartest decision in his still developing career. Young decided to honor his commitment to Arkansas to play college basketball. This despite the fact that the coach who recruited Young over a year ago, John Pelphrey, was fired March 13, the day after the Stars won the Class 5 title over Troy in Columbia, MO. "I was kind of shocked after it happened," Young said. "My family and I …

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Star Gazing

Beaming with Star PRIDE

New club directs attention to "under the radar" students.

Sometimes, it seems as though students can fly under the radar at McCluer North. Often, if you’re not into varsity sports, you can literally just become a number within the school. It doesn’t really bother me as playing varsity sports do not define who someone is going to be after high school. That is, unless they go on to play in a professional sport or league of some kind. PRIDE is a club at McCluer North that aims to recognize the “under the radar” students for their efforts in school. These students have been nominated for student of the month, character of the month, have no office referrals and simply try their best in school without being reprimanded. PRIDE stands for Personal Responsibility In Daily Effort and has hopes to continue…

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MN Boys Continue Successful Streak

Stars beats another top team and remain top team in Missouri.

McCluer North junior forward Jordon Granger knows what's in store for his No. 1-ranked basketball squad. "Every game we play, the other team comes in and gives us their best shot," said the 6-foot-8 inch jumping jack. "We're going to get their toughest game every time." Monday was no exception. Once again the Stars answered the challenge bouncing Cardinal Ritter Prep, 73-66, in the McCluer North/Cardinal Ritter King Classic before a large crowd at North. The Stars, ranked first in the state, improved to 17-0 with a methodical, business-like effort that brought a smile to the face of hard-to-please coach Randy Reed. "Two storied programs, a tough basketball game and we came out on top in the end," he said. "We needed a game like (this), it'…

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Off of the Sidelines

MN Boys Basketball Wins in Illinois Tournament

The Stars becomes the first team outside of the state to capture title.

McCluer North coach Randy Reed thought his team might have the talent and experience to challenge for the Missouri state title this season. What Reed didn't know coming into this season was that his Stars were going to make history in the process. When the Stars defeated O'Fallon (IL) 62-58 in the finals of the prestigious Centralia Holiday Classic last week, McCluer North became the first non-Illinois team to win the tournament in its 68-year history. To illustrate the significance of the title, the Stars were only the fourth team outside Illinois to ever make it to the finals. Reed said winning the championship has given him a new opinion of the Stars. "I haven't felt like this since we won the state title in '07," Reed said. "Illinois …

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MN Boys Basketball Extends Winning Streak

Dynamic Duo leads the way against Fort Zumwalt North.

McCluer North junior Jordan Granger likens his role to that of Robin. The 6-foot-8 inch center has spent much of his career playing second fiddle to Batman on one of the best Class 4 basketball teams in the state. While senior guard B.J. Young gets all the headlines with his 32-point per game average, the hulking Granger quietly goes about his business. "He's usually Batman, and I'm usually Robin," Granger said. "But sometimes, I get to be Batman." Such was the case Monday. Granger recorded a rare triple-double with 21 points, 16 rebounds and 10 blocks to lead the Stars past Fort Zumwalt North 85-64 in a non-conference game at McCluer North. McCluer North, which improved to 5-0, is winning by an average of 25.6 points per game. "I like our…

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MN Takes Second in Clayton Tournament

Principia takes charge in second half to win 47-36 over Stars.

CLAYTON - At first, McCluer North girls basketball coach Dwayne Polk didn't want to accept the second-place trophy after his team fell to Principia 47-36 on Thursday night in the championship game of the Clayton Round-Robin Tournament. But after careful consideration, Polk decided that his team deserved some kind of hardware from the tough three-game, three-day affair. "Second place isn't what we came here for — not at all," said the former St. Louis University guard. "But the girls worked hard, and I guess it's better than nothing." Polk, in his first full season, was even happier when he was informed that the Stars did not even reach the title game last year in the season-opening Hazelwood East Tournament. "This is a step up," he said. "…

North Baskeball Girls Look to Shine

With leadership of new young coach, Stars look to move to the top of the Suburban North conference.

Dwayne Polk doesn't like to mince words. The McCluer North girls basketball team coach is more than happy to tell anyone within earshot that his club is going to unseat Hazelwood Central at the top of the Suburban North Conference this season. "We're athletic, we're talented, and I definitely think we're the team to beat," Polk said. But the Stars have the talent to back up Polk's boasts. North returns four starters and six key players from last year's 16-12 team that upset Central 42-40 in the district championship game. Hazelwood Central has won 24 successive league games during a span of three-plus seasons. The Hawks captured the conference crown each of the past three years with perfect 7-0 league records. Polk said those days are over…

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MN Falls Short in State Bid

McCluer North defied some expectations but didn't prevail in the end

McCluer North High School senior wideout and defensive back Tyran Carey put it in a nutshell. The Stars had their shining moments in the recently completed 2010 football campaign — just not enough of them. "We played our hearts out," Carey said. "We had some ups, we had some downs." Actually, there were more ups than downs for the Stars, who closed out a 7-3 season with a hard-fought 32-30 loss to Christian Brothers College High School in the sectional round of the Class 6 Tournament on Nov. 5 in Town & Country. McCluer North finished second to Hazelwood Central in the powerful Suburban North Conference. The Stars recorded several big triumphs including a 30-17 victory over Lafayette on Sept. 11, and a pair of one-sided league wins over …

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