Cardinal Ritter tops Springfield Central in Missouri Class 6 boys basketball semifinals

Cardinal Ritter won the Missouri Class 5 title a year ago

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI – The Cardinal Ritter boys basketball team has had a rollercoaster of a season but the Lions will play for another state title.

Cardinal Ritter, led by 20 points from senior guard Quenton Parker, took care of business in Friday's semifinal with an impressive 70-59 win over Springfield Central at Mizzou Arena.

"This has been my hardest year coaching basketball," Lions coach Ryan Johnson said.

Cardinal Ritter opened the season with 10 losses in its first 14 games – all to out-of-state opponents while playing a brutal schedule – but will have a chance to win a second straight state title after moving up to Class 6.

The Lions will face either Oak Park (27-3) or Chaminade (21-9) in the Class 6 championship game at 8 p.m. Saturday. 

"We knew that it was going to be tough getting back here," Ritter senior guard Clayton Jackson said. "We just had to stay together as a team. It's really just us vs. us, to be honest. It's just us vs. us and when we're all clicking on all cylinders there's really nobody that can beat us." 

Jackson and Derrick Rivers II each scored 12 points and Nashawn Davis added 10 for Cardinal Ritter (20-11). Jackson dished out 10 assists.

Central (24-7) got 14 points from TayShawn Wells, 13 from Tyrique Brooks and 12 from Keion Epps.

Missouri (MSHSAA) basketball state championships live updates: Day 3 scores, news, stories (3/15/2024)

Missouri Class 6 boys basketball semifinal: Cardinal Ritter - Springfield Central

Photos by Nate Latsch

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- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveMiz