Scottie Adkinson scores 29, powers Webster Groves to Missouri Class 5 boys state championship; live updates, recap

Adkinson, Max Rieger go toe-to-toe; Webster Groves prevails in MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown at Mizzou Arena

Webster Groves and guard Scottie Adkinson have a shot at the Class 5 championship tonight at Mizzou Arena. / Scott West

Lock in, folks. This could be a good one.

One of the most exciting matchups at this week’s Show-Me Showdown is Thursday night’s nightcap, as defending state runner-up Summit Christian (27-5) takes on Webster Groves (26-5) at 8 p.m. for the MSHSAA Class 5 state championship at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

One year after going 25-8 and taking home the best finish at state in program history, the Eagles are back in the big game with hopes of finally securing the program’s first state championship.

The Statesmen, meanwhile, are searching for their sixth title in program history. They last won it all in the 2021-2022 season, going 24-8 that season. Of the five state championships the program currently holds, three have come since 2017.

Despite playmakers all over the floor tonight, this might not be a high-scoring affair. Both teams play good defense, as Summit Christian has held opponents to 47.7 points per game this year while Webster Groves holds opponents to 54.

Their offensive numbers are eerily similar, too, as Webster Groves averages 66.4 points per game and Summit Christian tosses in 66.

Of the Eagles’ losses, all were to teams who finished well above .500 – including two at the hands of Class 4 powers Logan-Rogersville and Benton, who are set to meet each other in a Class 4 semifinal later this week where one will move on to compete for that championship.

These playoffs haven’t been the easiest road to travel, however. After beating Raytown to win the Class 5 District 7 championship, they had to survive a 57-55 scare against Pembroke Hill in the quarterfinals and then bested Parkview 66-60 on Wednesday to reach today’s final.

Proving it matters more how you finish; the Statesmen began their season 4-3 before winning six straight and 22 of their last 24 games. Like the Eagles, the Statesmen won their district with a tough win over Vianney before surviving a 71-70 scare against a very good Sikeston team in the quarterfinals. They defeated Westminster Christian Academy 66-50 in the semifinals on Wednesday to advance.

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Webster Groves vs. Summit Christian: Missouri Class 5 boys state championship; live scoring, updates

Starting lineups

Summit Christian: Michael Thomas, Max Rieger, Grady Ellerman, Brayden Porter, Mason Kates

Webster Groves: Quincy Williams, Miles Simpson, Scottie Adkinson, Carl Whitehead, Brady Schuettpelz

FIRST PERIOD

Rieger drains an open 3-pointer to open the game for Summit Christian. It's 3-0.

Adkinson responds with a step-back trey of his own and the score is tied 3-3. Simpson follows with a basket to make it 5-3, Webster Groves.

Porter and Ellerman follow with baskets for Summit Christian and leads 7-5.

After Adkinson pulls down a rebound and ties it with a bucket, Rieger drains another 3-pointer to make it 10-7.

Baskets by Simpson and Tabash gives Webster Groves a brief 11-10 lead, but Ellerman responds with a 3-pointer for Summit Christian to take it back, 13-11.

End 1: Summit Christian Academy 13, Webster Groves 11

SECOND PERIOD

The second period begins with a 3-pointer by Tabash to give Webster Groves the lead back and Whitehead scores to make it 16-13. Again, Ellerman responds with a trey to tie it at 16. There's 6:05 remaining in the half.

Quickly, there's another lead change as Ward scores to put control back in Summit Christian's hands, 18-16. Adkinson ties it back up on a jumper with 4:48 left in the half and Summit Christian calls a timeout with 4:30 left. We're tied at 18.

Off the timeout, Webster Groves take back the lead on a basket by Whitehead with 4:03 left in the half.

Adkinson scores again and Webster Groves is on a 6-0 run coming off of Summit Christian's timeout. It's 22-18.

Free throws help Summit Christian trim its deficit to 22-21 with 2:49 left in the half.

This pace of this game is really clipping along and we just had a lot of action from both teams. After those free throws, Simpson erased them with a 3-pointer for Webster Groves. Ward responded with a basket for Summit Christian, but Williams erased it with one of his own for Webster Groves. Ward then hit a 3-pointer with 57 seconds left, only to have Adkinson score again to make it 29-26.

After Summit Christian trimmed it to 29-28 with a pair of free throws, Williams buried a 3-pointer with seven seconds left to give Webster Groves a 32-28 lead at halftime.

It's cliche, but the first half truly felt like a title fight. The teams have just been trading blow for blow. It's been as advertised.

Halftime: Webster Groves 32, Summit Christian 28

Halftime notes: Scottie Adkinson leads Webster Groves with 11 points, while Miles Simpson has seven, Quincy Williams and Jackson Tabash five, and Carl Whitehead four. Adkinson also has five rebounds. … Grady Ellerman leads Summit Christian with eight points, Michael Ward has seven, Max Rieger six, Brayden Porter four, Michael Thomas two and Bajj Walker one.

THIRD PERIOD

The second half begins with Webster Groves extending its lead on a basket by Whitehead. Thomas responds with a jumper for Summit Christian, but Adkinson scores again. And the heavyweight bout continues.

Rieger is fouled and completes a three-point play, only to see Adkinson immediately erase it with a three-point play of his own to make it 39-33, Webster Groves with 5:25 left in the third.

Slowly growing its lead, Webster Groves erases a basket by Summit Christian's Michael Thomas with another 3-pointer from Williams to make it 43-35.

Webster Groves threatens to put some distance between the scores, but Rieter says "no thanks." He scores two quick baskets to cut it to 43-39 with just under two minutes left in the third.

Rieger scores again and now has nine of Summit Christian's last 11 points here in the third. It's 47-43 with Webster Groves still in front.

End 3: Webster Groves 47, Summit Christian Academy 43

FOURTH PERIOD

Michael Thomas scores off the window to open the fourth and it's 47-45, but Adkinson answers again to make it 49-45. He has 23 now.

Ellerman, just a freshman, drains a 3-pointer to pull within one with 5:40 left. He has 11 points now.

Adkinson makes two free throws and now has 25 points. Webster Groves is 14-1 when he scores at least 25.

Ellerman answers Adkinson with another basket. Webster Groves leads 51-50 with 4:07 left. What a game.

Williams drains another 3-pointer and Webster Groves leads 54-50 with 3:29 left.

Whitehead scores off the glass to make it 56-50 with just over two minutes remaining.

It's not a good time to go quiet, but Summit Christian hasn't scored in a little over three minutes and trails 57-50 with under two minutes left.

Webster Groves goes on a 9-0 run to make it 60-50 before Rieger scores to break the scoreless drought.

Adkinson makes two free throws and Rieger follows with another basket. Two fantastic players battling until the final buzzer here.

Credit Webster Groves for hitting its free throws down the stretch. They didn't let Summit Christian back into it once they reached the bonus, and the final score will look much worse than the game really was. This was a battle until the last few minutes.

Final: Webster Groves 67, Summit Christian 56

Recap

Scottie Adkinson willed Webster Groves to their sixth state championship in program history with a game-high 29 points and added six rebounds in the win. Quincy Williams chipped in 11 points in the win, while Miles Simpson and Carl Whitehead added 10 each. Simpson also added eight rebounds.

 Jackson Tabash added five points in the win, while Brady Schuettpelz added two points and six rebounds.

Max Rieger also had a fantastic showing despite the loss. He did his best to answer Adkinson all evening, scoring 25 points and adding six rebounds to lead Summit Christian. Freshman Grady Ellerman chipped in 11 points and six rebounds, while Michael Thomas had eight points and seven boards.

Michael Ward scored seven points in the loss, while Brayden Porter netted four and Bajj Walker had one.

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