The Webster Groves boys basketball team’s game on Sunday against defending Illinois Class AA champ Simeon at Whitney Young High School in Chicago was important to senior Mike Whittier.

So even though Whittier was in Colorado on Friday and Saturday making an official visit to the Air Force Academy, the quarterback-shooting guard made sure he was with his teammates on Sunday.

Whittier had to fly from Colorado to St. Louis and then from St. Louis to Chicago. Whittier had to be picked up at O’Hare and then driven to meet his teammates at Whitney Young about an hour before the game.

“It was crazy,” Whittier said. “I’ve never played a basketball game so exhausted in my life. It was rough.”

Webster Groves was overmatched and lost 57-41 for its second loss of the season. Whittier scored two points on one-of-four shooting. After the game the team boarded two vans and headed back to St. Louis, arriving home shortly before midnight.

On Wednesday, Whittier committed to play his college football at Air Force.