ST. LOUIS • At some point the Soldan boys basketball team is going to play 32 minutes of outstanding basketball. The Tigers, loaded with talent, athleticism and experience, will be a quite a sight when that happens.
Tuesday was not that night. In front of packed house and a raucous crowd on Senior Night, the No. 1 area small-school played a choppy, ugly game that only showed flashes of its potential.
When all said and done, Soldan walked off the court with a 61-45 win over No. 7 Imagine, but getting there was, at times, an adventure. Maybe it was the festivities before the game. Maybe it was the full stands. Maybe it was the friends and family that were on hand to wish the Tigers well on their quest for a third straight final four. Whatever it was, it affected Soldan from the opening tip.
“I think it was entertaining the Senior Night crowd,” Soldan coach Justin Tatum said. “Everybody wants to please the crowd and their friends. It wasn’t our best performance.”
Soldan (18-5) was led by forward Randy Holmes. He sank one mid-range jump shot after another. He scored a game-high 19 points, 12 of which came in the first half.
Aaron Dlamini also provided some offensive spark off the bench, finishing with 12 points, all of which came at the rim or the free throw line.
Imagine (18-7) was without point guard Martavian Payne who is out with a knee injury. He could be back for a playoff run, but Imagine coach Tony Irons said he would be cautious with the talented junior.
With Payne sidelined that left primary ball handling responsibilities in Kevin Baker’s hands. Baker is the Bears' leading scorer and best jump shooter. He kept Imagine in the game by getting to the free throw line. Baker scored a team-high 16 points as he hit 13 of 16 at the stripe.
Soldan's defense put the game away in the fourth quarter, forcing a couple turnovers that the Tigers cashed in on.
“In the fourth quarter there were three turnovers that turned the momentum," Irons said. "We kind of put our heads down.”
Irons said the Bears were rattled by Soldan's pressure defense and the speed of the game. When the Bears played at their pace they moved the ball, found open looks and converted. When the pace picked up, that’s when things came unhinged for Imagine.
“We get out of what we do well,” Irons said. “We preach sharing the ball and moving it. We have to compete for 32 minutes.”
At some point Soldan is going to do that, too. Tatum hopes it’s next week when district play tips off.
“We played the schedule we played for next week,” Tatum said. “It’s all or nothing.”
