Top 5 Moments of the Boys Basketball Season

John Erik Hoglund, Editor-in-Chief

At the end of February, the boys basketball season came to an end with a District loss against Oakville. Taking account of all the ups and downs of the rollercoaster season, Mehlville Media counts down the top five moments from the 2015-16 basketball season.

Dec. 18 - Senior, Colby Maynard and Junior, Doraine Adams walk towards the bench during the third quarter of the silent night game.
Dec. 18 – Senior, Colby Maynard and Junior, Doraine Adams walk towards the bench during the third quarter of the silent night game.

5.) Mehlville defeats Windsor in annual Silent Night Game

Despite trailing by four at halftime, the boys basketball team held off the Windsor Owls 66-60 in their annual Silent Night Game.

Junior, Doraine Adams, led the team with 16 points, while senior Colby Maynard had a good game of his own with 15 points and six blocks.

The win marked the Panthers’ fourth of the season and second home win in as many games.

The starting five takes the court before a Dec. 11 match up against Parkway North. (#5: Doron Adams) (#23: Doraine Adams)
The starting five takes the court before a Dec. 11 match up against Parkway North. (#5: Doron Adams) (#23: Doraine Adams)

4.) Adams brothers take down Parkway North in home opener

Behind a combined 25 points from the Adams brothers (13 for Doron and 12 for Doraine), the Panthers outlasted in the Parkway North Vikings, 59-56.

Four quarters certainly wasn’t enough for this early season nail biter, as a late game run by the Vikings forced an overtime period.

Junior, Doraine Adams certainly helped avoid the loss with a game-high eight assists, and his brother, Doron, came up big with a 7-7 night from the free throw line.

Senior, Kevin Yaeger defends an Affton player. Photo Courtesy of stltoday
Senior, Kevin Yaeger defends an Affton player. Photo Courtesy of stltoday

3.) The Panthers give Affton a taste of their own medicine

Jan. 26 –  Almost two months after losing to the Affton Cougars by 27, the Panthers captured a 21 point win on the road against Affton.

Junior, Doraine Adams broke out for 21 points, four steals and five assists in the 77-56 win over Affton.

Senior, Colby Maynard also added to the effort with 18 while LaTrell Simmons, senior, pitched in another 11 points.

The win put the Panthers two games over .500 and put the Cougars at 8-8 on the season.

Feb. 12 - The Panthers shake hands with Seckman following a big 81-50 win at home on senior night.
Photo By: John Erik Hoglund
Feb. 12 – The Panthers shake hands with Seckman following a big 81-50 win at home on senior night.

2.) A struggling Panthers offense erupts for 81 in win against Seckman

* Article posted to Mehlvillemedia.com on Feb. 13 *

The boys basketball team (10-11) finally put an end their four-game losing drought with a breakout victory over Seckman (8-14), Friday.
Crafty passing and a pick-pocketing style defense allowed the Panthers to get ahead early and continue to light up the score board.
Led by an outstanding night on both sides of the ball from senior center, Colby Maynard (20 pts.), and senior guard, LaTrell Simmons (13 pts.), the Panthers posted a season-high, 81 points.
Early in the game, the Panthers already began to show the consistency and poise that they lacked in the four games prior. Beginning with a fancy falling assist by junior, Doraine Adams, the team was able to electrify the crowd and end the 1st quarter with a five point lead.
By second quarter, the Panthers were possibly playing the best basketball of the season by causing several Jaguar turnovers and capitalizing on virtually every opportunity.
Senior, Dee Dodd, began to make his presence felt in the second quarter with his signature aggressive play and a picture-perfect put back from a misfired Dominic Waller three-pointer with seven minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The team’s lead grew to 13 at halftime.
Senior, LaTrell Simmons, got a big piece of the action and continued to look great on offense with crafty ball-handling and a hot hand beyond the arc.
Simmons especially wowed the crowd with a combination of ankle-breaking crossovers in transition, followed by a pretty assist to Doraine Adams in the third quarter.
The Panthers looked as if they’ve solved their issues and put an end to the recent losing habit with impressive stats on defense and having four players scoring in double figures.

Senior and Green Pit member, Matt Marler, holds up a flag that reads, "RIP OHS" in the closing seconds of Mehlville's 74-68 victory over Oakville on Feb. 25
Senior and Green Pit member, Matt Marler, holds up a flag that reads, “RIP OHS” in the closing seconds of Mehlville’s 74-68 victory over Oakville on Feb. 25

1.) Mehlville trumps rival, Oakville, 74-68 in season finale

Feb. 25, the boys basketball team finished their regular season with a wild 74-68 victory over the Oakville Tigers.

Junior, Doraine Adams, led the team in scoring again with a 23 point performance. Sophomore Doron Adams and senior, Dee Dodd added 13 points each as well.

The Panthers trailed at halftime, but answered quickly in the second half with a huge 29 point third quarter.

Mehlville survived a late fourth quarter surge from Oakville, but allowed the Tigers to cut more than a 20 point lead down to only a six point advantage at the final buzzer.