Notebook: Postseason Awards Put Stamp on Hoops Season

Parkway West forward Larry Toomey earns Suburban South Player of the Year honors.

It was a disappointing season for the Parkway West boys basketball team, but that did not slow down Larry Toomey. The 6-foot-6 senior forward was named the Suburban South Player of the Year earlier this month. Toomey shares this honor with University City junior guard Trevon Williams. Parkway West was 21-7 one year ago, but ended this season at 12-14 despite winning six of its final 10 games. The Longhorns and first-year head coach John Wright not only lose Toomey, but they will see six seniors graduate. Toomey’s next stop is West Point, as he will play for Army in the Patriot League this fall. Toomey became the seventh player in Longhorns history to reach 1,000 career points this season, and he led Parkway West with averages of 17.1 …

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Sports Notebook

Notebook Entry: Marquette Boys' First District Title in 15 Years

The Mustangs, behind junior center Ryan Rosburg, defeat top-seeded Parkway South, 30-28, in the district title game.

It will most likely be the lowest scoring boys basketball district championship played in Missouri this season, but that matters very little to Marquette. The Mustangs, behind 6-foot-9 junior center Ryan Rosburg, defeated top-seeded Parkway South, 30-28, in the Class 5 District 4 title game at Lafayette High School on Friday night. Rosburg scored 14 points, including the tiebreaking basket with seven seconds left, to down the Patriots (21-6). The Mustangs won their three district games by a combined eight points. For Marquette (18-10) coach Shane Matzen and his seniors, the win had increased satisfaction given that the third-seeded Mustangs had lost three straight district title games. It is Marquette’s first district title in 15 years. …

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Parkway West Girls Snap Funk With Torrid Shooting

Parkway West connects on 13 shots from 3-point range in defeating Parkway Central, 71-45, in a Suburban South Conference matchup.

Fans of the Parkway West girls varsity team have to be wondering what got into the Longhorns. The Parkway Central Colts were powerless against Parkway West as the Longhorns drilled 13 shots in 19 attempts from 3-point range in defeating the Colts, 71-45, in a conference battle on Tuesday. Parkway West improved to 4-17 this season, including 2-3 in the Suburban South Conference. They had lost 13 of their previous 14 games. Parkway Central (9-13) is 2-3 in league play. “Shots were falling at a higher rate for us,” said Longhorns head coach John Sloop. “Basketball is a crazy game and we just made more of our shots tonight.” The Colts managed a two-point lead over the Longhorns in the first quarter, 12-10. But they couldn’t hold onto the lead …

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Wenstrup Provides Bright Spot For Parkway West Girls

Parkway West senior Maggie Wenstrup scores a game-high 28 points, but the Longhorns lose at Webster Groves, 78-54.

Despite another loss, the Parkway West girls basketball team found some positives to reflect on following their game at Webster on Friday night. Behind junior Jordan Thompson's 23-point outburst, Webster Groves beat Parkway West, 78-54, in a Suburban South Conference matchup. The Statesmen’s win extended their winning streak to six games. For Parkway West head coach John Sloop, Friday’s loss was his team’s third straight as he saw the Longhorns drop to 3-17. "In the beginning of the game, they were the more physical and aggressive team and it showed because they played with some confidence," Sloop said. "They made some shots early and that breeds confidence." But it was Parkway West's play in the second half that Sloop believes is …

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Martin Guides Lafayette Girls Past Parkway West

Lafayette junior guard Jordynn Martin scores 21 points to lead the Lancers to a 59-28 victory against the Longhorns.

Unfortunately for the Parkway West girls basketball team, Jordynn Martin’s outside shooting game is hitting its stride as of late. The Lafayette junior guard hit four 3-pointers in the opening quarter Wednesday night, on her way to scoring 21 points overall to lead the Lancers to a 59-28 victory against the Longhorns. “Finally, my shooting game is starting to come together. It’s taken awhile this season, but I’ve just stayed with it, kept shooting, practicing, and just over the last week or so I’m seeing the basket better and its coming together,” said Martin following the game. The Lancers improved to 7-6 on the season while West fell to 2-11 as Longhorns coach John Sloop continues to experience a challenging first year at the helm of the…

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Girls Hoops: Sloop Ready to Begin New Chapter at Parkway West

John Sloop is set to begin his first season as head coach of the Parkway West girl’s basketball team.

John Sloop brings some collegiate background to his first high school head coaching experience. Sloop, a 1987 Lafayette High School graduate, is the new girls basketball coach at Parkway West High School this season. He comes from Truman State University where he was the assistant men's coach for five years and the head women's coach for the past eight seasons. "In college you are recruiting from a much bigger pool," Sloop said. "For example, our point guard at Truman for a couple of years was from Brazil. Our enrollment here is about 1,300 so there are about 650 girls, a much smaller pool of talent. But I think we have some ability through all of the classes. Right now everything we are doing is new for everybody. I realize it is going to…

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