TOC: Staley lived up to its first Tournament of Champions invite

The Staley Falcons (Kansas City) took on the St. Rita Mustangs (Chicago) in the fifth place game of the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions on Saturday.

It didn’t win Missouri’s most talent-stocked boys basketball tournament, but Staley proved worthy of the invitation.

The Kansas City school downed Chicago power St. Rita 63-48 on Saturday at Great Southern Bank Arena at the 38th annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, claiming fifth-place in one of the most traditionally loaded brackets in the country.

Staley, ranked No. 1 in the latest Class 6 media poll, is widely expected to return to Missouri State University venue in March to compete for a state championship after placing third a year ago.

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The lessons the Falcons learned in their first Tournament of Champions appearance will surely pay dividends against programs in own weight class.

After falling to nationally-ranked Calvary Christian (Florida) in Thursday’s quarterfinals, Staley bounced back on Friday with a 73-42 demolishing of fellow Class 6 power Kickapoo in front of its Springfield crowd.

On Saturday against a St. Rita team that features several Power 5 recruits including 6-foot-10 James Brown (North Carolina), 6-8 Morez Johnson (Illinois) and 6-6 sharpshooter Nojus Indrusasitis (Iowa State), the Missouri school shined.

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The Staley Falcons (Kansas City) took on the St. Rita Mustangs (Chicago) in the fifth place game of the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions on Saturday.

Staley guard and Colorado State signee Kyan Evans had 19 points, six rebounds and three assists, boosting a team that used a 18-8 third quarter to break a 28-28 halftime tie.

Cameron Manaywu (Indiana State) had 13 points and 10 rebounds for a Staley, which outrebounded St. Rita 32-20. Kayden Fish (Iowa State) added 15 points. Brown led St. Rita with 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Staley, a public school, opened its doors in 2008.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: TOC: Staley lived up to its first Tournament of Champions invitation