By Chris Parker
The focus from outsiders in the preseason on the Thayer boys basketball program was everything the team had lost from the run to the Class 3 final four in 2022. Only one player who saw action in the semifinal loss to Lafayette County returned.
After a 50-37 state quarterfinal win over Sparta on Friday, everybody is taking notice of what Thayer returned.
“Everybody kept talking about what we lost. I think they underestimated the athleticism that these guys have and their desire to win. Practicing against those older guys every day last year made these guys a lot better. When you practice every day with a team that good you are only going to get better,” Thayer head coach Matt Pitts said.
Thayer and Sparta played a tight game through the first quarter with Sparta carrying a 10-9 advantage after the opening eight minutes. Thayer had a strong second quarter winning it 15-5 to take a 24-15 lead into the break.
Aidan Burns, that one returning player with final four experience from last year’s team, was a big reason why. He scored 17 of Thayer’s 24 first-half points.
“When you have a guy like him to win games like that, that is kind of what that guy has to do,” Pitts said.
Burns and Thayer kept it going in the third quarter expanding the lead out to 12 at 31-19 with 3:30 left in the quarter.
Sparta battled as they had all year and cut the lead to six, 33-27, after three quarters. The Trojans kept chipping away at Thayer and pulled within two, 33-31, with 6:44 left in the game.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Pitts called a timeout to settle his team down.
“I thought we were playing not to lose instead of attacking the rim like we had all year. Once we got to attacking the basket…things got easy from there,” Pitts said.
Thayer closed the game on a 17-6 run to punch a return ticket to the Class 3 final four with a 50-37 win.
Burns finished with a game-high 27 points.
“I didn’t feel any pressure,” Burns said. “Nobody thought we were going to be anything this year, a team full of juniors and sophomores. Every one of those guys that is on the team right now were sitting on the bench watching that winning last year. It just infective, the winning is. That is why we are back.”
Thayer (25-4) will face Lutheran North (19-10) in the Class 3 state semifinals at 12 pm on Friday, Mar. 10 at Great Southern Bank Arena on the campus of Missouri State University.
The Bobcats will be looking for their first state title in the sixth final four trip in program history.
Pitts’ message to his team heading into next weekend will be simple.
“Just keep believing. I don’t want to get there. I want to win,” Pitts said. “That is what we are going to try to do.”
Sparta – 10-5-12-10 — 37
Thayer – 9-15-9-17 — 50
S: Jacob Lafferty 17, Dexter Loveland 8, Kavan Walker 6, Walker Loveland 3, Steven Brown 3
T: Aidan Burns 27, Rowan Spencer 11, Easton Pitts 5, Devin Harrington 4, Branden Prince 3
