ST. CHARLES – The third chair on the Ladue bench sits empty.
It is the chair once occupied by Terrence Smith, a beloved, volunteer assistant coach who died just prior to the boys basketball season.
“Since our coach died, our goal was to play our season for him and get as far as we can,” Ladue junior Dwayne Foley Jr. said.
The vacant seat signifies that Smith is right there with the team during their playoff run, and on Friday, after another opponent’s final shot defied both logic and physics, Ladue players are certain he is.
Foley provided the defensive punch, junior Sam Goellner scored all seven of his points in the fourth quarter, and Ladue survived another breathtaking finish to defeat Westminster 42-41 in a Class 5 quarterfinal at Lindenwood University’s Hyland Arena.
Ladue (25-5), which reached its second state semifinal in five seasons, will face Jefferson City (23-7) in a Class 5 semifinal at 4 p.m. Friday at Hammons Student Center on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield.
Cardinal Ritter (26-4) and Pembroke Hill (23-5) will meet in the other Class 5 semifinal at 2 p.m. Friday.
In the District 3 championship game seven days earlier, Ladue fans held their collective breath while five De Smet shot attempts from close range each somehow rolled off the rim in the final seconds.
On Friday, Ladue led by a single point with 6.6 seconds remaining when Westminster senior Kobi Williams received a pass on the perimeter and headed straight for the hoop. He entered the paint, rose in the air and lofted a shot that entered the cylinder, rattled around twice and spun out.
“That’s six rim-outs in the final 10 seconds. Coach Smith is definitely playing a factor in this,” Goellner said.
Ladue led 40-35 after senior Jack Steinbach drained two free throws with 1:15 remaining. The Rams went 8-for-8 from the foul line during a crucial, five-minute stretch in the fourth quarter, converting all six of their 1-and-1 opportunities in the process.
“We’ve actually struggled from the free throw line the last three games, and it’s something we’ve been stressing,” Ladue coach Chad Anderson said. “We told them, ‘You’re all capable, just step to the line and be confident,’ and that’s really what won us the game.”
Westminster (20-10) was powered by Williams. The Truman State signee scored 22 of the first 35 points for the Wildcats, but in the final minute, the supporting cast took a leading role.
Junior Asher Amanuel drained a right-wing 3, and James Alpert hit a long-range bomb from the corner to close the deficit to 42-41, but the final attempt by Williams could not reach the bottom of the net.
“If that last shot falls, we’re feeling different now, but credit Ladue. They’re a really good team that’s well-coached and they pulled it out,” Westminster coach Dale Ribble said.
The first half displayed the defensive prowess of both teams. Foley and Goellner shared the assignment of guarding the dynamic Williams, who entered the game averaging 23.6 points per game.
“Even if you faceguard him, he’s hard to guard because he gets so many screens set for him,” Foley said.
Westminster took a 20-19 lead into halftime before Foley showed that he was equally effective on the offensive end.
He executed a strong post move for a three-point play on the Rams’ opening possession. Then, he made a steal and headlonged a pass to junior Piersson Calvert for another hoop-and-harm.
With increased defensive pressure, Ladue held Westminster to five points in the third quarter and carried a 29-25 lead into the fourth.
“We play fast, and we felt that they were dictating the pace in the first half. At halftime, we talked about trying to get out in transition and stealing some baskets, and we had some guys step up,” Ladue coach Chad Anderson said.
The fourth quarter quickly morphed from a defensive battle to a shot-making exhibition.
Williams entered balloon mode, suspending his body in mid-air before banking in shots on his way down.
Ladue senior Jack Steinbach answered with a crafty finger-roll, and Goellner drained the corner 3 that had been his nemesis during the regular season.
“I told myself, ‘If I get the ball in the corner, I have to shoot, and it finally went in,” Goellner said.
Goellner also went 4-for-4 from the free throw line down the stretch.
“There’s nothing that can simulate that pressure,” Goellner said.
And for Ladue, the game once again came down to a pressure-filled, defensive possession that required toughness, resiliency and perhaps, some divine intervention.
“Somehow, we got it done,” Steinbach said.