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The shots didn’t fall early and the Crusaders couldn’t come back. Helias missed its first seven shots, while the Webster Groves Statesmen built the lead that would win them the Class 5 state championship.
SPRINGFIELD — Malcolm Davis connected on both ends of a 1-and-1 to put the Crusaders up three with five seconds left, but the game was far from done Friday night.
Helias got its revenge. Last season, the Jefferson City Jays beat the Helias Crusaders 65-63 to win the Class 6 District 9 championship. Jefferson City beat Helias 74-53 last time the teams played Feb. 4 in Central Missouri Activities Conference play. But the No. 3 seed Crusaders were the ones celebrating Friday when they beat the No. 4 seed Jays 61-44 to win the Class 5 District 7 championship.
It was just the kind of game the Helias Crusaders were looking for. Helias was able to hang tough against an athletic Confluence Prep squad, and the Crusaders made enough free throws down the stretch to get a 72-69 win Friday night in their home finale at Rackers Fieldhouse.
Nick Heislen was clearly a crowd favorite Tuesday night at Rackers Fieldhouse, and the Helias senior enjoyed every moment. Heislen showed he can be more than an all-conference football linemen, scoring a career-high 12 points to help the Crusaders to a 70-43 victory against the Sedalia Smith-Cotton Tigers on Senior Night.