Believers and Non-Believers - Cardinal Ritter fans knew better

 Did anyone imagine that Cardinal Ritter, with a 4-10 record in Mid-January, would win the Class Six State tournament?

Charles Conway did.  Charles was woofing at John Hough over at GSV when he rated Ritter out of the Class Six top ten.  I replied that Conway was Prophetic!  His reply?

Charles Conway
@Charles12543003
Replying to
@dedmonson68
@JohnHough__
and
@GSV_STL
Now that’s a fact gramps. I’m a Ritter alum & 2010 state champ myself. Our class 3 title team, beat the class 5 runner up by 20 (CBC) that year, so I kinda know what it looks like when a title team is incoming, especially for Ritter ! Clear the schedule was made for a title run


Gramps had faith in the statistics.  I went out of my way to rate about 50 nationally ranked teams just to get a rating on Vashon and Cardinal Ritter because of all the out-of-state teams both played.  That tough schedule was like tempering a steel sword in water after heating it up red-hot.  Both teams came though the playoffs like a hot knife on butter.  Vashon had a little easier time with Class Four but Ritter shone strong over the final weeks, ending at 21-11 after that 4-10 start.  I don't think Earl Austin, Jr. over at Prep Hoops Missouri doubted Ritter either.

How did Gramps rate Ritter through the highs and lows?  Here's a table of ratings and polls by the MBCA, John Hough and All MO Sports (Tyler Monier).  Tyler has started a statistical-based ratings system that is different from Gramps but just as good.  If no one picks up Gramps system next year, you can probably rely on All MO Sports.


You can see how the 4-10 swoon affected MBCA and John Hough's polls.  Both dropped them down to 9th or 10th.  At that time, Gramps had a good handle on their Strength of Schedule and kept them at #4.

By mid-February, Gramps and All MO Sports had Ritter at #2.  The MBCA started to recognize Ritter's power with a #3 rating.

It just shows the power of statistics and the faith of Ritter faithful.  They know the drill, just like Charles Conway did.  He had experienced that same tempering back in 2010.  Toughened up the team so that when March rolled around, Ritter would be at their strongest.

John Hough posted that Ritter has won an extraordinary 11 straight championship games when they have played in the final.  That ought to tell you something about Ritter's character.

Coach Ryan Johnson seems to know what he was doing back in December with that ugly schedule that resulted in a 4-10 record by mid-January.

Congrats to the Lions on another state title.  Conway wants to know if MSHSAA will elevate them to Class Seven next year?  LOL  There is no Class Seven but I bet they will be back for another Class Six title run.

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