In the final seconds of the Montgomery County Wildcats’ Class 3 quarterfinal contest against Principia at Webster Groves High School on March 7, they heard a loud message from their student section that was sitting behind the MCHS bench.

“Thank you seniors,” the fans shouted.

The senior class helped the Wildcats turn in an outstanding season that included 28 wins, two regular season tournament championships, a district crown and an Eastern Missouri Conference crown. Clayton Parker, Tyler Erwin, Isaiah Thomas, cousins Jay and Sean Rodgers, Tatum Wessel and Andrew Moore made up the large senior group.

The seniors were hoping to end their high school basketball careers with a trip to the Class 3 Show-Me Showdown. But they came up one win short as eventual state champion Principia knocked off the Wildcats in the quarterfinals.

It will not be easy for the Wildcats to replace a senior class that provided 88 percent of the team’s scoring this year.

“It’s not at all going to be the same without them next year,” MCHS junior Chase Queathem said. “It’s tough.”

Five of those seniors – Parker, Thomas, Erwin, Moore and Jay Rodgers – were named to the all-Eastern Missouri Conference team. Parker and Moore also earned all-state and all-district honors and Jay Rodgers was named to the all-district team.

Parker, who plans to continue his basketball career at Morehead State University, led the Wildcats in scoring at 23 points per game. He was named Most Valuable Player in the Montgomery County and Hermann tournament. He also became the Wildcats’ all-time leading scorer and scored a school-record 48 points against North Callaway on Feb. 15.

Moore joined the Wildcats this year after playing the last three years at Troy Buchanan and became a solid addition, averaging 17 points per game. He scored the game-winning basket with eight seconds left in the Wildcats’ 67-65 win over University City in the Ramey Shootout on Dec. 21. Moore plans to play basketball at McKendree University next year.

Thomas was the Wildcats’ third-leading scorer at nine points per game despite missing several games due to an ankle injury he suffered against Columbia (Ill.) in the Norm Stewart Classic on Dec. 12.

Parker, Thomas, Erwin, Wessel and the Rodgers cousins played together since elementary school. When they were in middle school, they helped the Wildcats finish 27-0 in two years. Wessel said the success in middle school carried over into high school.

“I didn’t really know anything about basketball in middle school,” Wessel said. “I just played because we were really good. All of my buddies played. Now, I know the standard. We’re here to compete every day.”

Queathem, juniors Lyric Kemp, Seth Walton, Cooper Sellenriek, Adrian Combs, Colby Ellis and freshman Jackson Benney rounded out the team.

Scott Kroeger completed his seventh season as coach. During his tenure, the Wildcats won 20 or more games four times and captured five EMO championships and four district titles.

“He’s a big motivator,” Wessel said. “He gets excited. He brings the energy, no matter what.”

The Wildcats came up one win shy of a school record for most wins in a season and finished with their sixth straight winning season. They started their season with 11 straight wins. MCHS had a 17-game winning streak before that streak snapped with a loss to Principia in the quarterfinals.