By Jim Misunas
jmisunas@gbtibune.com

ST. JOHN  All-stater Dean Wade of St. John enjoyed every minute competing against an athletic Wichita West team. Mid-Winter Classic Most Valuable Player Wade scored a career high 41 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked five shots Saturday night.
St. John (12-0) showed poise and confidence and dominated the Pioneers 64-41 to capture the St. John Mid-Winter Classic. Wade's previous high was 35 points against Central Plains in the substate championship.
"It was fun playing against a big and athletic team," Wade said. "It was all fun tonight. It was good for our guards to go against an athletic team like that."
Wade's 41-point effort was third best all-time in the Mid-Winter Classic behind Kurt Kinnamon of St. John (46) and Medicine Lodge's Kent Welch (42). It was third consecutive year Wade has earned MVP honors. It marked St. John's 10th Mid-Winter Classic championship.
Point guard Cole Kinnamon fed Wade lob passes for two slam dunks. Wade's best blocks came when he pinned a shot by Elijah Horton and swatted an attempt by Christian Laudermilk. Wade scored 13 of the Tigers' 20 baskets.
The Tigers roared to a 19-2 lead by converting eight Pioneer turnovers into easy transition scores. Five Tigers scored in the opening quarter which saw three fast-break scores off turnovers.
The Pioneers (2-10) sliced the lead to 34-16 at halftime with seven quick points. But Wade scored 12 points in the third quarter for a 48-22 lead. Javon Reed hit back-to-back 3-pointers to keep the Pioneers within 48-31 after three quarters.
"Dean Wade really played well tonight," said St. John coach Clint Kinnamon. "He's a great player who really was sharp tonight. It was good to see our team go against really good athletes tonight."
Coach Kinnamon said his team was happy with the victory, but displeased with certain phases of their individual play. For some players, it was missing open shots for others it was getting beat for rebounds.
"The best thing we did was handle the ball well against pressure," Kinnamon said. "Overall, we had some players we felt they could've played better, which is a good sign."
The Tigers forced 18 turnovers and held the Pioneers to 34 percent shooting. St. John misfired from 3-point range, but outscored the Pioneers 22-2 from the free throw line by Wade attacking the basket. Cole Kinnamon added nine points and handled the ball superbly setting up Wade for his scoring.
Javon Reed led Wichita West with 13 points. The 6-foot-4 Horton played solidly inside had nine points and eight rebounds.
ST. JOHN 64, WICHITA WEST 41
Mid-Winter Classic (1st)
Wichita West 2 14 15 10 -- 41
St. John 14 20 14 18 -- 64
Wichita West--Johnson 1-6 0-0 3; Reed 5-10 0-0 13; Moore 3-10 0-0 6; Terrell Rodriguez 2-5 0-0 4; Saunders 0-5 1-2 1; Horton 4-6 1-2 9; Laudermilk 1-2 0-0 2; Swinney 1-5 0-0 3; Totals 41.
St. John--Wade 13-19 14-15 40; Kinnamon 4-15 0-0 9; Gera Calleros 2-5 0-0 4; Valenzeula 0-3 0-0 0; Jorge Calleros 0-3 0-0 0; Fisher 1-7 3-5 5; Ramirez 0-1 0-0 0; Milton 0-2 4-4 4; Smith 0-0 1-2 1; Totals 20-55 22-26 64.