COLUMBIA, Mo. — Nassir Binion had tears streaming down his face Saturday as time bled off the clock at Mizzou Arena.
A whirlwind journey was over and the Vashon senior was overcome with emotion.
"Everything I went through this last year, not having an AAU team and not having a team, to becoming a state champion, I couldn't believe it," Binion said.
Vashon rode the emotional wave from Binion and cruised to a 68-37 victory over John Burroughs in the Class 4 boys basketball state championship.
"I can't say enough about Naz," Vashon coach Tony Irons said. "He picked the right time to play his best game of the year. To me, the impact he had today was incredible."
Vashon (26-6) secured its fifth successive state championship and 15th overall. The Wolverines have the second most state championships in Missouri history behind Scott County Central (18).
Irons secured his eighth state championship as a coach, including seven at Vashon, and broke a tie with his father Floyd Irons for the third most in state history. Tony Irons sits behind only Scott County Central's Ronnie Cookson (13) and New Madrid County Central's Lennis McFerren (10).
"It's great to see him add another state championship under him," Vashon senior Jordyn Richard said. "It's also a blessing for the team to have a coach like that."
Binion echoed his senior teammate's words.
"He deserves it and more," Binion said.
Tony Irons was quick to put the attention back on his players.
"It's never been about me," Irons said. "I don't coach to wrack up individual accolades. I do this because I want to make an impact on young men."
One of those young men was Binion, who exploded in the first half. The 6-foot-4 combo guard finished his lone season with Vashon with a season-high 25 points, 20 of which came in the first half. He also pulled down seven rebounds and had two steals.
Binion, who played at CBC as a sophomore and junior, was nigh unstoppable for much of the first half, but he and his teammates took it to another level in the third quarter.
The Wolverines outscored John Burroughs 20-4 in the third quarter to put the game away.
"It's been weird, that third quarter has been our Achilles heel," Irons said. "But after the Ladue game (a 77-55 win Feb. 23), the third quarter has been a weapon for us. The kids understand that we have to bring out intensity in the first few minutes coming out. We kind of jump on them in the third quarter and it just works in our favor."
John Burroughs (27-5), playing in its first state final since 1953, tied the game at 19 midway through the second quarter.
But the up-tempo pressure took its toll on the Bombers.
"We knew they were a very good press team. One of our weaknesses of this program is the guard play with pressure," John Burroughs coach Darryl "Pee Wee" Lenard said. "The guards have gotten better; the game was pretty good up until the last three minutes of the second, where we had those three or four turnovers where it went from a two-point game to a 10-point game. Trying to recover from that was pretty tough."
John Burroughs senior Ramzi Salem led the way with 21 points but admitted the pace was tough.
"I was exhausted out there," Salem said. "They're a pressurized team. Just getting past half court was a challenge."
Vashon forced 21 turnovers.
Lenard spoke with pride about what his team had accomplished in his three years at John Burroughs. But he admitted that over the summer when he's coaching with Irons on the AAU circle, he may get some good-natured trash talk.
Irons agreed with that sentiment.
"This is going to be some bragging rights for me to talk to him for sure," Irons said. "I have nothing but respect for him, he's like an uncle to me."
Large school schools - 7/181. Ladue (26-3) is idle.2. Webster Groves (21-7) is idle.3. De Smet (27-5) is idle.4. Collinsville (28-5) is idle.5…
Vashon senior Nassir Binion (12) celebrates with teammates Saturday after a 68-37 victory over John Burroughs in the Class 4 boys basketball state championship at Mizzou Arena. It was Vashon’s fifth consecutive state title and 15th overall.
Vashon coach Tony Irons celebrates during the boys Class 4 state championship game on March 16, 2024 at Mizzou Arena on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
John Burroughs senior Ramzi Salem (21) takes a jump shot during the boys Class 4 state championship game on March 16, 2024 at Mizzou Arena on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch