After a mid-December swoon, Hogan Prep coach Rob Heitman called a series of team meetings. He apologized to his players during one of them for scheduling a streak of big-class opponents that he felt led to the slump.

The meeting concluded with a plea for patience. The peak would come later rather than sooner, he assured them.

It all came to fruition Saturday.

Hogan Prep outlasted Maryville for a 69-61 victory in the Missouri Class 3 quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at Lee’s Summit High School.

The Rams, 23-7, will meet Whitfield, 21-9, in the semifinals at 6:40 p.m. Thursday at Mizzou Arena.

“A lot of our success lately can be attributed to the guys’ willingness to take on that tough schedule,” Heitman said. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger later, right?”

On Saturday, his point guard, Damien Daniels was good both early and late. Daniels scored his team’s first 11 points, helping Hogan Prep to an eight-point lead.

After Maryville cut the advantage to one in the fourth quarter, Daniels responded with back-to-back three-point plays. He finished with 31 points.

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