As we approach the “dog days” of the high school basketball season with mid-January action, the premier teams locally are coming to the forefront.
As with all of our power rankings in each team sport, these are based on dominance by Class, not head-to-head. It’s the “pound-for-pound” best teams in the Ozarks.
Recent success and strength of schedule are also a factor in the rankings.
Current record, Class and previous ranking are listed in parenthesis.
1. Kickapoo (13-0, C5, PR: 1) – The Chiefs posted two blowout victories over Ozark Conference schools (Hillcrest, West Plains) last week, including a 87-57 win over a Class 4 West Plains team that entered the game with a winning record (6-4). Jared Ridder scored 20 in the win over Hillcrest. Against West Plains, Ridder and Isaac Johnson each scored 21. Kickapoo has now held opponents under 60 points in 10 straight games. That achievement will be put to the test later this week when Kickapoo’s schedule amps up significantly with an appearance at the Tournament of Champions. The Chiefs play Sierra Canyon (Calif.) Thursday at 8 p.m. at JQH Arena. The winner of that game would play the Christ the King-Chaminade winner at 9:30 p.m. Friday.
2. Walnut Grove (14-0, C1, PR: 3) – If you wanna get into a track meet on the basketball court, the Walnut Grove Tigers will be happy to join in. In what has to be the highest final score I’ve seen locally this season, Walnut Grove beat Hermitage 102-75 at home last Friday. Do the math on that (177 total points divided by 32 minutes) and that’s…. 5.5 points per minute, or roughly 2.5 baskets per minute. The person doing the official scorebook probably needed ice on their wrist afterwards. Walnut Grove also beat Pleasant Hope 83-67 last week. Walnut Grove hosts Humansville on Thursday in its only game of this week. A good mid-season matchup looms next Tuesday against a 10-3 Fordland team.
3. Bolivar (9-1, C4, PR: 2) – You just gotta love the randomness of high school basketball. In a game few not wearing orange and black would’ve seen coming, Republic pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season thus far with a 52-51 win over Bolivar in triple overtime. Relive the crazy ending and the game-winning, coast-to-coast layup by Traydon Rackley HERE. So, was Bolivar caught looking ahead? Perhaps, but credit also goes to Republic. The Tigers are quietly 9-3 now, with wins over Rogersville, Parkview, Hartville and Republic. Bolivar, which also beat Aurora 77-50 last week, hosts Marshfield on Tuesday before beginning the Tournament of Champions against national power Oak Hill on Thursday.
4. Nixa (11-1, C5, PR: 4) – The Eagles continue to find and develop productive big men. Following in the steps of Jacob Ruder, and supplementing Garrett Bacon and Chase Allen this year, Christian Bundy continues to enjoy a breakout junior season, his latest big output coming in Nixa’s 61-52 win over rival Ozark in the championship game of the Houlihan's Springfield Catholic Invitational Saturday. Bundy scored a game-high 16. The Eagles also bested Cape Girardeau Notre Dame (63-32) and St. James Academy (Kan.) (69-49) in that tournament. This week, Nixa will take the rare position of a big-school power going on the road to face a state-ranked, small-school team as the Eagles travel to Hartville on Tuesday night.
5. Hartville (10-3, C2, PR: 5) – Coming off a disappointing stint in the Blue and Gold, Hartville rebounded nicely last week with convincing wins over Licking (78-47) and Willow Springs (69-40). The Licking win was impressive in particular because the Wildcats entered the game 10-0 overall and were coming off a championship at the Cabool Holiday Tournament. The 78 points versus Licking were Hartville’s highest total in a game this season, although the Wildcats have scored between 64-69 points in seven other games. This is a pretty consistent offense. Hartville gets a home date with Nixa on Tuesday, before hosting Norwood this Friday.
6. Thayer (12-1, C2, PR: 7) – The Bobcats picked up three more wins last week, defeating Alton, Gainesville and Bakersfield. Bakersfield is the best team (9-3 overall) of those three, and it was the second time in eight days that Thayer beat the Lions. Thayer has road games at Eminence (Jan. 12) and Ava (Jan. 15) this week, before playing in the MV-BT/Liberty Tournament next week.
7. Rolla (12-1, C4, PR: 8) – Rolla’s rematch with Waynesville was a lot closer the second time around. A week after blowing out Waynesville in the title game of its own tournament, Rolla prevailed – barely – in the rematch last Tuesday, winning 60-58 at home. Rolla led most of the game, including by nine with a minute to go, before Waynesville mounted a frantic, last-minute comeback. Rolla 6’5” senior Sam Marshall scored a game-high 28, overcoming big games from Waynesville’s Joe Johnson (25 points) and Reggie Walker (18 points). This week, Rolla plays at Hillcrest on Tuesday – a rematch from last season’s epic Class 4 quarterfinal game – and Helias Catholic on Friday.
8. Glendale (6-5, C4, PR: 9) – The Falcons may be taking their lumps (and losses) now, but they’re going to be better off for it come March. Glendale competed at the Skiatook (Okla.) Invitational over the weekend. Facing state-ranked teams in all three games, Glendale went 1-2. The Falcons’ lone win came against Tulsa Webster on a buzzer-beater by Tristan Baker. Glendale would lead at halftime of its next game, versus 6A No. 2-ranked Edmond (Okla.) North, before falling 84-66. Falcons sophomore Monty Johal scored over 30 points in all three games. Yeah, they went 1-2, but the Falcons played well each night against top-notch competition. They deserve to move up.
9. Clever (10-3, C3, PR: 6) – Even if you’ve grown accustomed to it like Clever has, playing so many close games will result in a loss from time to loss. The Blue Jays fell 47-42 at Willard last week, marking their third loss of the season. The other two losses came to teams (Bolivar, Hartville) ranked in the Top 5 on this list. Six of Clever’s 13 games this season have been decided by six points or fewer. In defense of Clever, Willard is riding a nice five-game winning streak after a sluggish start. Clever remains the highest Class 3 team on our power rankings. The Blue jays host Galena on Friday.
10. Crane (11-2, C2, PR: 10) – Crane won the Miller Tournament over the weekend, beating Ash Grove 62-52 in the title game. Crane guards Tanner Gold and Dalton Hayes were named to the all-tournament team. In an almost identical final score, Crane beat Ash Grove 66-54 back in its season opener. The Pirates also beat SRVC schools Sarcoxie and Jasper handily in the tournament. This week, Crane has home dates with Strafford (Jan. 12) and Billings (Jan. 15).
11. Mtn. Grove (10-2, C3, PR: 11) – The Panthers crushed Bradleyville 78-46 on Saturday in the championship of the Seymour Bank Winter Classic. Mountain Grove’s toughest game in the tournament came in the semifinals vs. Class 1 School of the Ozarks, with the Panthers prevailing 81-76. S of O’s 76 points were the most Mountain Grove has allowed in a game this season. Mountain Grove hosts Licking on Tuesday then travels to Willow Springs on Friday for its SCA opener.
12. Fair Grove (11-3, C3, PR: 12) – It wasn’t easy, but the Eagles got a much-needed 57-54 win at Conway – in overtime – last week. The win gives Fair Grove a leg-up on Conway when seeding is determined next month for the Class 3, District 11 tournament. Fair Grove then crushed Stockton by 30 in its homecoming game; the Tigers have cooled off sine their 8-0 start. Fair Grove hosts Ash Grove on Tuesday, then travels to Springfield Catholic on Friday.
13. Strafford (8-5, C3, PR: Unranked) – With losses already to Conway (split), Clever and Fair Grove – all of which are in the Indians’ district – Strafford’s probably destined for the 3- or 4-seed in the Class 3, District 11 tournament. But the Indians are there, lurking. This is a team you’d hate to run up against in the district semifinals because they’re a disciplined team that won’t beat themselves. They’ll be a tough out playing pressure-free as the “underdog.” Five losses, yes, but four of those were by single digits. Strafford’s been really consistent with a brand new varsity roster and they’ll be a “darkhorse” to watch come March. Strafford travels to Crane on Tuesday night in one of the better games this week.
14. Ozark (11-4, C5,: PR: 14) – Much of Ozark’s success depends on perimeter shooting. And, quite simply, the Tigers just didn’t shoot it that well on Saturday night in the title game of the Springfield Catholic Invitational. As coach Mark Schweitzer said afterwards, Nixa dared Ozark to shoot it from deep and the Tigers couldn’t make them pay. Three of Ozark’s four losses have now come to Kickapoo (twice) and Nixa. Ozark has road games this week at Webb City (Jan. 12) and at Rogersville (Jan. 15).
15. Morrisville (13-3, C2, PR: Unranked) – We’ve had a lot of turnover in these 12-through-15 spots the last few weeks, with Ozark being the only mainstay. One team that’s emerged onto the radar has been Morrisville, which beat Buffalo, Fair Play and Humansville in three outings last week. The Class 2 – and Independent – Panthers have won 12 of their last 13 games since starting the season 1-2 at the Clever Tournament. Morrisville’s only loss in that span came to Walnut Grove, 53-41, in the quarterfinals of Walnut Grove’s own tournament. Don’t look now, but the Panthers could move a step closer to locking up a Top-3 district seed with a win at home over Greenwood this Thursday.
Knocking on the door: Republic (9-3, C5), Hermitage (9-4, C1), Licking (10-2, C3), Weaubleau (10-1, C1), Fordland (10-3, C2), Bakersfield (9-3, C2)
