District tournaments around the Ozarks will kick off on Saturday and there’s no shortage of championship contenders, standout players and storylines. To put it nicely, we own small-class basketball in the state of Missouri.
This is your guide to knowing everything possible about local girls basketball and why the next several weeks will prove to be some of the most exciting in recent memory. So, without further ado, here is your 2016 High School Girls Basketball Bible.
*Notes*
Favorite – Team I think is most likely to win
Challenger – Team I think is best equipped to upset favorite.
Darkhorse – 3-seed or lower capable of making a run.
Major Key alert – Player that can help propel team to district title run.
Steph Curry alert – Remember when Steph Curry was at Davidson back in 2008 and scored 103 points in three games against Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin to get his team into the Elite Eight? Well, players that receive this distinction are underrated players capable of leading teams to runs that outperform their seed.
Popcorn alert – Their team may not win a state title, but these are some of the most entertaining players in the area.
Class 3
District 10
Licking has a three-peat of Class 3 – District 10 titles but that stretch might come to an end this year. The Lady Wildcats are the No. 4 seed, but the rest of the top five all won at least 14 games, including No. 1 Houston. With St. James and Fatima taking a step back, the winner of this district could end up making a quarterfinal run and having a shot at a Final Four berth.
Favorite: Houston – Houston went 7-1 against district opponents so naturally they were an easy fit for the top seed and losing in the last two district championships only feeds the fire for the Lady Tigers. In stretches this year they’ve looked like a team that can challenge for a state championship, but they’ve also had stretches on inconsistency. But, their better is better than most everyone else’s better in this district. Houston owns wins over Salem and Norwood and barring an upset will finish as the SCA runner-up. This is the year that people around Houston have pegged as the year for a district championship run.
Challenger: Willow Springs – The Lady Bears have had pockets of inconsistency, but wins over Houston, Plato and MV-BT/Liberty show how dangerous they are on a given night. They aren’t an uptempo team, but have a few pieces that can give opponents fits in Beth Sherbo and Kianna Rothermich. Sherbo (12.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG) does a little bit of everything while Rothermich (11.5 PPG, 56 3s) is a straight up shooter; she doesn’t like going inside the 3-point arc. Along with Devin Perkins (9 PPG, 5.2 RPG), DJ Gutscher has enough weapons to be a nuisance when he can dictate pace.
Major Key Alert: Sarah Kelley, Houston – Unfortunately for most coaches 6-foot athletic forwards don’t come around often, but Brent Kell was lucky enough to land Kelley. The senior has been a mainstay in his starting lineup for years and her 15.5 PPG and 9.2 RPG make her one of the toughest matchups on the block in the area. Being able to get her touches in the post and force teams to make a decision about doubling her or not opens up Houston’s offense and attacking lanes for junior track standout Abby Casper.
Steph Curry Alert: Piper Francis, MV-BT/Liberty – She’s literally been a walking bucket along Highway 60 this year. Just a freshman, the 5-foot-8 guard has already started rewriting Liberty’s record book, setting all-time marks in scoring (521 points/20.8 PPG) and 3s (47). She’s also grabbing 6.5 RPG and 3.1 SPG. More importantly, the Lady Eagles are 8-1 in their last nine and tonight’s game against Houston will tell a lot about what could happen next week.
District 11
Well, good luck figuring this district out. The top four seeds are all over .500 and the 5/6, Buffalo and Springfield Catholic, have solid wins this season. Last year Buffalo won the district, beating No. 1 Strafford at Strafford to steal the title. The Lady Bison wound up in the Final Four. Strafford, Fair Grove, Clever and Ash Grove are the top four seeds and the winner is more than capable of following Buffalo’s path.
Favorite: Stafford – The Lady Indians have been my pick to win state in Class 3 all season and their resume has done nothing but reinforce that idea. Strafford owns wins over Skyline, Lebanon, Webb City, Rogersville (2), Branson and Marshfield. They also had Kickapoo on the ropes in the semifinals of the Pink and White Lady Classic before falling in overtime. There’s some inexperience on this roster, but also a ton of talent. They love to play fast and are 11-0 when scoring at least 70 points. Steve Frank will also have the two best players on the court at any given time with junior guard Abby Oliver and freshman phenom Hayley Frank. The most impressive thing about Strafford is their inability to be turned over over as a team (10 TPG) and collectively they shoot 75% from the line. That will win games come March.
Challenger: Fair Grove – The Lady Eagles would be the favorites to make a Final Four run if Strafford wasn't a thing. They own wins over Houston, Rogersville and West Plains and have been pretty steady at home, which bodes well for them because they host the district. Fair Grove has tremendous balance with seven players averaging at least 6 PPG, led by Alena Findley (13.6 PPG, 11 RPG, 1.4 BPG). The freshman has a team-high 12 double-doubles. Senior floor general Bailey Weaver is averaging 9.5 PPG, 4.3 APG and 2.3 SPG. They struggled with attacking guards, which could be a recipe for disaster in a district full of top talent.
Darkhorse: Clever – This is the one team that no one wants to see. Clever has been playing extremely well (10-1 since Jan. 1) and the lone loss came to Crane. The Lady Jays have zero seniors on the roster which is both a gift and a curse; as the old saying goes, sometimes youth doesn’t know when they’re “supposed” to lose.
Major Key Alert: Abby Oliver and Hayley Frank, Strafford – If they win a state championship it’ll be with these two shouldering a chunk of the load… which has worked out well for Strafford this year. Oliver has been playing major varsity minutes since her freshman year, but this is by far her best season. She’s averaging 18.5 PPG and 3.6 APG and has knocked down 70 3s. Her ability to shoot and stretch defenses has allowed freshman Hayley Frank to put together one of the seasons we've seen. At 6-foot she has great size, but there’s literally nothing she can’t do. Frank is putting up 20.2 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 4.7 APG, 2.2 SPG and nearly a block a night, all of which are team-highs. This might be the best 1-2 punch in the Ozarks and they still have another year remaining together.
Steph Curry Alert: Harper Little, Clever – Little is another freshman playing a major role for a good team. She leads Clever in scoring (14.3 PPG), assists (2.7 APG), steals (4.2 SPG) and blocks (1.3 BPG). The 5-foot-6 guard has really matured down the stretch and that has led to Clever’s late surge. She has plenty of help with Hannah Maples (13.4 PPG) and Taylor and Abi Menzies. Next year is a year where Clever will be one of the best in the state, but they could certainly make a run this year.
Steph Curry Alert (Part 2): Morgan Allred & Mallory Keith, Ash Grove – It’s hard to believe that last year Ash Grove went 5-19. The Lady Pirates are solidly over .500 and these two guards are a large reason why. Allred (16.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.2 APG) and Keith (12.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 3.7 SPG) do it in very different ways, which is trouble for everyone else. Ash Grove is 8-2 when Allred scores more than 20 this season. Oh, she’s also shooting 46% from 3 and 90 % from the free throw line. Keith doesn’t shoot it quite as well, but the 5-foot-6 junior guard does it all for the Lady Pirates.
Popcorn Alert: Taylor Faulkner, Buffalo – The 5-foot-4 guard rarely sees a shot that she doesn’t like, which makes sense considering she is averaging 23.2 PPG. Faulkner started her career is a shooter but has morphed into a big-time scorer. She’s shooting 52% from the field, 44% from 3 and 78% from the line and is coming off of a 25-point game in a 55-53 game against Morrisville in which she did not miss a shot (7-for-7 FG, 3-for-3 3FG, 8-for-8 FT). She’s scored 1,459 points in the last three seasons alone. With her career dwindling down, she’s worth the price of admission in a loaded district.
District 12
This is the ultimate “I have no idea what will happen” district. Stockton is the top seed and typically always the favorite to win it all, but seven of the eight teams are above .500 and lone team that isn’t is No. 8 Diamond (11-12).
Favorite: Stockton – The Lady Tigers lost another talented class and have rebounded with yet another great season. Stockton has a win over Bolivar and went unbeaten against district opponents, but the encouraging aspect is the fact that Stockton hung with Strafford, Skyline, Fair Grove and Clever. The Lady Tigers are also the district host, which should help. Stockton hasn’t won a district championship in three years, which feels like a drought for a program that was a state power with back-to-back Class 3 state championship games in 2011 and 2012.
Challenger(s): East Newton & Mount Vernon – It’s tough to pick between these two Big 8 rivals; both are hot and both are capable. East Newton got the No. 2 seed because of a 65-52 regular season win over Mount Vernon. The Lady Pats also beat Aurora and Clever and pushed Carl Junction on the road. Former Missouri Southern standout Erin Rice has built a program and after three consecutive district title losses, this could be the year East Newton gets over the hump. Rice also has one of the best players in the district on her side in 6-foot junior Koty Cooper. Her 15.3 PPG and 8 RPG are both team-highs and she’s a matchup problem because of her athleticism… Mount Vernon has some inexperience and consistency issues, but is more than talented enough to win the district. The Lady ‘Neers have been competitive with several good teams, including Aurora, East Newton and Hillcrest, and own wins over Marshfield and Ash Grove. The biggest thing is can they get over the hump in big games.
Major Key Alert: Cameron Call, Mount Vernon – The best player in the district can’t even drive herself to see Kung Fu Panda 3, but the 5-foot-8 guard has an extremely bright future on the hardwood. She’s averaging 17 PPG and 4.5 APG and the best comparison I can make is Lauren Aldridge. She can change a game without scoring a point, but also has the ability to score in bunches if she wants. Understanding that balance moving forward and knowing when her team needs her to score will be a game-changer for Mount Vernon. The Lady ‘Neers have the pieces necessary to make a run right now and Call is capable of leading that charge.
Steph Curry Alert: Kameron Schaaf, El Dorado Springs – The SBU signee has played more than 100 career games and is nearing the 1,500-point mark. She leads El Dorado Springs in scoring (15.5 PPG), rebounds (6.8 RPG), steals (3.2 SPG) and blocks (1.1 BPG). The Lady Bulldogs are 9-3 when she scores at least 17 points. She can score at all three levels and El Do is a better team when she’s attacking the rim. This group of seniors remember what it feels like to make a run. What better way to go out than with another district championship?
Class 1
Class 1 is just like Class 2 in the sense that it could potentially send two teams to Columbia as districts 3 & 4 are considered south, while districts 5 and 6 get lumped in with the Kansas City area schools. Walnut Grove has always made its runs through the KC portion, while recently teams like Chadwick and Eminence have gone the southern route. This year, should the Ozarks get two representatives that would meet in the semifinals.
District 3
The Redwings are sitting at 16-9 and have won seven straight entering Thursday’s season finale at Bunker, who just so happens to be the No. 2 seed in the district. Eminence went 4-0 against district opponents, beating South Iron, Lesterville and Summersville and while it will be a dogfight to get out of this district, it’s hard not to like their body of work. Eminence is 7-1 at home, which should bode well considering that’s exactly where the district is. Also, Jimbo Blackwell’s team has tremendous balance, with five players averaging between 8.6 and 14.1 PPG, led by 5-foot-8 junior Savanna Connor. Classmate Madison Keeling, whose brother helped lead the Eminence boys to a state championship in 2012, is averaging a cool 13 PPG. The crazy part is Eminence went 1-21 last year, so to say that this is a hungry group would be an understatement. Blackwell is no stranger to winning either, he led Doniphan to a pair of Final Four trips and won 259 games in his 13 seasons. This is the last Class 1 program to beat Walnut Grove and while the faces have changed, they have the magic necessary to make a Final Four run.
Steph Curry Alert: Jacey Skaggs, Bunker – She’s been like DJ Khaled, with her 2,000 career points helping to guide Bunker to three consecutive district championships. But, each time they have run into Chadwick in sectionals, including last year’s 67-53 loss in which she scored 27 points. The 6-foot senior opened the season with a 43-point effort against Liberty; she can fill it up in a hurry. She averages team-highs in scoring (22.6 PPG), rebounds (12.1 RPG) and blocks (4.5 BPG). With Eminence beating vertically challenged, Skaggs is capable of willing Bunker to yet another district title.
District 4
Chadwick has owned this district for the past four years, claiming four straight titles and making Final Four runs in two of those years. But, this feels like the year that dominance will come to an end because of just how good No. 1 Hurley and No. 2 Bradleyville have been this year. Also, don’t count out the No. 3 seed and district host School of the Ozarks, who split two regular season meetings with Hurley.
Favorite: Bradleyville – The Lady Eagles are the No. 2 seed, but to me are the favorites to win the district. Bradleyville and Hurley split two meetings this year with Hurley taking the regular season matchup, 83-73, but Bradleyville winning the Mark Twain Conference Tournament with a 65-44 win. Class 2 Norwood, Class 3 Hollister and Class 2 Blue Eye are the only other teams to beat Bradleyville this year. This is also one of the better rebounding teams you’ll see thanks to double-double machine Emily Todd (12.1 PPG, 11.4 RPG; 11 double-doubles) and 5-foot-10 sophomore Dorian Hayes (10.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG; eight double-doubles). Four years ago this team went 5-18 and now it’s not too far-fetched for this team to make a Final Four run.
Best Challenger: Hurley – Hurley is very clearly the best threat to knock off Bradleyville and really it’s a 1A vs. 1B situation. The Lady Tigers haven’t been very consistent this year, but their good is easily good enough to win the district championship. They have the lopsided split with Bradleyville, but Hurley also split with School of the Ozarks, losing to the Lady Pats, 58-55, back in December, only to beat them by 20, 55-35, just a month later. Hurley will also have the best player on the court in 5-foot-9 senior Zava Bennett. She’s scored more than 1,500 points in her career and is averaging 22.6 PPG, 6.4 SPG and 4.2 RPG. If she gets hot it’ll be a long week for everyone not wearing black and red.
Darkhorse: School of the Ozarks – The Lady Patriots have been streaky, but their best is good enough to win the district. S of O has that win over Hurley and gave Bradleyville all it could handle in a 52-44 loss on Jan. 25. In a district that has a bit of parity at the top, this is a team to keep an eye on.
Major Key Alert: Kourtney Shipley, Bradleyville – In 2013 Autumn Thomas took over a program that had won just five games the season before and hadn’t had a winning season in more than a half decade. That has changed because of her ability to develop players and the latest is Shipley. She’s not very big, but the 5-foot-3 sophomore guard is a walking bucket with limitless range. She’s averaging 22.3 PPG and 4.2 APG. She’s got one of the greenest lights in the Ozarks and it pays off. Bradleyville is 7-1 when Shipley scores at least 25.
Steph Curry Alert: Maggie Phipps, New Covenant – If you wondered what NCA would do without All-Everything guard Casey Askins, the answer is Phipps. The freshman has been an instant success for the Lady Warriors, leading the team in scoring (17.4 PPG), assists (5.4 APG) and steals (5.1 SPG).
District 5
There may be more than one way to skin a cat, but so far no one in Class 1 has figured out how to skin Walnut Grove. Putting it politely, the Lady Tigers own Class 1 in Missouri and until someone knocks them off it’s tough to even entertain the idea. Bayley Harman and Raylie Hejna will be the two best players on the court nearly every time they lace ‘em up and both have grown up in the Walnut Grove culture. Golden City and Verona are the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the district respectively and Golden City beat Verona 43-40 during the regular season. While neither team got a shot at Walnut Grove, but Golden City did split a pair of meetings with Greenfield. Walnut Grove beat Greenfield 53-14. Comparing scores is a dangerous and tricky game, but until I see Walnut Grove get beat by a Class 1 team, which hasn’t happened in the O-Zone era, it is tough for me to prognosticate against them.
District 6
This has the chance to be one of the more entertaining districts in the Ozarks. Five teams will enter district play above .500 and all five of them could conceivably win it. But, it all starts with Hermitage, which won the district last year and enters as the top seed. With conference rival Wheatland grabbing the 2-seed and Macks Creek, Halfway and Lakeland rounding out the top five, it’s easy to see why this one could get messy.
Favorite: Hermitage – It’s impossible for them not to be the favorite. The Lady Hornets won 20 games for the first time since 2006-07 and the feeling around the town is this could be a special group. All four losses are quality, with Class 2 Hartville and Pierce City, Class 5 Springfield Central, as well as Walnut Grove being the only teams to hand them a loss. More importantly, Hermitage already has wins over No. 2 Wheatland (68-38 and 61-46), No. 3 Macks Creek (41-38), No. 4 Halfway (48-29 and 52-35) and No. 5 Lakeland (64-56). The fact that they didn’t lose a game to a district foe makes them a pretty overwhelming favorite and the fact that Shane Salmon has players that have been through the wars and understand what it takes to win a district championship is only another reason to believe Hermitage will make it back-to-back titles. The lone knock on them is the closeness of the games with Macks Creek and Lakeland, which could be an outlier or be signs of a tough matchup.
Challenger(s): Everyone – It’s hard to pick one because of all the trading off they’ve done. Wheatland is the 2-seed, but split a pair of games with No. 3 Macks Creek. Meanwhile Macks Creek has loses to No. 4 Halfway, No. 5 Lakeland and No. 7 Climax Springs. Halfway could have a legitimate beef with how the seeds worked out considering they have a win over Macks Creek and Fair Play, which beat Wheatland. Lakeland is in a similar position to have a gripe with wins over Macks Creek and Fair Play, but the loss to No. 6 Weaubleau on double OT is the reason they slid. Basically, this district could end up with a No.5 vs. No. 6 title game and I wouldn’t be shocked.
Major Key Alert: Sheridan Corum & Sadie Hostettler, Hermitage – They are just sophomores, but they have been starters from day one and are the reason why Hermitage was able to breakthrough last year. Corum (15.3 PPG, 4.7 SPG, 3.1 APG) has developed into a headache for opposing coaches and puts a tremendous amount of pressure on a defense because of her ability to get to the line. Hostettler (12.2 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.2 APG) gives Salmon another attacking guard that can create for herself or others. She’s also flirted with a triple-double on several occasions. The magic number is 13. Hermitage is 6-0 when these two each score 13 or more points.
Steph Curry Alert: Madi Sutt, Wheatland – If you’re wondering how Wheatland went from a first-round exit last year to legitimate candidate to win the whole thing, the answer is Sutt. The 5-foot-8 freshman is a double-double machine and has had some monster performances in some big games (29 points, 16 rebounds in season opener, 25-16 vs. Macks Creek, 17-15 vs. Lakeland) and she can hurt you inside or out. But, she also has plenty of help. Sophomore guard Gacie Fatino is also capable of scoring in bunches and 5-foot-7 junior Ashley Horton is a workhorse inside. They are young and inexperienced, but talented enough to win big games.
Popcorn Alert: Annie Swaters & Lana Fellhoelter, Lakeland – Every coach worries about rebounding and how to defend bigs and playing Lakeland that problem becomes amplified because of Swaters (5-foot-10 freshman) and Fellhoelter (5-foot-11 sophomore). Swaters is averaging a cool 17.2 PPG and 9.3 RPG to go along with a block a night and her 11 double-doubles (six 20-10 games) are enough to be a headache, but Fellhoelter (9.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG and 1.3 BPG) isn’t far behind. Lakeland is 7-1 when both towers grab at least 10 rebounds.
