Kickapoo is the defending Class 5 champion. Will they make it back to Columbia? Which other area teams are threats for a deep run?
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Kickapoo still top dog until someone knocks them off
Sure, Kickapoo isn’t as invincible as it was last year, but someone will still have to beat the Lady Chiefs when it matters most. Ozark got them, 62-58, back in January and that was the last team to even push them. Kickapoo has won six straight since then, scoring 86 or more in four of those games. The Lady Chiefs have won 20 of their last 22 games since Christmas break. Even their early season losses were quality. Class 5 No. 3 Washington and Class 5 No. 4 Jeff City beat Kickapoo by seven and six, respectively. The Lady Chiefs still have two wins over Lebanon and another over Republic. And, anyone wanting to beat them will have to figure out a way to defend Jordan Squared. UC-Irvine signee Jordan Sanders is averaging 22 PPG and junior Jordan Wersinger is dropping 19 PPG. Senior Ari Acuff (47% 3FG) and junior Hannah Collins (41% 3FG) make it impossible to send too much help. This team isn’t going away anytime soon.
Is this Lebanon’s year?
The Lady Jackets have to feel pretty good about what they’ve been able to do, but there’s still one thing missing; a playoff run. Lebanon has put together a solid resume. Wins over No. 4 Jeff City and a 24-4 Parkway North squad are impressive, not to mention the Lady Jackets drilled everyone in their district. Of their five losses, two came against defending Class 5 state champ Kickapoo, one came against nationally-ranked Strafford, one came against state power Rock Bridge and one came against a Carl Junction team that was ranked No. 1 in Class 4. Those losses likely prepared this team for the next two weeks of the season. It also can’t be understated how much the development of Jaiden Offutt (12.2 PPG) and Kamryn Mack (8.6 PPG), and getting by senior post Faith Alwardt have aided Lebanon’s development. This team is much more than just Kelsey Winfrey and Brendan Kelley has a group that is capable of winning a state championship.
Branson still seeking respect
Branson is 44-9 over the last two seasons and yet the amount of weeks they’ve been state-ranked can be counted on one hand. This year’s resume is even better than last year. West Plains, Ozark, Republic (2) and Benton are all on the hit list. The Lady Pirates have won 14 of their last 16 games, with the two losses coming by a combined four points to Carl Junction and Nixa. Branson has dropped two straight district championship games to Kickapoo and neither of them were close. Harding signee Amanda Kearney is playing unreal basketball and her supporting cast is full of superstars in their role. It’ll be interesting to see if Kip Bough can throw enough wrinkles at Ozark and Kickapoo to get out of the district.
Republic going for 9th district title in 11 years
Kris Flood just wins basketball games. I struggle to wrap my mind around the fact that Republic has won district championships in nine of the last 11 years. There are plenty of programs that don’t have nine district championships all-time. In what should have been a rebuilding year, Republic is again in position to claim a district title as the top seed in Class 5 – District 12. John Brown University signee Taylor Fergen has shouldered both a scoring and leadership role vacated by last year’s decorated class. The one hurdle for RepMo will come in the district championship. Neosho and Nixa will battle for the chance to play Republic. While the Lady Tigers won both regular season meetings, neither came easy. Neosho took Republic to overtime and Nixa lost by just three points.
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Neosho is legit
Neosho limps into district play with losses in five of its last six games but that’s hardly indicative of how good the Lady Cats have been this season. Neosho won 15 of its first 19 games this year, including wins over Blue Springs and Nixa. Sydney Linny (13.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG) and Makayla Hayes (12.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG) have been terrific all season long. While Neosho did beat Nixa the first time around, that game was in Neosho. Beating Nixa in districts, at Nixa, will be a task. You can bet this team wants another shot at Republic.
Waynesville looks to make it two straight at home
Waynesville has had quite the time silencing detractors that thought the program would struggle with following the graduation of Kallie Bildner, but that has not been the case. The Lady Tigers have wins over Class 5 No. 7 Hickman, West Plains and Sullivan. They were also on the verge of knocking off Jeff City (51-48), Republic (49-44) and Lutheran South (66-64). Coach Brittany Matlock has traded an all-state post for three players that can put a tremendous of pressure on teams via the bounce. Reshawna Stone (18 PPG, 5 RPG, 3 APG), Nina Kizzee (12 PPG, 3 APG) and Kierra Shoulders (11 PPG, 8 RPG, 3 APG) are dynamic and senior Ashton Pilz is the perfect glue player. Waynesville will be tough to beat at home in a district setting.
JJ Adamson, Willard a year early?
The first time Willard saw Lebanon was in the Pink and White; the Lady Tigers didn’t score for the entire first quarter. That game was a perfect storm of Lebanon fulfilling its full potential and Willard playing about as poorly as it could play. That was so 2016, though. The Lady Tigers drilled Fair Grove, beat Nixa and competed well with Strafford for a half. Honestly, this team is playing with house money; they’re supposed to lose this game. Lebanon is the top seed and full of seniors that could be playing in their final game. J.J. Adamson is going to return five of his top six scorers next year, headlined by Joran Stout-Mitchell (11.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1 BPG). The lone senior, Larissa Pyle, happens to be one of the best shooters in the area when she has it going. Willard loves to play fast, as does Lebanon which should make for an entertaining game.
Sleeper Alert (Camdenton, Nixa, Ozark)
Three teams that I really wouldn’t want to see on my schedule are Camdenton, Nixa or Ozark. They fit in a similar mold because they are well coached and play brutal schedules. Camdenton has battled a rebuild and injury problems, but the Lady Lakers have still been extremely competitive. Four of their 10 losses were by seven points or less and all came to quality teams (West Plains, Ozark, Clever Republic). Camdenton’s ability to get out in transition and score is difficult to game plan, as is stopping junior Coley Rezabek. Her older sister is one of the best players to ever wear a Camdenton jersey and little sis’ 20 PPG are going to have her in the conversation as well. Natalie Basham (13.5 PPG, 5.2 SPG) plays 100 miles per hour as well. Losing Blair Kurtz to an ACL injury is tough, but this team is still capable of giving anyone a scare…
Nixa has had a roller coaster 2016-17 campaign. When the Lady Eagles are at their best they’re really good. That win over Branson is their best of the season, but this year has been about almost for Nixa. As in almost knocking off several notable programs. Six of Nixa’s losses have come by less than five points and those teams are a who’s who of Missouri programs (Rock Bridge, St. James, Webb City, Republic) and out of state foes Rogers (Ark.) and Olathe East (Kan.). Jennifer Perryman has an extremely young team that has battled adversity and injuries throughout the year. There will be better days ahead with freshman Emily Edwards (11.2 PPG) and sophomore Taylor Arnold (9.2 PPG) holding down the backcourt. The key to a Nixa run lies in the hands of sophomore Kelsey Biro. The 6-foot wing is easily one of the most talented players in Missouri’s 2019 class. When she’s engaged at both ends of the floor the Lady Eagles are can beat anyone in the state…
Coming into the year I thought that Ozark was the best team in the COC Large. The Lady Tigers didn’t win the conference championship, but they did nothing to change how I feel. The win over Kickapoo is obviously impressive, but Ozark also split with West Plains and beat Republic and Rogers (Ark.). Here’s the crazy part, if you flip Ozark’s four late-game losses to Rogersville (47-46), West Plains (54-50), Branson (54-51) and St. Joseph Central (57-56) then the Lady Tigers are a 20-4 team that gets the No. 1 seed in the district. Regardless, David Brewer has a talented group. Senior SBU commit Mikayla Putt (13.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.5 APG) is a matchup nightmare because of her size and athleticism. Junior post Macey Putt (9.7 PPG, 6 RPG) is an Arkansas State volleyball commit. Then there’s freshman guard Madi Braden (13.6 PPG), who has every coach in the COC wishing should wasn’t just a freshman. She has an absolute burner, helping her set the single-season 3-point record (63 makes and counting). She’ll give Hannah Cook a run for her money as Ozark’s all-time leading scorer. This team is a Final Four threat.
Could Ms. Show-Me Basketball lives in this region?
You have to go all the way back to 2005 to find the last time a local player was named Miss Show-Me Basketball. I felt like Lexie Vaught had a legitimate beef with not receiving the award last year, as did Heather Harman in 2014. But, 2017 could be the year the Ozarks breaks the skid. Who will be the lucky winner?
Kelsey Winfrey, Lebanon
The fact that she’s a Mizzou signee is her biggest selling point, as three of the last four winner were future Lady Tigers. Winfrey’s resume is disgustingly good; this year has been a farewell tour. She leads Lebanon in every major stat category (23.1 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 5 SPG, 3.6 APG, 1 BPG) and that’s just the beginning. The 5-foot-9 guard has eight double-doubles and 10 games of 25 or more points. She shoots 53% from the field, 42% from 3 and 79% from the line. The McDonald’s All-American nominee has 2,000 career points are almost as impressive as the fact that she can hoop while wearing a mask.
Jordan Sanders, Kickapoo
She wasn’t named as a McDonald’s All-American nominee, and that’s almost as egregious as Russell Westbrook not being named an all-star game starter. I’m not sure Irvine could have snagged her if it wasn’t for the beach. This year she’s leading Kickapoo in scoring (22 PPG) and rebounding (9 RPG) and the Lady Chiefs are again poised for a Final Four run. If Kickapoo can make it back-to-back state championships and Sanders matches her production from last year – which would also mean the Poo likely beat Lebanon, Rock Bridge and Kirkwood – then it would be tough for me to not see Sanders as the most deserving player for Miss Show-Me Basketball.
District 9 is LOADED
In order for anyone from the Ozarks to reach the Final Four they’ll likely have to go through the District 9 winner… which will be a really good basketball team. Class 5 No. 6 Rock Bridge, No. 7 Hickman and No. 9 Blue Springs South are all housed in this district. Whoever survives this gauntlet will be as battle tested as they come. Last year was the first time a local team made it to the Final Four in Class 5 since Webb City in 2011, largely thanks to the teams in this district.
