By Matt Turer — mturer@ky3.com
@MattTurer
Each week, OzarksSportsZone.com released our local girls basketball CoxHealth Power Rankings. Like our other power rankings, these rankings are based on dominance by Class, not head-to-head matchups.
Recent success and strength of schedule are also factored into the rankings.
Overall record, Class and last week’s ranking are listed in parenthesis.
FEB. 15 POWER RANKINGS
FEB. 8 POWER RANKINGS
FEB. 1 POWER RANKINGS
JAN. 25 POWER RANKINGS
JAN. 18 POWER RANKINGS
JAN. 11 POWER RANKINGS
JAN. 4 POWER RANKINGS
DEC. 21 POWER RANKINGS
DEC. 14 POWER RANKINGS
DEC. 7 POWER RANKINGS
NOV. 28 POWER RANKINGS
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1. Strafford (33-0, C3, LW: 1)
These history-setters held the top spot in these rankings from start to finish. Here’s a few no-less-than incredible stats from their championship season:
-Became the first girls team in MSHSAA history to finish a season 33-0.
-Outscored opponents by 1,222 points this season (2,439-1,217) for an average final of 73.9-36.9. To give some visual aid to how amazing that differential is, Class 4 Final Four team Carl Junction scored 1,308 TOTAL points this season.
-Games over 80 points? 14. Games over 90 points? 4. Over 100? 1.
-Current 49-game win streak is the sixth-longest in state history and the only streak to reach beyond 45 games in over two decades.
-Beat opponents by an average of 35.3 points per game in the playoffs.
That last stat is highlighted by an 80-39 running-clock championship game win over Whitfield (25-8). That 41-point differential is the second-largest in any girls title game regardless of Class to Class 1A Scott County Central’s (29-0) 47-point title game win over North Shelby, 85-38, in 1992. (Only one other title game has been decided by 41 points, and that was Class 4 Incarnate Word (31-0) beating Webb City 63-22 in 2013). Now for some individual accolades. Sophomore Hayley Frank averaged 24.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, three steals and 2.2 blocks per game, shooting 66.2 percent from the field and 56.4 percent from 3. Senior Abby Oliver set the all-time single-season 3-point mark with 151, shooting 51.5 percent from deep while averaging 21.5 points and 3.5 assists per game. There really was no competition from Missouri schools for Strafford this season, opening with a 24-point win over Class 5 Lebanon and Mizzou commit Kelsey Winfrey and only allowing one in-state team to finish within single digits (a 65-57 win over Class 4 Rogersville in December). Strafford’s closest final was a 76-75 thriller over nationally ranked Mercer County, Ky. in the Pink and White title game. All that added up to a No. 5 ranking in the USA Today Midwest poll. Strafford will be a threat again next season with Frank, defensive specialist Kayley Frank (8.8 PPG) and big-game Zoey Mullings (8.9 PPG) returning, but the loss of Oliver will certainly be felt.
2. Skyline (30-2, C2, LW: 2)
Skyline finally got that elusive title—its sixth all-time and first since 2008. The most dominant area Class 2 team all year got even better when the playoffs rolled around, beating Adrian (30-2) 69-42 in the title game, Scotland County (27-2) 46-22 in the semis and Pierce City (25-4) 67-24 in the quarterfinals. The biggest push Skyline got all postseason was from a clearly underrated Newburg team in the sectionals (more on them later), winning that one 65-54. For seniors Lauren Wouters and McKinsey Mountain, this championship ended three years of heartbreak delivered by the Crane dynasty. Mountain scored a game-high 20 points in the championship and Wouters added six. The Lady Tigers won’t slow down too much next year with names like Kaylee DaMitz (14.1 PPG), Autumn Garrett (8.4 PPG), Savannah Owen (5.9 PPG) and Chloe Cole (7.2 PPG) coming back.
3. Walnut Grove (28-5, C1, LW: 3)
Hot all year, Walnut Grove went cold in the Class 1 title game, falling 43-34 to Mercer (31-1) behind a 23.4-percent shooting mark from the floor. That loss was the only one against Class 1 competition for the Lady Tigers, who beat little Cinderella Prairie Home in the state semis by 21 and had no final score against Class 1 opponents finish inside 10 points until the state final. Walnut Grove’s only other losses came to Strafford, Class 2 quarterfinalist Pierce City, Class 2 district champion Gainesville and Class 3 Springfield Catholic. Raylie Hejna and her 16.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game will be gone next season, along with 5-foot-10 Kylee Verbeck, but Walnut Grove brings back Bayley Harman (23.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG), who’s maybe the best individual player in the state in Class 1, and the ever-improving Grace McPhail (8.8 PPG). In addition, the Lady Tigers have a very talented 8th-grade class on the rise that already has middle school tournament championships under its belt.
4. Carl Junction (27-3, C4, LW: 7)
Carl Junction rode that defense as far as it could, and that ended up being the Class 4 Final Four. The appearance there was the first ever for Carl Junction, but the run ended at the hands of state champion Incarnate Word (the eighth state title for Word) in the semifinals, 47-24. CJ lost just one other game this season to an in-state opponent (falling 43-31 to Class 5 Republic), allowed under 30 points 17 times and under 20 points nine times. Pretty incredible! The Lady Bulldogs graduate 6’1” all-stater Alex Vogt (13.4 PPG), another 6-footer in Lauren Walker and starter Emma Frack but bring back a lot talent and length, including 6’2” junior Megan Scott (11.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG) and 6’2” freshman Katie Scott (7.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG).
5. Thayer (25-2, C2, LW: 4)
Tough to say what this Thayer team could have done if foul trouble didn’t hound Julie Stone in the 60-57 district title loss to Neelyville. Stone, who averaged 18.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.8 steals per game as a sophomore, sat much of the first half in that game as Thayer fell behind by double digits. Thayer fought back for a brief late lead before Stone fouled out and that lead evaporated. This isn’t to say Stone is Thayer’s only threat. Far from it (junior Caity Jones averaged 13.0 PPG), but losing your offensive leader against a team as overlooked and talented as Neelyville, who made a run to the state quarterfinals before falling by three to Oran, who finished fourth in Class 2, was too much to overcome. The Lady Bobcats will be tough again next year.
6. Branson (25-5, C5, LW: 14)
The biggest jump of any team in these final rankings goes to Branson. The Lady Pirates knocked off defending state champion Kickapoo 58-54 to claim a district title that many (except these girls) thought was Kickapoo’s to lose and not Branson’s to win. Whoops! Then, the best celebrators in the Ozarks took down Republic for a third time, and with relative ease, in sectional play to secure a state quarterfinals berth, where they fell to eventual Class 5 third-place Columbia Rock Bridge, 42-27. Branson will have some rebuilding to do after losing an all-timer in Amanda Kearney. The senior averaged 23 points per game and finished her career with over 2,100 points. Terra Utz-Depriest (8.3 RPG, 2.5 BPG) and Tori O’Dell will also be missed in the starting lineup.
7. Gainesville (28-2, C2, LW: 5)
Gainesville didn’t skip a beat this year, improving to 100-10 since the 2013-14 season despite graduating its top offensive threats last season. The lone blemish for the Lady Bulldogs before their 68-51 state sectionals loss to Neelyville was a one-point loss to Thayer. Few impressed me more this year than 5’11” junior all-stater Annie Noah, who averaged 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. Noah is maybe the best true post player I saw in Class 2 and has the ability to connect and create from really anywhere (she was 6-12 from 3). Gainesville loses some good leaders, including Michia Jenkins and her 14.9 points per game and one my favorites to watch in Destiny Scott, who’s maybe the most intense player in Class 2 and a defensive star, but they’ll be back.
8. Kickapoo (23-5, C5, LW: 8)
Branson took down Kickapoo 58-54 in an epic district title battle, putting an end to an impressive but probably slightly disappointing season for the defending state champions. Kickapoo made a run to the Pink and White title game, falling to North Little Rock, beat state-ranked Lebanon by double digits on two occasions and ran through Ozark Conference play unblemished. Kickapoo says goodbye to Jordan Sanders after another all-state season (22.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 4.0 SPG). Sanders was also awarded the team’s Best Defender award. Junior Jordan Wersinger also received all-state honors (19.4 PPG, 4.5 APG).
9. West Plains (18-10, C4, LW: 14)
Interesting year for West Plains, and the Zizzers have to feel good with how things ended. I covered West Plains for the first time in their 44-40 loss to Rogersville back on Dec. 1, a loss that was a surprise to most people, but that loss was avenged twice, including in a 46-40 district title win. West Plains then went on to lose to Final Four team Carl Junction in sectionals play, 43-33. Those 10 losses look like a big number, but five came against good Class 5 competition and another came against Strafford. Elle Williams had a fantastic senior season, averaging 18 points and 5.5 boards per game, earning an all-state selection. Payton Richards will be missed as well, averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 assists per game this year.
10. Lebanon (23-6, C5, LW: 11)
Kelsey Winfrey’s decorated career came to an end in a 61-43 state sectionals loss to Rock Bridge, which was only the second loss in Lebanon’s final 18 games. Before that Lebanon won its district title over Waynesville, 41-32. Winfrey is Mizzou bound and averaged 21.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.9 steals and 3.6 assists per game this year, finishing with over 2,000 points for her career. Lebanon is also losing Jaiden Offutt (12.1 PPG), its only other double-digit scorer, but watch out for the continuing progression of sophomore Kamryn Mack (8.9 PPG).
11. Newburg (22-5, C2, LW: NR)
Yeah, is it too late now to say sorry? Newburg was one of the tougher teams to judge this year because, well, I just never got to see them. The Lady Wolves spent much of the season on my Keep An Eye On list, but this is their first appearance in the rankings. Why? Giving Skyline a fight! Newburg battled the state champs to a 65-54 loss in the Class 2 sectionals, the closest loss for Skyline all year against a Class 2 opponent and the only loss for Newburg all year against a Class 2 opponent. That loss came after a 54-42 district title win over Richland, the first district title for the program since 2008. Newburg head coach Steve Guffey is retiring along with his six graduating seniors, most of which he’s known since they were first graders. All-stater Riley Guffey is one of those seniors. Guffey 16.3 points and 5.7 assists per game this year, finishing with 1,556 points and 612 assists for her career. Kylee Brookshire was awarded the team’s Most Improved Player award, averaging 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game this season, recording 14 double-doubles this season. We see you!
12. Rogersville (21-7, C4, LW: 9)
Rogersville’s nine-game win streak ended in a 46-40 district title loss to West Plains. That loss was essentially the grudge match between the C4 rivals after Rogersville took Game 1 by four and lost Game 2 by eight. Overall though, this was a great year for the Lady Wildcats. Three of Rogersville’s losses came to Strafford, losing by eight, 12 and 18 points, and another to Class 5 Lebanon by seven. I stick by what I’ve been saying all season, this team could beat almost anyone. Rogersville is losing some very good talent and leadership in Sarah Jordan and Jordyn Gault, but there’s a lot of good young talent here, as well as a very good coaching staff.
13. Pierce City (25-5, C2, LW: 12)
Pierce City ended Purdy’s 21-game win streak with a 57-48 win in its district title game, avenging a 54-49 loss to Purdy earlier in the season. That win pushed Pierce City’s win streak to 13 games, but the Lady Eagles fell to state champion Skyline in the state sectionals, 67-24. Pierce City is going to be a BIG threat next year with Belle Golubski (14.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG), Ragan Blinzer (10.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.4 APG, 3.2 SPG) and Kendyl Hayward (12.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG) all returning.
14. Purdy (25-2, C2, LW: 7)
A magnificent 21-game win streak ended at the hands of Pierce City in the district championship, 57-48. Even so, this was a great year for Purdy, with its only other loss coming by three to Walnut Grove way back on December 8. All-stater Layne Skiles is just a junior and is bringing back this stat line next year: 17.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.8 APG. A pair of double-digit scorers are graduating in Rion Boyd (10.9 PPG) and Sami House (11.2 PPG).
15. Wheatland (24-3, C1, LW: 10)
Wheatland didn’t get that second shot at Walnut Grove, falling to Leeton in the state sectionals, 63-54. Before that, the Lady Mules claimed another district title over Hermitage, winning that 60-46 just eight days after dropping one to Hermitage, 61-55. Wheatland is going to be a threat in Class 1 next year. They lose 1,000-point scorer Ashley Horton but bring back to other 1,000-point scorers in sophomore Madi Sutt (21.2 PPG, 11.0 RPG) and junior Gracie Fatino (17.7 PPG, 5.0 APG), as well as a probable future 1,000-pointer in freshman Aleah Asare (11.1 PPG, 6.0 APG).
Keep An Eye On: Mt. Vernon (24-7, C3), Hartville (19-10, C2), Licking (23-6, C3), Hermitage (20-7, C1), Norwood (23-4, C2), Crane (13-16, C2), Republic (17-12, C5), Ozark (16-9, C5), Clever (21-7, C3)
