By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
This week’s Girls Basketball Power Rankings are here. See the Top 15 below.
NOTE: THESE RANKINGS ARE BASED OFF OF DOMINANCE WITHIN EACH TEAM’S CLASS, NOT STRICTLY HEAD-TO-HEAD.
1. (1) Strafford (C3: 15-0)
At this point the question could be will they ever lose again? The Lady Indians are nearly halfway through a second consecutive unbeaten season and their last five wins have come against respected programs like Branson, Mount Vernon, Stockton, Skyline and Principia. Hayley Frank is rapidly approaching the Strafford scoring record. When all is said and done, she’ll be one of the most accomplished basketball players in American history, barring something crazy. No, that’s not a typo, but that’s what 2,800 points, 1,500 rebounds and 300 assists and 120 wins with four state titles can do for you.
2. (2) Skyline (C2: 15-1)
The Lady Tigers have won 39 of their last 42 games with two of the three losses coming to Strafford. Honestly, there may not be another team in Missouri – besides Incarnate Word – that Skyline wouldn’t be favored against. They already own wins against Nixa, Rogersville, Fair Grove (2), Adrian and Webb City. California, Bolivar and Nixa highlight Skyline’s next few games.
3. (3) Walnut Grove (C1: 14-1)
Walnut Grove seems poised to walk through Class 1 at this point. The Lady Tigers have won 12 straight since that loss to Strafford and that 12 is a who’s-who of basketball, with Purdy, Crane, Ozark, Hartville, Rogersville and Mid-Buchanan being just some of the bodies on that hit list. Mid-Buch was undefeated at the time of that game. The schedule softens a little with Grove stepping back into PCL play, but the Lady Tigers still have Lebanon on Jan. 25.
4. (8) Thayer (C2: 10-0)
The Lady Bobcats are the only undefeated team besides Strafford and won’t likely move from that No. 2 spot in Class 2 any time soon. Thayer’s hot start includes the Van Buren and Mountain Grove Tournament titles, as well as nonconference wins over Salem and Bakersfield. They’ll look to defend their own tournament title, then the schedule stiffens up with Poplar Bluff, Gainesville and Springfield Catholic all in a row.
5. (12) Mount Vernon (C3: 12-2)
The Lady ‘Neers have won eight of their last nine games, with the lone loss coming to Strafford in the Pink Division championship of the Pink and White Lady Classic. Keep in mind, they beat West Plains, Kickapoo and Clever to even get there. Mount Vernon beat Cassville last week. Up next is the Stockton Tournament and Marshfield, as well as a trip to Class 4 Webb City.
6. (10) Kickapoo (C5: 13-2)
The Lady Chiefs have no so quietly won 12 of their last 13, which is the reason they’re up to No. 3 in the state poll. That stretch includes wins over Nixa, Republic, White Station (Tenn.) and Blue Eye. The next two weeks are brutal with Ozark (2), Webb City, West Plains and Camdenton. Kickapoo is again on top of the Ozark Conference and seems to be on a crash course with a really good Waynesville team.
7. (5) Branson (C5: 12-3)
West Plains ruined their undefeated start, Branson then dropped a pair of games to Class 3 powers Strafford and Clever. However, the Lady Pirates have responded with four straight wins, including a win over reigning COC champ Carl Junction. Thanks to a 32-point performance by sophomore Priscilla Williams. The Bolivar Tournament, Parkview and Nixa are up next for Branson.
8. (4) Carl Junction (C4: 11-2)
The Lady Bulldogs are surprisingly 2-2 in their last four games, with those losses being powered by two of the best perimeter players in the nation, Springdale (Ark.) Marquesha Davis and Branson’s Priscilla Williams. CJ did beat Republic last week, but the Pittsburg (Kan.) Tournament should offer plenty of challenges, as well as a trip to Webb City.
9. (7) Blue Eye (C2: 14-3)
Blue Eye’s three loses have come against Berryville (Ark.), Branson and Kickapoo who are a combined 43-5. Keep in mind, Berryville is the smallest of those three teams and they’re 4A in Arkansas. The Lady Bulldogs have won four straight, taking the Sparta Tournament title with an impressive win over Gainesville. Blue Eye beat Glendale and Willard in the Pink and White, suggesting that maybe they’re ready for the bigger fish of Class 2.
10. (6) Fair Grove (C3: 14-3)
Fair Grove just has some tough luck. You could trade them with almost any other Class 3 team in Missouri outside of the Ozarks and they’d win a conference and district championships with a possible Final Four. Two of their three losses were Skyline and the third was Class 4 Webb City. Junior Alana Findley is averaging 25.4 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.9 steals, 3.5 assists and 1.4 blocks with 11 double-doubles and a triple-double.
11. (9) Licking (C3: 12-2)
Their undefeated start was ruined by Ozark Conference foes, Class 5 Waynesville and Class 4 Rolla, but that’s hardly the worst thing in the world. Licking is still in line to win district and conference championships. Sophomore PG Karlee Holland continues to put up awesome numbers, averaging 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 steals and 3.9 assists. They’ll hop back into conference play with games against Laquey and Newburg, before seeing Salem and the always loaded Mansfield Tournament.
12. (13) Clever (C3: 5-2)
Clever beating Branson and White Station (Tenn.), as well as hanging with Fayetteville (Ark.) is a glimpse of just how good this group is. The quartet of Harper Little, Abu Menzies, Tessa Newman and Ally Clevenger are absolute ballhawks. They average 17 steals per game as a team and Stockton Tournament and a rematch with Fair Grove will be yet more quality games.
13. (NR) Waynesville (C5: 11-2)
The Lady Tigers have won nine straight games since a 2-2 start. The stretch includes wins over Jefferson City, Hickman, St. James and Licking. Senior guard Reshawna Stone continues to play at a high level, following up her Stephanie Phillips Classic All-Tournament Team performance by taking home MVP honors at the Rolla Tournament. Lebanon, Washington Tournament and Central are up next.
14. (NR) Fordland (C2: 12-2)
The Lady Eagles have made a strong push behind the backcourt of Sophie Sparks and Abi Southard, who score it about as easily as you’ll see in the Ozarks. Fordland has won seven of eight with the lone loss coming to Walnut Grove at Walnut Grove in the championship of Walnut Grove’s tournament. The Rogersville Tournament – where Fordland is the smallest school competing – will offer a great challenge.
15. (NR) Lockwood (C2: 11-1)
New head coach, no problem, as Jessica McNichols has the Lady Tigers off to a white-hot start. Their lone loss came to a really good Class 3 Fair Grove team on the road. Lockwood is unbeaten at home and has won the Diamond and Golden City tournaments. Senior guard Rylee Neill recently scored the 1,000th point of her career. Lockwood is in the Liberal Tournament and hops back into SRVC play.
Knockin’ on the Door: Nixa (C5: 12-4), Bolivar (C4: 9-4), Camdenton (C5: 8-4), Hartville (C2: 10-3), Lamar (C3: 8-3), Pierce City (C2: 10-4), Hermitage (C1: 13-2), Bradleyville (C1: 10-4), Cassville (C4: 9-3), Neosho (C5: 8-3), Rogersville (C4: 8-6), Wheatland (C1: 12-4), MV-BT/Liberty (C3: 12-5)
