By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the Class 3 Girls Basketball Players to Watch along with a breakout player.
NOTE: MSHSAA won’t be releasing new class and district assignments until Friday, Dec. 11. WE ARE USING LAST YEAR’S CLASSIFICATIONS for our watchlists. There will be SIGNIFICANT changes to classes when the new assignements come out, as Missouri is adding a sixth class of basketball this year.
Top 10
• Kendrick Bailey, Hollister Senior
Hollister was a struggling program from 2013-2018, winning just 29 games total. Over the last two seasons the Lady Tigers have won 32 games and Bailey has been a major reason why. Better known as Bug, Bailey averaged 20.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.5 steals. The Harding commit makes winning plays at both ends of the floor.
• Emma Compton, Strafford Junior
Strafford has won five straight Class 3 state championships and as long as EC is the PG, they’ll have a shot to extend that streak. She’s a two-way bulldog that not only creates offense for herself and others, but is a lockdown defender. Along with Emma Mullings, Strafford Basketball is in very good hands.
• Hannah Evans, Ava Junior
As a sophomore Evans was an All-SCA and All-District pick, mostly because she’s a unicorn. At 5-foot-10, Evans has post size with a guard skillset, including the ability to knock down 3s and handle the ball. Her athleticism just adds to the fact that she’s a tough cover. She’s an early favorite for SCA Player of the Year honors.
• Annette Ramirez, Sarcoxie Senior
Ramirez isn’t very big, but the 5-foot-6 guard scores it effortlessly. As a junior she averaged 28 points a night and scored her season-high (44 points) the night that she scored her 1,000th point. The All-Southwest Conference and All-District guard will surpass the 1,500-point mark this year, which is why colleges are lining up.
• Izzy Rohlfing, New Covenant Senior
To say that Rohlfing is dominant would be an understatement. As a junior she averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks, which earned her All-Mark Twain Conference and All-District honors. The 6-foot-2 forward will continue her basketball career at Central Missouri.
• Reese Schaaf & Macie Mays, El Dorado Springs Junior & Sophomore
It’s not easy being the little sister of two basketball legends, but Reese Schaaf is making it work. She averaged 20.3 points, eight rebounds and 4.4 assists for El Do, who went 25-3 last year. Mays, also a familiar name around El Do Basketball, averaged 17.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.8 steals. The Lady Bulldogs are accustomed to flying under the radar, but this duo will be a force to be recognized for the next two seasons.
• Brooke Sinclair, Dixon Senior
Another name you may not be familiar with, Sinclair was an All-Frisco League pick as a junior, averaging 26 points, four rebounds and three steals. She enters her senior year with 1,492 points and will make a legitimate run at 2,000 career points this winter.
• Lacy Stokes & Ellie Johnston, Mt. Vernon Seniors
The Missouri Southern signee has been a mainstay in Mt. Vernon’s lineup. As a junior she averaged 22.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 4.5 steals. She has a twinge of Russell Westbrook to her game with her athleticism and competitive fire. She was All-Everything, including the Big 8 East Player of the Year. Johnston added 15.1 points and 6.4 rebounds for Mount Vernon. She also picked up All-Big 8 and All-District credits.
Others to Watch
• Ruthie Brown, Clever Junior
• Summer Kenney, Stockton Sophomore
• Aliya Grotjohn, Seneca Junior
• Tevi Gurley, El Dorado Springs Junior
• Brooklyn Luna, Fair Grove Senior
• Elizabeth Martin & Ellie Creasey, Aurora Senior & Sophomore
• Kara Morey, Lamar Senior
• Lexi Shumpert, MV-BT/Liberty Junior
• Anna Sullins & Abbie Sullins, Licking Senior & Sophomore
• Scarlett Texeira, Forsyth Senior
Breakout Player: Kylie Taylor, Licking Junior
She hasn’t been a big-time scorer, but Taylor is as steady of a point guard as they come. As a junior she averaged 6.5 points, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals. On several occasions she flirted with triple-doubles. She’ll now be counted on to score more with Licking’s graduation losses. But her 51 wins in two seasons suggests she’ll do whatever it takes to help the Lady Cats win.
