By Chris Parker
These power rankings are based on dominance by class and not a strictly head-to-head ranking.
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1. Greenwood (C3 – 7-0)
There isn’t much to say about Greenwood right now that hasn’t already been said. The Blue Jays made their statement with a 74-72 comeback victory over Kickapoo in the championship of the Willard Tournament. Otherwise, Greenwood has won its games by an average of 37 points. They are the top seed in the Gold Bracket at the Blue & Gold Tournament that starts this Saturday. Ozark and Strafford are the 4-5 seeds with Republic and Bolivar sitting at Nos. 2-3 on the bottom of the bracket.
2. Kickapoo (C6 – 4-1)
Kickapoo came up short against Greenwood in the Willard Tournament, but picked up its signature win by beating Cardinal Ritter by two on Dec. 12 at a neutral site game in Rogersville. Kickapoo’s big four are all averaging in double figures led by Anton Brookshire at 25.6 points, 6 assists and 3.2 steals per game. Isaac Haney is finding the transition from Class 1 to Class 6 basketball no trouble at all averaging 20.4 points, 4 assists and 3.5 steals per game. Trevon Brazile has scored 16 points per game while leading the team in rebounds at 8 per game along with three blocks per game. Cam Liggins rounds things out at 11.2 points per game. Kickapoo is off until Jan. 8 at Rolla.
3. Hartville (C3 – 9-0)
Hartville is the defending Class 2 state champion and defending champion in the Blue & Gold. They bring everybody back from that team and are playing like it. Nobody has played Hartville within 18 points so far. They earned the No. 1 seed in the Blue Division of the Blue & Gold this year. There looms the potential of a semifinal matchup between Hartville and Skyline that would be a rematch of last year’s Class 2 state title game. A championship game against Nixa would be must-see as well if it comes to pass.
4. Nixa (C6 – 5-0)
The fact that Nixa is sitting at No. 4 on this list is a commentary on the quality of boys basketball in this area. The Eagles beat Arkansas power Fayetteville and then won the Carthage Tournament title beating Ray-Pec in the championship game. Then, because Nixa alway assembles a one of the toughest schedules in the area, the Eagles picked up a game with a Blair Oaks team that made it to the final four last year in Class 3 with a 28-3 overall record. Jason Jones is leading Nixa in his senior year averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds per game. Junior point guard Colin Ruffin is leading the team in three-point shooting and in assists at 5.2 per game. Jaret Nelson is a 6’4 junior averaging 12 points per game. Expect Nixa to only get better when sophomore Kael Combs returns in 2 to 4 weeks from injury. Nixa is the No. 2 seed in the Blue Division of the Blue & Gold Tournament.
5. Republic (C6 – 7-0)
Republic has been consistent all season with a two-point win over Bolivar being the only game decided by as few as eight points. There isn’t a soft win on the schedule either featuring Helias Catholic, Glendale, Rolla, Parkview, Clever, Hillcrest and Bolivar. Republic has clamped down defensively holding opponents to 39% shooting. Drew McMillin has scored 23 points per game to go with 4.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Ahlante Askew is averaging 15 points, 3.3 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal per game. Republic is the No. 2 seed in the Gold Division of the Blue & Gold and could face Greenwood in a title game if seeds hold.
6. Mt. Vernon (C4 – 4-0)
The big win on the schedule came over a strong East Newton team in overtime last weekend. The Mountaineers also have an in-class win over Aurora and Class 5 wins over Nevada and Monett. Every team so far on Mt. Vernon’s schedule is at least Class 4 and has no worse than a .500 record. Mt. Vernon is under-seeded as a No. 7 in the Blue Division of the Blue & Gold Tournament. An opening round win over Camdenton would likely lead to a second round matchup with Nixa.
7. Skyline (C3 – 7-0)
With all the talk of Hartville and Greenwood, sometimes people forget that it was Skyline who was the state runner-up in Class 2 last year with a 30-3 overall record. Skyline moved up to Class 3 and is with Greenwood and Hartville once again, but in a different pod, so the Tigers would avoid both powers until a final four. Skyline is off to a perfect start once again this year with many key players returning from last year. The Tigers have not played a game within 19 points this year. They are winning games by 32.6 points per game. Bradyn Porter (19 ppg) and Lawson Beem (18 ppg) lead the way for the Tigers. Jaytin DeFreece and Zack Williams are strong playmakers. Kourt Cheek and Trey Swearingin lock things down on the defensive end. Things are going to get very tough starting Saturday when Skyline begins Blue Bracket play as a No. 4 seed. Catholic is the No. 5 seed with Hartville awaiting as the No. 1 seed.
8. Thayer (C3 – 5-0)
Thayer has shown no signs of football rust racing out to a 5-0 start. Reigning Athlete of the Week Jordan Andrews leads Thayer in scoring at 22.8 ppg along with 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Football star Jayce Haven is pretty good on the hardwood as well averaging 14.6 points, 5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Gaige Pitts is a third Bobcat averaging in double figures with 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Thayer is a heavy favorite in the Cabool Holiday Tournament as the top seed. Alton is the No. 2 seed, and Thayer just beat the Comets by 10 points on Tuesday.
9. Lockwood (C1 – 10-0)
Lockwood is our first Class 1 team on the list, and also the area’s first team to 10 wins. The signature win is over a Golden City team that was in the Class 1 Final Four last year and returns a bulk of its roster. Defense has been the key for Lockwood. The Tigers are holding opponents to 37.7 ppg on just 29.6% shooting so far this season. They are also winning the rebounding battle by 10 per game. Max Schnelle is a double-double every night averaging 17.7 points and 10.7 rebounds to go with 4.6 assists and 3.7 steals per game. Fellow senior Blaine Garver has poured in 12.4 ppg along with 2.7 assists and 2 spg. Kane Cooper is averaging 10.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
10. East Newton (C4 – 6-1)
East Newton was a team I didn’t know quite what to think of until Dec. 11. The Patriots rattled off five straight wins over teams in Classes 2 & 3. That included a two-point win over an always-tough Crane squad in the Pierce City Tournament championship. Then, on Dec. 11, East Newton welcomed in a Class 5 Webb City school that I think has the potential for a final four run and beat them by five in overtime. The Patriots followed that up with a close in-class loss to currently unbeaten Mt. Vernon. Kyson Lahman is leading the Patriots at 19 ppg. Connor Killion is just behind him at 14 ppg.
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11. Webb City (C5 – 5-1)
Webb City brings Class 5 into these rankings. It is a class with a lot of parity in my opinion. For now, I have the Cardinals at the head of the class on the strength of having so many weapons. Nickhai Howard is averaging 16.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5 assists per game this year. Cohl Vaden is just behind him at 15.7 ppg. Luke Brumit gives the Cardinals a third scorer averaging double figures at 10.3 ppg. Mekhi Garrard (8.5 ppg), Kaden Turner (8.2 ppg) and Trenton Hays (7.8 ppg) have Webb City running deep in scoring options.
12. Catholic (C5 – 6-1)
Catholic has one loss to Hartville by 23 points this year. Outside of that game, the Irish are beating opponents by an average margin of 25.5 points. The Irish have one of the area’s top scorers in Zach Howell who is averaging 28 points per game while knocking down 2.8 3-point shots per game. Howell is much more than a shooter averaging 12.2 rebounds per game. Liam O’Reilly is also scoring in double figures at 13 ppg. Their path in the Blue & Gold will provide plenty of opportunity with Skyline likely waiting in the quarterfinals with a rematch with Hartville looming down the line.
13. Rogersville (C5 – 3-2)
Rogersville lost its first two games of the year to a pair of Class 6 schools in Parkview and Ozark. The Wildcats then rattled off three straight wins over Glendale, West Plains and Willard. Rogersville is consistent. The Wildcats always seem to be there at the end of the year with three consecutive 20-win seasons and three consecutive district titles. Rogersville is the No. 6 seed in the Gold Bracket of the Blue & Gold Tournament next week with a matchup against Bolivar likely waiting in the quarterfinals.
14. Bolivar (C5 – 3-4)
Bolivar did just lose in class to West Plains on the road. They are here and West Plains is not because of two things: 1. Strength of schedule. 2. West Plains followed the win over Bolivar with two in-class losses to Rogersville and Marshfield. The Liberators just gave Republic its best game of the season in a two-point loss last Friday. Bolivar’s other two losses are to Class 6 Kickapoo and currently unbeaten Warrensburg by two. The Liberators will look to pick up some big wins in the Gold Division of the Blue & Gold. They open with Lebanon before likely facing a team just above them on this list in Rogersville. Republic is the No. 2 seed with Greenwood sitting as the No. 1 seed in their bracket.
15. Strafford (C3 – 4-2)
Class 3 is an absolute monster locally this year. Strafford is the fifth Class 3 team on this list, which is the most of any class. The Indians won the Forsyth Tournament to start the year with a signature win coming against a Hollister team that is currently 9-1. Losses are against Summit Christian Academy (6-2) and Hartville (9-0)
16. Joplin (C6 – 5-2)
This last Class 6 spot came down to three teams in Ozark, Parkview and Joplin. Joplin’s four-point win over Parkview and Parkview’s win over Ozark gave the Eagles the edge as the final Class 6 team in the top 20. The Eagles have talent, but also a long way to go after graduating a strong senior class. Joplin fell to fellow Class 6 school Nixa by 21 points on Dec. 11.
17. Hollister (C4 – 9-1)
Hollister won 10 games all of last year and 12 games the year prior to that. This year, Hollister is off to a 9-1 start. The win that convinced me was an in-class win over an Ava team that won 24 games last year and made it to the state quarterfinals. Hollister beat the Bears by 24. The Tigers also handed Spokane its only loss so far by 20 points. Hollister earned the top seed in the Walnut Grove Holiday Classic.
18. Golden City (C1 – 5-2)
Golden City has challenged itself in the early going coming off a third place finish in Class 1 last year. The Eagles have lost to Class 5 Willard by seven and currently unbeaten Lockwood by four. They are poised for another deep post-season run with another balanced scoring attack led by senior Lane Dunlap averaging 21.5 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game. Josh Reeves is averaging 15.8 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game. Chain Parrill has added in 13 ppg. Seth Miller is leading the team in rebounding with 12.3 per game while adding in 8.1 points per game.
19. Chadwick (C1 – 8-0)
Chadwick is a small-class team that has been rolling all-comers so far this year. The strength of schedule won’t knock you over, but Chadwick has taken care of business to the tune of an average margin of victory of 27 ppg. The Cardinals beat Sparta by 12, but no other game has been within 20 points. They reside behind Golden City due to strength of schedule, as Golden City’s losses are to Class 5 Willard and unbeaten Class 1 rival Lockwood.
20. Crane (C2 – 5-2)
Crane rounds out our Top 20 as the lone Class 2 school on this list. The Pirates have a really good win over Class 5 Marshfield by 11 points from the Pierce City Tournament. They lost by just two points to East Newton in the title game of that tournament. Wins have also come against Reeds Spring, College Heights, Greenfield and Exeter by an average margin of 39 points. The second loss was to a strong Class 5 program in Webb City. Crane, a No. 7 seed, gets a tough test to open Gold Division play in the Blue & Gold Tournament with one-loss Willow Springs. Win that? Republic would be their likely prize.
