Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the area’s Class 2 Girls Basketball Players to Watch this year.
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Riley & Avery Arnold, Blue Eye Seniors
The Arnold twins have basketball in the DNA and their defense has always led to easy offense. Riley averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 assists and 3.6 steals as a junior. Sister Avery averaged 14.3 points and 2.5 steals. Both were All-Staters with Riley taking home SWCL Player of the Year honors while Avery was the SWCL Defensive POY. Riley will run track at SBU and Avery is going to play basketball at NAIA Lyon College.
Claudia Hadlock & Kaylee Helton, Miller Seniors
These two have played in as many meaningful athletic competitions over the last four years as anyone. They finished off a state championship run in volleyball and now will lead a Miller team that expects to do the same in basketball. Hadlock, a Cottey College signee, averaged 14.6 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals as a junior, even flirting with a few quadruple-doubles. Helton added 15.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals. Both have more than 1,300 career points entering this season.
Cassidy Hambelton, Dora Senior
Her brother, Treysen, was an absolute bucket at Dora (2011-15), averaging nearly 35 PPG as a senior and finishing his career with an impressive 1,780 points. So naturally, little sis decided to wipe that out in three seasons by scoring 1,824 points. The 5-foot-6 guard averaged 25.6 last year and her range starts when she steps off the bus. She has a legitimate shot at eclipsing 2,500 points this year and moving into the top 15 on the all-time scoring list.
Bella Harter, Billings Junior
Harter has been a headache since she first got to Billings and that continued last year where she averaged 18.3 points and 10.4 rebounds. Bella Buckets started her junior campaign off by scoring 37 points in the jamboree. She’s rapidly approaching 1,000 career points.
MaKinley McCall & Hannah Gibbons, Greenwood Junior & Sophomore
McCall averaged nearly 17 a game at Greenwood as a freshman before spending her sophomore season at Kickapoo. Gibbons averaged 18.6 points and 6.4 rebounds as a freshman. The duo will give opponents problems on the defensive end for the next two years and Mike Percival is going to give them plenty of freedom.
Miranda Moss, Richland Senior
Moss was an All-State pick as a junior, averaging 17 points, 4.1 rebounds and three assists. She can get to the rim, has a mid-range floater and shoots the garbage out of it from deep. Her teammate, Katelyn Cole, was the Frisco League POY last year. Moss – who will play college basketball – is good enough to take the award back to Richland this spring.
Hailey Shannon, Cabool Senior
The lefty had one of the most impressive stat lines in the Ozarks last year, averaging 21.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 2.7 assists. There’s not much the 5-foot-9 guard can’t do. She can score from anywhere on the court, rebounds, defends and facilities. She’s a tough cover without bringing a second or even a third defender.
Marlie Wright, Greenfield Junior
Through 50 games she’s been nothing but productive, averaging 15.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and three steals. A quarter of those games she finished with at least 20 points, including a career-high 36 points last year against Stockton. Wright continues to become a better shooter and more aggressive driver, which has made her even more difficult to defend.
Others to Watch
Gracie Brawley, Crane Senior
Cassie Chadwell, Norwood Senior
Danielle Cutbirth, Crane Senior
Maci Doak, Galena Junior
Belle Harley, Richland Senior
Monica Hinojosa, Wheaton Senior
Jayli Johnson, College Heights Junior
Skyeler Layman, Crocker Senior
Lillie Rasmussen, Seymour Senior
Payten Richardson, Miller Senior
Libby Painter, Marion C. Early Senior
Kyla Warren, Blue Eye Senior
