By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the area’s Class 3 Girls Basketball Players to Watch this year.
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Hadley Chowning, Liberty Junior
Last year’s All-SCA list being four seniors and Chowning should tell you everything you need to know about how gifted the 5-foot-5 guard is. She’s a big-time shooter with deep range, can play on or off the ball and is extremely competitive. She’s the early favorite for SCA Player of the Year this winter.
Ashton Bell & Brooke Daniels, Fair Grove Juniors
It’s rare that you see a team win a state championship and return its starting backcourt, but that’s exactly what Fair Grove has in Daniels and Bell. Daniels is the PG, averaging 10 points, five rebounds and five assists with an elite ability to see the game in slow motion. Bell is an absolute bucket, leading the Lady Eagles with 13 PPG last year. She shoots the lights out but can also get to the rim off the dribble. The scary part is they have two more years together along with classmate Camdyn Hart.
Grace Frazier, Diamond Senior
Missouri Southern was able to snag one of the area’s best guards and few return with the total resume of Grace Frazier. As a junior, the 5-foot-3 guard put up 24.1 points, 4.5 assists and 3.7 steals on her way to All-State and Southwest Conference POY honors and the program’s first district title in nearly four decades.
Chloe Jones, Willow Springs Sophomore
At no point during her freshman year did she actually look like a freshman. Jones stepped in and immediately helped lead Willow Springs, averaging 14.2 points and earning All-SCA honors. She was even selected to the all-tournament team at the Thayer Winter Classic.
Ireland Jones, Clever Senior
Her stat line last year was off the charts, averaging 17.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.4 steals. Basically, she’s like Clever’s version of LeBron despite being just 5-foot-5. Before a season-ending injury, Clever won eight of its last 10 with Jones putting up 19.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists. If she returns to that form she’ll be in line to sweep POY honors. Baptist Bible College got a steal.
Lauren Jones & Elsie Larsen, Strafford
The Lady Indians aren’t blessed with much height, but could be one of the most dynamic offenses in the Ozarks thanks to these two. Jones is a 5-foot-9 guard that averaged 15 points and five rebounds as a junior. Larsen is a 5-foot-9 combo that averaged 15 points and five assists with multiple triple-doubles. Defending them with guards is difficult because of their size and there aren’t many bigs that can stay in front of them.
Savannah Koen, Forsyth Senior
The volleyball standout averaged 12 points and six rebounds as a junior, but the best part of her game is on the defensive end. The 5-foot-10 senior had several games with multiple blocks and steals, which is incredible for a guard. She can defend multiple positions and rim protects like a post.
Hannah Medlock, Licking Senior
Medlock will go down as one of the best players ever in a program that has had several big names. As a junior she averaged 17.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 steals. She enters her senior year with 986 points and is quickly moving up the scoring list, chasing runner-up status to Karlee Holland’s 2,200 points.
Addison Ridenour, Seymour Junior
She’s not as well known as she should be, but that’ll change this winter. Ridenour is a 6-foot-1 unicorn in that she does all the things you need in a rim protector – block shots and rebounds – while having the ability to score on the block and step out and shoot the 3. She opened the season with 24 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Seymour will surprise several people with Ridenour, Katelynn Smith and Jadyn Johnson leading the way.
Neely Schaaf, El Dorado Springs Junior
El Dorado Springs runs one of the best dribble-drive offenses in the Ozarks and Schaaf is at the heart of it. She can break opponents down off the dribble, she can shoot it (37% from 3) and she’s a gifted passer. As a sophomore, she averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists. The Lady Bulldogs have been one of the best programs in Missouri over the last decade and will reload yet again behind Schaaf and company.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Alexis Collins, El Dorado Springs Junior
Jayleign Flood, Clever Senior
Katie Galligos & Olivia Swisshelm, Springfield Catholic Seniors
Jaretsi Quintanilla, Southwest Sophomore
Katie Smith & Jadyn Johnson, Seymour Seniors
Lauren Turner, Diamond Junior
Reagan Wells, Liberty Senior
Lauren Wissbaum, Conway Senior
Graci Wolf, Pleasant Hope Senior
Zavrie Wiss, Lamar Junior
