By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the area’s Class 4 Girls Basketball Players to Watch this year.
MORE THAN 200 TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS – CLICK HERE
CLASS & DISTRICT ASSIGNMENTS – CLICK HERE
Cheyenne Bieber, Mount Vernon Junior
Before their season ended, Bieber was on her way to receiving postseason honors. She opened last winter with 24 points against Joplin, drilling six 3’s and continued that throughout her nine games. Expect Bieber to be one of the top players in the league this season.
Hailey Buckman, Rogersville Sophomore
Rogersville has seen its fair share of stars on the hardwood and Buckman is the next in line. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 16.2 points and six rebounds as a freshman, totaling 454 points and knocking down 78 3’s. She shoots lights out both off the dribble and off the catch and her time with Missouri Phenom will only make her more confident this winter.
Eden Kibby, Rogersville Sophomore
It didn’t take long for Kibby to prove that she’s a shooter that you have to account for every time she’s on the court, hitting nine 3’s in her first three games combined. She finished with 64 3’s as a freshman, one of the highest totals in program history. She averaged 12 points and three rebounds as a freshman.
Meredith Merriman, Monett Sophomore
Yet another player coming off a great freshman season, Merriman is already one of the best bigs in the Big 8. The 5-foot-10 Merriman earned All-Big 8 honors after averaging 10.3 points and 4.6 rebounds. Her ability to run and her mobility are hard to find in a post player that is as dominant as she can be.
Reagan Rasmussen, Rogersville Sophomore
It’s one thing to be a presence in the paint, it’s another to completely dominate it and that’s exactly what Rasmussen does on the defensive end. As a freshman, she averaged three blocks per game, blocking at least five shots in eight different games last year. Add in her 10 points and six rebounds and it’s easy to see why coaches are interested in the 6-foot-1 post.
Clara Swearingen, Nevada Senior
The reigning Big 8 West Player of the Year is one of the best shooters in the Ozarks and everything else is predicated off the fact that if you don’t contest her shot it’s a bucket. As a junior she averaged 16.6 points and 5.8 rebounds, knocking down 89 3-pointers. The Pitt State signee is one of the most dynamic guards in the Ozarks.
Harley Watson, Reeds Spring Senior
You could see Watson coming into her own as the season ended last year, averaging 12.7 points and 5.3 rebounds over Reeds Spring’s final few games. The 5-foot-7 guard will now be under the tutelage of Ozarks legend Trish Marsh, who now leads the program. Look for Watson to build on her All-Big 8 campaign as a junior.
Leah White, Buffalo Sophomore
The last freshman that stepped in and made the kind of impact that Leah White did had the last name Henderson. The sophomore wing can score (13.3 points) and rebound (6.7 rebounds) with the best of them. It’s not just her size and athleticism, she can also step out and make shots from deep.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Brooklyn Blanchard, East Newton Senior
Kylee Cole, Aurora Junior
Addie Hall, Mount Vernon Junior
Makena Hall, Aurora Junior
Madison Halterman, Cassville Senior
Katie Johnson, Nevada Senior
Chayla Perry, Rogersville Senior
Shelby Samek, Buffalo Sophomore
Emma Smith, Ava Junior
Emily Strange, Salem Senior
Kingsley Tiefry-Morlang, Hollister Senior
