By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the area’s Class 1 Girls Basketball Players to Watch this year.
NOTE: NAMES ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. THERE WILL ALSO BE A SEPARATE BREAKOUT PLAYERS LIST.
Mackenzie Antle, Hermitage
As a junior she averaged 19.7 points and 5.6 rebounds, leading a youthful roster. Now the senior is set for a huge season with another year of getting comfortable with Harley Maxwell’s system.
Kiarah Blation, Wheatland
Jacob Morlan takes over the Wheatland program and there’s not many better players to have leading a program than Blation. As a junior, the All-PCL selection averaged 11.9 points and 7.1 rebounds. Wheatland won’t play as fast as they have in the past, but Blation will still be a problem for opponents.
Jaicee Carrasquillo, Verona
The latest in what is one of the royal families of Southwest Missouri basketball, Carrasquillo carried the load as a sophomore and will again do the same this winter. She’s coming off a huge summer with Yanders Law as a guard that can score it or create for others.
Harley Guerin, Bradleyville
Also a stud volleyball player, Guerin has turned into one of the best defenders in the Ozarks, averaging nearly five steals per game last year. On top of that, she also added 17.2 points and 3.5 rebounds. This is a sneaky good roster with Guerin being at the center of it all.
Raeleigh Little, Chadwick
A four-year starter, Little is one of the most experienced players in the Ozarks and is coming off an all-state junior campaign where she averaged 14.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and three steals. With Jim Pendergrass taking over the program and his variety of pressure defenses, Little will have an even bigger senior year.
Jaema Schimmels & Madison Conrad, Hurley
As juniors, they stuffed the stat sheet with Schimmels leading the team in scoring (14.8) and assists (2.2) while Conrad led in rebounds (7.4) and steals (3.1). They are two of six returners and should see an uptick in production this winter.
Ellie Smith & Jacie Gavisk, Walnut Grove
Rory Henry is back at Walnut Grove and has a loaded roster headlined by Smith and Gavisk. Smith averaged 14.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists. She’s the kind of lead guard that Henry has helped develop throughout his 15 years at Walnut Grove. Gavisk is an absolute nightmare as a 6-foot post that nearly averaged a double-double last year (11 points, 9.5 rebounds). They’ll be one of the top inside-out duos in the state.
Taylor Swarnes, Liberal
Swarnes is unique in that her size (5-10) and skillset are rarely seen in tandem at the Class 1 level. She led Liberal to a Final Four appearance last year in what was one of the best seasons in Liberal history. Colleges are lining up for her services as she looks to exceed her all-state junior season.
India Willis & Addison Ratliff, Macks Creek
Willis has been an absolute bucket for the last three years, coming off of an all-state season where she averaged 19.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 3.8 assists. She’s rapidly approaching 2,000 points. Ratliff is no slouch, averaging 15.9 points and 3.1 assists as a junior. This is one of the best backcourts in Class 1.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Kelli Albert, Walnut Grove
Millie Burkhart, Chadwick
Ashton Carter, Bradleyville
Chloe Combs, Couch
Madi Doke, Halfway
Brooklyn Duggan, Macks Creek
Alexis Francka, Fair Play
Raegen Henry, Stoutland
Shea Hilburn, Exeter
Rachael Kruger, Walnut Grove
Drew Miller, Greenfield
Claire Mitchell, Dadeville
Olivia Sartin, Everton
Emma Smith, Bradleyville
