By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the area’s Class 2 Girls Basketball Players to Watch this year.
NOTE: NAMES ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. THERE WILL ALSO BE A SEPARATE BREAKOUT PLAYERS LIST.
Lexi Ament, Crocker
Crocker is another program that is used to having players put up numbers and Ament is the latest, averaging 16.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals. She was an all-conference pick and will be in all-state contention this year.
Elif Benzer, Greenwood
As a sophomore, she averaged 16.9 points and 6.8 rebounds, while also proving she’s one of the best shooters in the Ozarks. Mike Percival isn’t afraid to encourage his kids let it fly and you can see that in the confidence Benzer shot with as a sophomore.
Libby Fanning, New Heights Christian
Fanning is a walking double-double. As a junior she totaled 23 of them, averaging 18.5 points and 13.7 rebounds. She’s taking her talents to Evangel next year but before that happens, she’ll again terrorize the Ozarks as one of the most effective interior players in Missouri.
Ashlen Garrett & Kenzi Cheek, Skyline
Stop me if you’ve heard this before… Skyline is really good and as standout players with the last names Garrett and Cheek. Rinse, wash and repeat. The Lady Tigers will likely make their 18th Final Four appearance this winter and Garrett (18.2 points, 4.8 steals) and Cheek (14.8 points, 7 rebounds) will be the straws that stir the drink. Skyline is again loaded with talent top to bottom and coach Kevin Cheek continues to add to his Hall of Fame resume.
Autumn Gunter, Norwood
Norwood won 23 games last year and Gunter led the way with 15 points and six rebounds a night. Those numbers earned her all-state honors and the 5-foot-9 wing is on several college boards already.
Loghann Leivan & Ashlynn Helton, Miller
They make it look really easy. As sophomores, Leivan was an All-State pick averaging 17 points, six rebounds and three steals. Helton earned plenty of accolades as well behind 14 points, five assists and four steals. Miller continues to be loaded and will be a Final Four contender for the next two years with these two back.
Millison Sapp & Bristol Lathrop, Ash Grove
As freshmen they took their lumps, but still helped the Lady Pirates to a 16-win season. Now they Sapp-Lathrop Law Firm is ready to hand out punishment for the next three seasons. They opened this year by combining for 36 points vs. Spokane. Both were all-conference as freshmen and should rack up the wins and accolades for the foreseeable future.
Crystal Smith, Jasper
One of the best athletes in the Ozarks regardless of class, Smith excels at everything she does. This fall she led Jasper volleyball to its best season in program history and this winter she’ll flirt with triple-doubles as one of the best defenders in the area.
Kaylee Wilson, Blue Eye
Blue Eye head coach Jeff Dishman is no stranger to having seniors that do crazy things and Wilson is next up. As a junior she averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds and four steals, earning Conference Player of the Year honors.
Lily Woodward & Sayd Vaught, Crane
This could be the team that gets Crane back to the Final Four and Woodward and Vaught are an absolute unit. Woodward was First-Team All-SWCL and Vaught was the SWCL Defensive POY. A new league won’t change their expectations as this duo is one of the best in the Ozarks.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Emersyn Bass, Jasper
Maddie Brown, Hartville
Audrey Cannefax, New Covenant
Kinley Cryer, Hartville
Averi Foster, Galena
Kenzie Haskins, Fordland
Cali Lemons, Mansfield
Maggie Murphy, Marionville
Rachel Nunez, Miller
Emmalee Litel, Blue Eye
Sadie Redd, Skyline
Laney Uchtman, Osceola
Karli York, Crocker
