Each week, the O-Zone staff will rank the top 15 area boys’ basketball teams based on dominance by Class, aka how they stack up pound-for-pound with the other schools in their respective Class.
Strength of schedule and recent success are also factored into the rankings.
Overall record, Class and previous ranking are listed in parenthesis.
Which  teams are trending up heading into the final few games of the regular season? Let’s find out.
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1. Walnut Grove (21-2, Class 1, PR: 1) – Walnut Grove is shooting its way into history. The Tigers have made 273 3-pointers on the season, already ninth-most in state history for a single season. The state record is 342. Walnut Grove made 332 triples last season, third most all-time. Averaging just under 12 made 3-pointers per game (11.8), the Tigers need about six more games at their current pace to set the new state record for 3-pointers in a season (h/t: Chris Parker). Logan Thomazin leads the way with 86 made 3-pointers. He had 139 made 3s last year. He’s on pace to become Missouri’s career 3-point leader before his career is over, and could conceivably reach that feat this year if the Tigers can make it to the Class 1 final four. The state record for career 3s is 355. Walnut Grove faces a showdown with Class 2 No. 2-ranked Hartville at home tomorrow night. The Tigers close the regular season next Tuesday at Fair Play. The Tigers are chasing their fourth straight Polk County League championship.
Upcoming games: Feb. 9 vs. Hartville, Feb. 10 vs. El Dorado Springs, Feb. 14 @ Hartville
2. Hartville (18-5, Class 2, PR: 2) – The Eagles are closing in on a fifth straight season of 20 or more wins, after beating Dora (60-29), Vienna (88-29) and Conway (66-51) in a five-day stretch over the past week. Now, we’ll find out what wins: great offense (Walnut Grove) or great defense (Hartville)? Hartville’s held 13 opponents to 50 or fewer points this season. By comparison, Walnut Grove’s scored 75 or more in 12 games. I think Hartville’s strength of schedule helps it a lot tomorrow night. The Eagles have played a loaded schedule that includes four Class 5 teams – including Nixa and Glendale – as well as the likes of Mtn. Grove, Fair Grove, Clever and Licking. Walnut Grove’s strongest opposition has been Rogersville and Fair Grove, and it lost both games. Winning on Walnut Grove’s home court won’t be easy, though. The Tigers’ last home loss was on Dec. 31, 2013 against Marionville in the title game of the Walnut Grove Holiday Classic.
Upcoming games: Feb. 9 @ Walnut Grove, Feb. 10 vs. Morrisville, Feb. 14 @ Gainesville
3. Mtn. Grove (20-2, Class 3, PR: 3) – The Panthers are really locked in right now. Mtn. Grove blasted Salem (63-35) and a good MV-BT/Liberty team (83-57) since last week. Counting blowout wins over Cabool (81-55) and Willow Springs (75-53), that’s four conference wins for the Panthers by an average margin of 25.5 points per game. It’ll be a little tougher this Friday when battle-tested Thayer comes to town for a game that will most likely decide the outright SCA champion. Mtn. Grove won 60-54 in Thayer last year. A win this Friday would set the Panthers up for a third straight SCA championship.
Upcoming games: Feb. 10 vs. Thayer, Feb. 14 @ Houston, Feb. 17 vs. Ava
4. Thayer (21-2, Class 2, PR: 4) – Four (!) victories over Liberty this season by the Bobcats, all coming by single digits, the latest coming 61-58 in Mountain View last Friday night. Thayer also won 63-40 at Cabool last night, the first time this season that Cabool has been held to 50 or fewer points. Thayer and Mtn. Grove haven’t experienced a loss yet in 2017. Thayer’s last loss was 47-40 to Licking in the title game of the Cabool Tournament. Mtn. Grove’s last loss was 70-68 to Bolivar in the Blue and Gold Tournament.
Upcoming games: Feb. 10 @ Mtn. Grove, Feb. 14 vs. Willow Springs, Feb. 16 @ Houston
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5. Kickapoo (16-4, Class 5, PR: 5) – The Chiefs went bombs away on Glendale last night, draining 14 3-pointers (on 24 attempts), eight of which came from Navy commit Cam Davis. Making that many 3-pointers certainly helps, but as Glendale coach Brian McTague pointed out afterwards, the Chiefs also brought a physical presence – led by Rutgers football signee Travis Vokolek – which led to five dunks and a major rebounding advantage. Vokolek hauled in 13 rebounds to go with 11 points, including a thunderous put-back dunk in the second half. Cam Davis surpassed 1,000 career points in the game. Jared Ridder, who scored 34 against Lebanon last Friday night and had 31 points against Glendale, is now 118 points away from surpassing Ryan Rippee and becoming Kickapoo’s all-time scoring leader. Four more conference games still loom, including a date with Hillcrest, but the Chiefs now have the inside track toward their fourth straight Ozark Conference title and 19th OC title overall.
Upcoming games: Feb. 10 @ Joplin, Feb. 14 @ Rolla, Feb. 17 vs. Waynesville
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6. Bolivar (20-3, Class 4, PR: 6) – The Liberators have bounced back strong since losing to Hillcrest in overtime on Jan. 28, with comfortable wins over Waynesville (66-31) and Springfield Catholic (68-50). Conley Garrison (24), Brandon Emmert (17) and Ian Jones (14) accounted for 55 of Bolivar’s 68 points against Catholic. With 8-12 more games remaining, Emmert is likely to end his BHS career as the school’s all-time leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker.
Upcoming games: Feb. 10 vs. Central, Feb. 14 vs. Buffalo, Feb. 17 @ Rogersville
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7. Nixa (19-2, Class 5, PR: 7) – Annual traditions in February: the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day chocolate, and Nixa playing well with districts and the postseason around the corner. The Eagles delivered perhaps their best all-around performance of the season at home last Friday night, beating Ozark 73-52. Coach Jay Osborne said his team’s defense has greatly improved over the last month. The Eagles have a key home game next Tuesday against Republic (Feb. 14), in the middle of games against Carthage (Feb. 10) and Webb City (Feb. 17). The Republic-Nixa game will likely see both teams enter with 5-0 records in the COC-Large. In addition to a conference title, the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Class 5 District tournament – hosted by Nixa – will also be on the line.
Upcoming games: Feb. 10 @ Carthage, Feb. 14 vs. Republic, Feb. 17 vs. Webb City
8. Fair Grove (20-4, Class 3, PR: 9) – If you like 3-point shooting, it’s a good time to be a boys’ basketball fan in the Ozarks. Logan Thomazin of Walnut Grove isn’t the only prolific 3-point shooter from Greene County. Fair Grove senior sharpshooter Garrett Kesterson is 25 shy of Missouri’s all-time record for career 3-pointers (355). Kesterson has two regular season games remaining, and potentially 3-7 more in districts/postseason, so he’s in range. Â He’s had six or more 3-pointers in four games this season, including six in a 101-76 win over Skyline last Friday night. Kesterson finished with 39 points in that game. After beating Pleasant Hope 91-43 last night, the Eagles have a pair of tough conference games remaining in their pursuit of a Mid-Lakes championship.
Upcoming games: Feb. 10 vs. Marionville, Feb. 17 vs. Strafford
9. Licking (19-3, Class 3, PR: 10) – The Wildcats took down Class 2 No. 10-ranked Newburg last night, winning 62-45 at home. Senior Nathan Wilson surpassed 1,500 career points in the game. The outcome gives Licking an outside track toward a Frisco League title, but they close the slate with a pair of tough road games. Licking’s likely headed for the No. 2 seed in the Class 3 District 10 tournament.
Upcoming games: Feb. 9 vs. Stoutland, Feb. 10 vs. Richland, Feb. 14 @ Plato, Feb. 16 @ Iberia
10. Clever (17-5, Class 3, PR: 12) – This week we return to the trio of Class 3 teams who, I think, are all on a similar level. Clever’s picked up three wins since last week, beating Spokane (65-37), Class 4 Pembroke Hill (69-67 in OT) and Galena (59-44). The Pembroke Hill win was highlighted by junior guard Devan Hampton converting a late steal into a game-winning layup for the Blue Jays. The Class 3 District 11 field is again loaded, but Clever’s positioned itself to be no worse than a 2-seed. A non-conference game versus Ash Grove is followed by two SWCL contests as Clever chases a repeat league championship.
Upcoming games: Feb. 10 vs. Ash Grove, Feb. 14 @ Sparta, Feb. 16 vs. Billings
11. Republic (16-5, Class 5, PR: 13) – You just can’t score against this Republic team. The Tigers posted two more victories with dominating defense, beating Webb City (65-37) and Branson (55-30) since a week ago. Let’s run down Republic’s stellar defense this season. The Tigers are allowing 42 points per game. Only two opponents – Kickapoo and Sierra Canyon (Calif) – have scored over 60 points against the Tigers. Republic’s had nine games this season where the opposition has scored 40 or fewer. So good, so consistent.
Upcoming games: Feb. 11 vs. Savannah (@ Drury), Feb. 14 @ Nixa, Feb. 17 vs. Willard
12. Hermitage (19-4, Class 1, PR: 11) – Fair Play got the better of Hermitage in the third and final meeting between the two this season, handing the Purple and Gold an 80-71 loss in double-overtime in the title game of the Lakeland Tournament last Wednesday. Hermitage rebounded with victories over Camden County schools Climax Springs (85-45 on Feb. 3) and Macks Creek (91-72 on Feb. 7).
Upcoming games: Feb. 13 @ Stoutland, Feb. 14 vs. Montrose, Feb. 17 @ Wheatland
13. Hillcrest (15-6, Class 4, PR: 8) – I jumped on the Hillcrest bangwagon last week, only to have it crash on me after disappointing losses to Parkview (58-44) and Webb City (78-74). The Parkview loss isn’t necessarily surprising considering Parkview beat the Hornets earlier this season. The Vikings are a solid Class 5 team. I was hoping Hillcrest could’ve made it more competitive than the final score indicated (58-44). The next loss, against Webb City in Joplin a day later, was a bit more concerning considering the Cardinals are 11-9 with losses to Neosho, Aurora and a three-point win over Carl Junction. Hillcrest rebounded last night, though, beating Joplin 75-52 at home. As pointed out by local hoops guru Patrick Dailey, the Hornets now own the all-time series with Joplin 40-39, the first time Hillcrest has ever held a lead in the series since it began in 1959.
Upcoming games: Feb. 10 @ Lebanon, Feb. 14 vs. West Plains, Feb. 17 @ Camdenton
14. Greenfield (18-3, Class 1, PR: 14) – The winning streak is at 12Â games for Greenfield, which beat Golden City (84-40) and College Heights (73-54) since last Wednesday. Even more impressive, 11 of the 12 wins have come by double figures. The Wildcats have a favorable remaining schedule ahead as they go after an outright SRVC title.
Upcoming games: Feb. 10 vs. Sarcoxie, Feb. 13 @ Jasper, Feb. 14 vs. Miller, Feb. 17 @ Diamond
15. Lamar (16-3, Class 3, PR: 15) – The Tigers escaped a potential trap game last Friday night with a 56-51 home win over Cassville, keeping Lamar undefeated in the Big 8 and on pace for a conference championship. While both teams will still have conference games left to play, the Big 8 champion will go a long way in being decided this Friday night when Lamar visits Mt. Vernon.
Upcoming games: Feb. 10 vs. Mt. Vernon, Feb. 13 @ McDonald County, Feb. 14 vs. Monett, Feb. 17 @ Aurora
Knocking on the door: Wheatland (17-5, Class 1), Greenwood (19-3, Class 2), Marionville (20-2, Class 2), Lincoln (20-1, Class 2), McAuley Catholic (17-4, Class 2), Â Catholic (15-7, Class 3), Glendale (16-6, Class 5), Ozark (13-7, Class 5)
