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.
NOTE: NAMES ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. THERE WILL ALSO BE A SEPARATE BREAKOUT PLAYERS LIST.
Ashton Bell, Brooke Daniels & Abbey Green, Fair Grove
All-State trios are rare, but so is the current run Fair Grove is on with back-to-back state championships. In these three, Gary Greene has about 34 points, 17 rebounds and a ton of assists and steals. Most importantly they’re as competitive as it comes, and they just know how to win. They’ve all been willing to share the spotlight to achieve something bigger and as a result they’ll walk away from Fair Grove as the most decorated class ever.
Abby Bowers, Thayer
A four-year starter, Bowers is a 5-foot-10 guard that has the skillet of someone several inches shorter. She can shoot it with range, create for herself and others, while also being a high-level defender. Expect her 12.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.4 steals to all increase this winter.
Lily Carr, Spokane
As a freshman, she proved to be an elite scorer. The 5-foot-6 guard averaged 15 a night with massive scoring outputs of 44 points and 40 points respectively. But she’s more than just a scorer, also possessing elite vision. Spokane will be young but expect Carr to give opponents fits all season.
Tana Howe, Warsaw
Matt Henderosn has Warsaw heading in the right direction and Howe returns as the team’s leading in scoring (14.9) and steals (2.9) while also adding 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Her all-around game helped lift the play of others and Warsaw will look to take the next step as a program behind her efforts.
Chloe Jones, Willow Springs
This is one of the most skilled players in Missouri, regardless of class. It’s not that she can score, but how she scores. Jones has a Juju Watkins-like bag with the ability to score it at every level in a variety of ways. She’s set and reset her own scoring record at Willow multiple times, the most recent being a 42-point effort. She averaged 21.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and four assists as a sophomore.
Jaretsi Quintanilla, Southwest
She’s one of the most productive players in the Ozarks. The 6-foot-1 junior was a force last year, nearly averaging a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds, as well as four blocks. She even had a triple-double against East Newton with 22 points, 20 rebounds and 12 blocks.
Addison Ridenour, Seymour
Ridenour is one of the most unique players in the Ozarks. She’s a 6-foot-1 forward that can defend multiple positions and protect the rim, but she can also step out and score from every level. She averaged 18.6 points and 8.5 rebounds while also having several three-plus block games.
Neely Schaaf & McKinli Mays, El Dorado Springs
To do what El Do has done with the target the program has had for the last decade is nothing short of impressive. Both Schaaf and Mays were All-State selections last year with Schaaf averaging 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Mays added 13.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Both have an incredible feel for the game and basketball IQ. The Lady Bulldogs will again be competing for a state championship.
Lauren Turner, Diamond
Turner was the Robin to Grace Frazier’s Batman for the last few years but understand that Turner would’ve been a star at nearly any other program in the Ozarks. She averaged 15 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.4 steals as a junior. She will be the go-to player for Diamond this year and a tough cover for everyone on Diamond’s schedule.
Peyton Wiseman, Catholic
She’s going to La Tech to play D1 soccer, but she is a headache on the hardwood as well. Her quickness is elite, helping her to 13 points and 2.5 steals as a junior. She was an All-Big pick and should hit the 1,000-point mark this season.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Makinley Aaron, Houston
Jordanna Atkins, Cabool
HayLeigh Burres, Stockton
Kenzie Camp, Clever
Hadley Chowning, Liberty
Alexis Collins, El Dorado Springs
Macie Crowther, Pierce City
Taylor Dry, Ava
Layne Forgey, Sparta
Lila Griesemer, Catholic
Kadyn Hilles, Thayer
Allie Hock, Licking
Arianna Hughes, Conway
Ella Newman, Clever
Chloe Overby, Cabool
Kabrie Parmley, Diamond
Ayla Renkoski, Pierce City
Zavrie Wiss, Lamar
