KSPR Boys Basketball Power Rankings – Week 8
(Teams are ranked by the KSPR Sports Department based on their relative strength to class size. Overall dominance, strength of schedule, quality wins, and momentum are factors in determining the order. Stats and details are based on information submitted by coaches. Feel free to email comments to mscott@kspr.com)
(Last week in parenthesis)
1. Nixa (1) – Make it 19 in a row for the Eagles after capturing their own tournament. Junior Jalen Norman surpassed 1,000 career points in their 20 point championship win over Willard. They also beat Hickman and Billings. Coach Osborne’s crew got a few days off before returning to action Friday night at Neosho.
2. Billings (2) – The Wildcats lost twice as many games as they had lost all season last week (2). No worries however as the 2 defeats came to class 5 power Nixa and class 3 contender Mt Vernon. The Eagles finished 4th in the Nixa Tournament, but picked up a big opening round win over Harrisonville.
3. Norwood (3) – The Pirates were 2 for 2 last week with a pair of dominating wins over Lutie and Bradleyville.
4. Fair Play (4) – With that 1st loss in the rear view mirror the Hornets got back on track with 20+ point wins over Humansville and Everton. Adam Teague continues to make a play for all-state honors.
5. Morrisville (5) – Win, win, win, win. Coach Hicks’ cats knocked off Aurora, Cassville, Webb City, and Blue Eye. Once again, I can’t say I agree with the Panthers not being ranked in the class 3 top 10.
6. Hillcrest (7) – Well deserved off week for the Hornets, and a good week to do so with all the attention surrounding DGB and his signing to Mizzou. The Hornets will look to dust off the rust Tuesday at Joplin.
7. Wheaton (8) – The Bulldogs beat defending state champ Crane 81-60 led by Sean Goostree’s 25 points. Goostree is 1 of our 10 finalists for the “Ozark’s best 3-point shooter” poll.
8. Republic (10) – The Tigers beat Marshfield for the 3rd time this season, and there’s a good chance the 2 will meet again in districts. The Tigers also helped their district seeding cause by beating Rogersville for the 2nd time to capture the Rogersville Tournament championship. To close the week, Coach Stanfield’s club picked up a 41 point win over Central.
9. Glendale (9) – The Falcons had a nice week, picking up wins over Waynesville and West Plains. The really positive sign was the sudden emergence of Blake Freedman as a star for Coach Williamson’s team, scoring 36 and 22 points in the victories.
10. Carthage (11) – The Tigers continued their winning ways by cooling down Mt Vernon 72-63.
11. Kickapoo (6) – The Chiefs were stunned at Parkview 69-60, but credit the Vikings for playing very well led by the junior Erik Durham. The Poo bounced back with a 70-38 win over Camdenton.
12. Southwest (12) – The Trojans picked up a 55-42 win over Seneca in a rather quiet week.
13. Fair Grove (NR) – The Eagles jump into the top 15 after posting wins over Aurora, Buffalo and Reeds Spring. The law firm of Derrick and Harmon went off for 30 and 25 points apiece in the win over Aurora.
14. Mt Vernon (14) – The Mountaineers finished 3rd in the Nixa Tournaments with wins over St. Joe Lafayette and Billings sandwiching a 55-42 loss to Willard; the Tigers avenging an earlier season loss at Mt Vernon. The week ended with an 11 point loss to class 5 power Carthage.
15. Rogersville (15) – The inconsistency continues for the Wildcats. After a 32 point walloping of Ozark they fall for the 2nd time this season to Republic, only to bounce back and beat class 5 Willard by 10. I’m just not sure what to think of this team, but again, they have the talent and could make some playoff noise if they pull it all together by playoff time.
Dropped out: Eminence
Knocking on the door: Conway, Marshfield, Parkview, Diamond, Strafford, Wheatland, Seymour, Licking, Willard, Winona
