KSPR Boys Basketball Power Rankings – Week 12
(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) – The Eagles are just 1 win from a class 5 state championship after beating Marquette 59-42 in the semifinals. A slow start (7-30 fg) turned into a dominant 2nd half effort with the Eagles shooting 75% (18-24 fg) from the field, including a stretch of scoring on 11 of 12 possessions in the 4th quarter. Nixa goes for its 31st straight win Saturday in the championship against defending state champ McLuer North. Let's also remember, it took Jalen Norman's monster game (31 points, 16 rebounds) to lead the comeback charge in Nixa's 61-57 comeback overtime sectional win over Rock Bridge.
2. Billings (2) – After a close call in the district semifinals against Spokane the Wildcats have returned to their dominating ways, winning the district championship 78-63 over Greenwood. Next came an 89-78 sectional win over Billings in which Coach Tilley's high powered offense scored at will. We are now set up for a class 2 quarterfinal showdown in Rogersville when Billings faces 27-2 Norwood. The Wildcats can score with anybody, but they will need to pick up the defensive intensity as they move deeper into the playoffs.
3. Hillcrest (3) – It's been a while since the Hornets were tested. After an overtime win over Rogersville in the district championship Coach Schaefer's boys beat McDonald County 73-43 in the sectionals then knocked off Helias 46-34 in the quarterfinals. The Hornets return to the Show-Me Showdown for the 2nd time in 3 years looking to repeat the magic of the 2010 state champ team. Only Dorial Green-Beckham and junior Austin Petry among this years team saw action in the 2010 state title game.
4. Norwood (4) – The Pirates beat Gainesville 56-37 in the district semifinals, blewout Hartville 60-23 in the district championship, then dispatched Richland 68-50 in the sectionals. Now, we have the class 2 matchup we've been waiting for all year; Norwood vs. Billings in the quarterfinals Saturday at Rogersville.
5. Mt Vernon (9) – The Mt'Neers have been our biggest climber of late. Skip Brock's pups beat Seneca and Southwest to win the district title at their own house. They absolutely dominated Strafford 56-22 in the sectionals and will now face 20-9 California in the quarterfinals Saturday at Hammons Student Center. The crazy part is Mt Vernon has only 1 senior. The future is very bright in Lawrence County.
6. Southwest (7) – After a 56-51 semifinal win over a solid Diamond team the Trojans saw their season come to a close with a 60-49 district championship loss to Mt Vernon. Washburn finished the season at 23-5.
7. Wheaton (8) – The Bulldogs beat Greenfield by 31 then snuck by Purdy 43-37 to win the district title. The sectional round saw an 89-78 loss to 3rd ranked Billings despite a strong effort from senior Sean Goostree who scored 31 points and added 10 rebounds. The Bulldogs finished 23-6.
8. Fair Play (5) – The Hornets overcame a 2011 semifinal loss to Wheatland by beating the Mules 61-55 in overtmie this year. Unfortunately Coach Long's bunch saw their playoff run come to an end with a 51-48 loss to Climax Springs despite blowing out the Cougars earlier this season. Fair Play finished 25-3.
9. Morrisville (6) – The Panthers were seeded 2nd in the class 3 district 11 tournament, and that turned out to be exactly how things shaped up. After narrowly defeating 3rd seeded Fair Grove 52-50 in the semifinals Coach Hicks' Cats fell to Strafford 54-46 in the championship. It was a disappointing finish for a strong senior class that went 25-4.
10. Strafford (14) – The Indians knocked off top 10 ranked Morrisville 54-46 for a 2nd straight district title. Despite falling 56-22 to Mt Vernon in the sectionals this was a miraculous season for Coach Wilson's squad. After finishing 2nd in the state last season the Indians proved many wrong by going 22-6 in 2011-12.
11. Republic (10) – Season over
12. Glendale (11) – Season over
13. Kickapoo (12) – Season over
14. Rogersville (13) – Season over
15. Eminence (NR) - The Redwings have proven to be one of the area's top class 1 teams after beating South Iron for the district championship, then taking care of upset minded Hurley 61-58 in the sectionals. Saturday will be a mountain high task however as they face zillion time state champ Scott County Central.
Dropped out: Fair Grove
Knocking on the door: Diamond, Conway, Carthage, Parkview, Licking, Webb City, Marshfield, Purdy, Thomas Jefferson, Richland, Rolla, Thayer
